DIY Network

Braided Leather Choker From "Jewelry Making" episode DJMK-106

Create a braided leather choker with flower motif using this simple technique.

Guest Karen Mitchell shares her technique for creating a braided leather choker embellished by a center flower.

Materials:

18" strips 1/8" wide jewelry-weight suede lacing in brown, turquoise red and tan
2 silver tone 1/23" wide choker clamps
Tape
22" kangaroo lace, brown
2" squares velvet suede in brown and red
3/4" pin back
2 oz. bottle translucent liquid sculpey
Pearl-ex mica pigment powder, Duo blue-green
Silver glitter
1 " translucent turquoise AB 8 mm faceted glass bead
4" copper or silver tone gauge wire
Small and medium, flower patterns
Metal palette
Craft stick
Ballpoint pen
Wire clippers
Needle nose pliers
1/16 " Fiskars round hole punch
5" X 7" piece of glass
Toaster or convection oven
Oven mitts
Oven thermometer
5"X 7" piece of corrugated cardboard
Stapler
Scissors
Leather shears
Wooden skewer
E-6000 industrial craft glue

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

1. To braid the choker: Align all 4 ends of the colors of suede lace on one edge of the cardboard. Staple the suede laces to the cardboard. Braid the 4 strands (figure A) until you have at least 13" of braid.

2. Wrap the end of the braid with tape, keeping the laces as flat as possible. Trim the tape to 1/8 ".

3. Measure your neck. Subtract 1" from the measurement.

4. Wrap a piece of tape around the other end of the braid (near the staples), keeping the braid as flat as possible at the length you just measured. Trim the tape to 1/8".

5. Add choker ends: Use the wooden skewer to add a small amount of E-6000 to the tape edge on one end of the choker. Align one choker clamp end over the end, covering the tape. Squeeze the clamp shut with pliers. Repeat for other end.

6. Add adjustable ties. Cut the piece of kangaroo lace in half. Tie one piece through the loop on one choker clamp. Secure the lace with a dot of glue and trim away excess. Repeat for the second clamp and piece of kangaroo lace.

7. To prepare clay flower: In the metal palette, place 1/2 teaspoon of translucent liquid polymer clay. With the craft stick, scoop in 1/8 teapsoon Duo blue-green mica powder and 1/8 tsp. Silver glitter. Mix the mica and glitter thoroughly into the liquid clay. With your finger, spread an even coat of the liquid clay onto the sheet of glass (figure B), making a square. The clay should be thick enough to appear opaque.

8. Bake the clay and the glass at 275 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. Remove the glass from the oven and place it on a heat resistant (but not cold) surface to cool.

9. Peel the clay glitter sheet from the glass. On the dull side of the clay sheet, trace around the medium flower pattern with a pen and cut out the flower. Mark the center of the flower.

10. Cut leather flower shapes. On the backside of the red suede, trace the medium flower pattern and mark the center of the flower. Cut with the leather shears. Trace the small flower pattern on the backside of the brown suede. Cut it out.

11. Next, assemble the flower. Place the red suede flower face up. Place the shiny side of the turquoise flower on top pf the red flower, off setting the petals. Place the small brown flower face up on top of the turquoise flower. Align all 3 center markings and arranging petals as you desire. Use the 1/16" hole punch and punch a hole 1/16" from the center marking. Punch a second hole 1/16" from the center marking exactly opposite the center from the first hole. (If you have trouble punching through all 3 layers at once, start with the bottom flower, and layer the flowers matching holes.)

12. Slide the bead onto the center of the wire and bend the wire ends perpendicular to the bead. Slide each wire end through the two holes on the stacked flower (figure C). On the backside, twist the wire ends together all the way to the ends. With the pliers, bead the twisted wire so that it is flush with the back of the flower (figure D).

13. Add pin back: Cut a small rectangle from the scrap of red suede. On the backside, put a thin, even coat of glue. Place the rectangle over the pin back while the pin is open to cover it (figure D). Allow the glue to set for 24 hours. The pin can be worn to decorate the choker, or worn alone.

GUESTS :

Karen Mitchell
Artist / Owner, AnKara Designs
Website: www.ankaradesigns.com