Adirondack Heritage Wrist Wrap bracelet by Mary Harding
It is Tutorial Tuesday and today’s wrist wrap features handmade toggle clasps and leather; and is inspired by a beautiful painting, by Judith Utter, of an Adirondack legend: the Adirondack Heritage Trout, a descendant of the original fish that colonized the Adirondacks after the last ice age.
Adirondack Heritage Brook Trout c. Judith Utter
You can read more about this fish and artist Judith Utter on my blog AND you can enter my giveaway to win one of my toggle clasp kits that celebrate this heritage “brookie” and its gradual return to the waters of the Adirondacks on my blog HERE.
I tried to use just the colors I found in this painting when I made my toggle clasps.
Palette For Adirondack Heritage Leather Wrist Wrap
I made a series of 18 toggle clasps including our sample clasp
Tutorial
Supplies
Art Bead Toggle Clasp with large stringing hole and toggle bar hole
Leather Lace 1/8 inch wide by 58 inches long ( this yields at least a 4″ tail on each stand)
or a vegan substitute like ultra micro fiber available on Etsy and bead stores.
Tools
Scissors
Chain nose pliers to pull leather or micro fiber through the hole in the toggle clasp (optional)
Directions
1. I am using leather lace in a medium brown color that measures about 58 inches long and is 1/8 inch wide. It is long enough to wrap around my wrist 3 times and leaves about a 4 inch tail. I used a length 9 times longer than my 6 1/2 inch wrist. This formula takes into account the larks head and the overhand knots you will be making, as well as, the 4 inch tails. I purchased this leather from Michaels.
Leather Lace 1/8 inch wide
2. Once you determine the length of your leather, fold it in half making sure the cut ends are even. Then string the toggle bar on the strand on your right.
toggle bar strung on the length of leather on your right
3. Next you will make an overhand knot leaving about 4 inches, or less as suits you, for a tail. Again make sure the ends of the leather are even before you tie the overhand knot.
4. Now find the center of the folded end of the leather lace and push it from back to front of the toggle clasp stringing hole. You will be making a Larks Head knot.
5. Make the Larks Head Knot by bringing the knotted end of the leather through the loop you have made. Then draw it tight.
Making the Larks head Knot
Adjust you knot until it looks like the one in the picture above.
6. Now wrap your leather lace around your wrist three times, secure the bracelet by bringing the toggle bar through the clasp. Pull the knot and the tails through too.You can choose to leave them out or tuck the tails back in. Use your index finger to align the the leather lace by running it under the leather until they even out and are smooth. Enjoy your Adirondack Heritage Wrist Wrap Bracelet.
Adirondack Heritage Wrist Wrap Bracelet by Mary Harding
Thanks so much for stopping by. Be sure to check out my blog to enter to win one of these toggle clasps. Several are also in my Etsy shop.
Thanks so much for stopping by!!
Mary
Katherine Thompson
December 30, 2014 at 2:53 pmSo nice to see another artist in action! I love the simplicity of highlighting the Art Bead Focal and letting it shine on the stage. I wouldwear this with jeans and a t-shirt, khaki shorts in the summer and even a tank dress.
Tina
December 30, 2014 at 6:53 pmLove it so much 🙂
happy new year and hope to see a lot of lovely things you do.
Maria & Tina
http://www.mariahoffbeck.blogspot.com
Becky Pancake
January 1, 2015 at 4:39 amThanx for sharing Mary. Your toggles are wonderful and you showcased it beautifully in your bracelet.
Claire Lockwood
January 3, 2015 at 10:58 amLove this design. And your beautiful toggle looks so nice with that leather – very pleasing colour combination.