- August 17, 2019
- A woman's world
- Svetlana Butova
Such a stylish and convenient accessory as a watch needs a practical strap. Some models are sold with straps that are not very comfortable or whose quality leaves much to be desired. In this case, you can make a watch strap with your own hands - this will require a little perseverance and accuracy. As a result, the accessory will acquire an element of individuality.
What material should I use?
The beauty of making your own bracelets or straps is that they can be made from any available materials, as well as taking into account individual requirements and preferences.
An important characteristic of a watch lock is abrasion resistance and strength.
Most often the materials used are:
- Genuine Leather;
- PU leather;
- thick textiles.
There are also options for woven straps. To do this, use both leather laces and satin ribbons, strips of dense fabric. Bracelets decorated with embroidery made of bright threads or beads look interesting and exotic.
Recommendations for creating a personalized beaded bracelet
It is best to use Czech or Japanese beads, they are of higher quality compared to Chinese ones, they do not lose their color, all beads are the same size and shape.
Before weaving a name, you need to create a diagram on the computer in a program, use a ready-made one, or you can draw it yourself on a notebook sheet in a box.
It is better to purchase beads with a reserve, if suddenly there are not enough, then you may not find the desired color tone.
It is better to use a thin line for weaving, as it is easier to work with.
Note!
Kinusaiga technique - TOP-140 photos of the best ways to create crafts using the Kinusaiga technique with your own hands + instructions for beginners
Do-it-yourself passe-partout - a master class with step-by-step do-it-yourself schemes. Making tips + photos of the best examples
Decoupage with napkins: TOP-150 photos of ways to decorate with napkins. Simple instructions for beginners at home
Tools and sources for work
Let's look at making a watch strap with your own hands using a leather product as an example. To work you will need:
- glue (PVA is best);
- sandpaper of the smallest grit or polishing device;
- an awl or thick needle to prepare holes for stitching;
- a vice or clothespins for fixing parts.
Marine style bracelet
For the bracelet you will need:
- fishing line and needle;
- seashells;
- awl.
Using an awl, make a hole in the center of each shell. String seashells onto a fishing line using a needle and carefully tie them into a strong knot. This bracelet is a rather fragile decoration, but at the same time it is very beautiful and looks original on a feminine hand.
Key manufacturing points
To make a leather watch strap with your own hands, you first need to measure strips of material of the required length. Please note that the bracelet will consist of at least two layers of leather, which depends on its thickness. To add strength and ensure long-lasting wear of a homemade strap, you can insert a strip of thick fabric between the leather layers. In this case, it is better to punch holes with an awl, since it will be difficult to use a needle.
It is not difficult to calculate the width of the leather strips - you should indent a few millimeters on both sides from the width of the watch mount itself.
To calculate the length of the strap, add 2-3 centimeters to your wrist circumference.
If a strip of leather is bent in half, the bend must be sanded. This place, like the edges of the product, should be slightly thinner than the rest of the fabric.
Next comes the stitching step. To make a watch strap with your own hands so that it is not inferior in quality to expensive purchased models, you need to pay special attention to the seams. Having fixed the strap elements in any convenient way, holding them in a vice or connecting them with clothespins, you should first make holes for the thread with an awl or chisel. To apply holes evenly, you can first draw the future seam or make a groove using a stationery knife.
After punching the holes, the strap can be sewn together. It is important to take strong threads with a silk base for this. This bracelet will last longer. The final chord of the firmware is the processing of the edges. You can clean them using sandpaper or a polisher.
The final touch to making a homemade watch strap is fixing the clasp. You can purchase this element in the accessories department, from a watchmaker, or use buttons or lacing to secure the watch on your hand. It all depends on the scope of the manufacturer’s imagination.
How to make a leather watch strap: step-by-step instructions
Before you begin, be sure to remove the hardware from your old watch bracelet.
Here's what you need to make a leather watch strap:
1. It is necessary to carefully remove the leather strap from the watch. Using a special tool or a very sharp knife, remove the fastener. Take measurements from your old strap and write them down to avoid size mismatches.
2. Let's start making patterns to size. Since the new leather strap will serve as the basis for the dial to be placed on it, it is also necessary to take into account the diameter of the metal dial itself and the watch case. Next, the entire strap, fastening for the watch lugs, and a strip for the belt loop are cut out.
3. Since a seam will need to be laid along the contour of the leather strap, you need to make a groove for it with a special tool. Moisten all cut out elements intensively with water.
4. Using a stamping tool, which can give relief to the leather, the padding is applied to the entire surface. To prevent the strap from deforming, it is necessary to glue thin pork skin on the reverse side with a special glue - it will give a certain rigidity to the entire structure.
5. Carefully trim the textured and glued base with a sharp knife so that the two layers coincide. Use a special tool to punch holes for the seams. If there is a desire for the strap to remain as it is, that is, as natural as possible, then all work at this stage should only end with laying a thread stitch.
6. If you want to give a certain tone, then you should paint the strap. To do this, you need to dilute the paint in the desired consistency and apply it to the outer surface. Let it dry. Then polish with a soft cloth - this will give a certain relief. Apply varnish to add gloss. Repeat polishing steps.
7. Next, all the elements are collected together. Watch clips must be inserted into the lugs.
Sew along the contour and punched holes with waxed thread. A saddle stitch is used for this.
8. The buckle needs to be secured. At the same moment, you need to attach a loop for the free end. And at the very final stage, use a large-diameter punch to punch holes for the buckle tongue.
Unusual solutions for decorating watches
Having created a leather watch strap with your own hands, you don’t have to stop there. There are tons of other materials that can be used to create bracelets. On your own, you can make a whole range of straps for a festive or everyday look.
To make an unusual watch strap, you can use colored laces that need to be woven using one of the many patterns. In addition, you can weave a bracelet from silk round cords - such a product will retain its shape for quite a long time and provide a strong fit on your hand.
Important! When using a woven version of a watch strap, it is important to take into account the fact that, unlike leather, the wicker does not stretch. This should be taken into account when calculating the required length.
Thus, making a watch strap with your own hands is a fairly simple and exciting activity. It is enough to pay attention to the choice of material and make a little effort to become the owner of a unique bracelet for your favorite watch.
Professional tips for creating a shamballa bracelet
The size of the wrist bracelet plays an important role, because if the Shambhala bracelet is the wrong size, it will be problematic to wear. Therefore, you need to take measurements accurately.
You can make such a bracelet monophonic or combine different tones and colors.
For such a men's bracelet, it is better to use beads of a dark color, cold tone.
Handicraft progress
The history of working with leather is quite interesting. Processing began from the Stone Age, when clothing made from skins, belts, belts and bags gradually appeared.
Weaving is a type of leather processing where craftsmen combine several techniques to create a product. Often in jewelry practice there are woven macrame elements made from lace.
What can you create from? It's easy to use up unwanted leather items. For example, gloves, briefcases, etc. But do not forget about the quality of the material. Pay special attention to thickness, elasticity and color. It will be more difficult to work if the product has a drawing or some kind of ornament.
But the masters advise not to remake the old into the new. It is better to spend money on new leather so that the accessory will last longer and be attractive. Each item has its own expiration date, so often unnecessary things can ruin the whole job. Leather is sold in specialized stores. I'm glad that there are many colors and product options.
