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Rustic Copper Washer & Leather Bracelet (Tutorial)

by Rena Klingenberg. © 2003-Present Rena Klingenberg. All Rights Reserved

This is a great rugged bracelet style for both guys and gals, of any age.

It’s comfortable, sturdy, and easy to make.

This would also be a good project for teenagers and pre-teens to make for themselves and their friends!

Supplies:

• Cord – 2 pieces, each approximately 2x the circumference of your wrist.
  (For example – if you have a 7″ wrist, you’ll need 2 pieces of cord, each 14″ long.)

  I used faux suede cord in a sage green color, 3mm width. You can also use leather, cotton, suede, or other types of cord.

• Washer – I used a 5/8″ copper washer from Harbor Freight.
• Two jump rings.
• Clasp – I used a hook clasp made from leftover wire.
• Scissors that can cut your cord.

How to Make a Rustic
Copper Washer & Leather Bracelet:

First, we’re going to give our washer a nice rustic patina.

In the photo below, the washers on the left are nice and shiny right out of the package.

On the right, the washers have an interesting patina created simply with boiled eggs:

For the patina, follow my easy tutorial, Oxidize Sterling Silver and Copper with Boiled Eggs.

Important: For this project, my washers developed the color I wanted in about 15 to 20 minutes.

So keep a close eye on your washers as they oxidize!

After your patina process, when your washers are thoroughly dry, you can preserve your patina color using a clear, matte-finish spray lacquer – three light coats of lacquer on each side of the metal, drying each coat thoroughly before applying the next coat.

You may want to patina a small batch of copper washers (or other copper items) along with the washer you’ll need for this bracelet.

Cut your two pieces of cord for the bracelet. Mine came on this huge roll:

Now fold each of your cut cord pieces in half, and attach them to your washer using larks-head knots:

Now let’s attach one of your jump rings to one end of your bracelet.

Go to one end of your bracelet, and string one of your jump rings onto both strands of that cord end.

Keeping both cords together, tie a simple knot with your jump ring caught inside the knot.

Keep this knot somewhat loose, as you will probably be moving the knot up the cord a bit to adjust the fit of your finished bracelet.

Now attach the second jump ring to your clasp.

Go to the other end of your bracelet, and string this jump ring onto both strands of that cord end.

Make the same kind of knot as the one you just made at the other end of the bracelet, catching this jump ring inside the knot.

Again, keep this knot loose so you can adjust your bracelet length:

Now put the bracelet around your wrist, and fasten the clasp.

Move your loosely-tied knots up toward your washer till your bracelet is a comfortable fit.

Then tighten your knots around your jump rings, and trim the ends of your cord – leaving a small tail on each cut cord end:

Now your fastened clasp should look something like this:

And your finished bracelet should look like this: