Step-by-Step Beaded Leather Necklace Tutorial

Kellie Sutton
by Kellie Sutton
12 Materials
$15
20 Minutes
Easy





I have to admit, I am a sucker for anything with a heart on it. It’s always been one of my love languages for making jewelry--stick a heart on it, and you’ve won me over. Today, I’m going to show you how to make a beautiful beaded leather necklace with a heart focal that I’m sure you will love as much as I do.

Tools and materials:

  • Heart pendant
  • Large-hole spacers
  • Large-hole bead
  • Crimp ends
  • Leaf/feather pendants
  • Jump rings
  • Seed beads
  • 70 inches of 1.5mm leather cord
  • Barrel knot tube
  • Wire cutters
  • Chain nose pliers
  • Bent chain nose pliers
Place the heart on the leather cord

Place the heart pendant on the cord

I threaded the leather cord through the ring on the heart pendant and moved the pendant to the middle of the cord.

Use a barrel knot tube

Make a barrel knot

I placed my barrel knot tube between the cords holding the pendant.

Leather cord bead necklace


I pulled the cord that was farther away from me down and around the tube and the cord next to the tube.

 

Wrap the cord around the tube


Then I wrapped the cord all the way around and back over the tube.

Make a barrel knot


I wrapped the cord twice more around the tube and second cord, getting closer to the pendant each time.

 

Insert the cord into the tube


Then, holding the wrapped cord in place, I inserted the end of the second cord into the end of the tube closest to the pendant. 

Remove the tube


Once the end of the cord poked out from the end of the tube, I removed the tube, while ensuring the wrapped part of the cord was still in place.

 

Tighten the cord


Finally, I pulled the second cord to tighten the knot.

DIY beaded leather necklace

Adjust the knot

Before securing the knot completely in place, I adjusted it so it was not too tight against the ring of the heart pendant. I left about a quarter of an inch of space between them.

Place the bead

Place the large-hole bead

Once the knot is secured, pull both cords through the large-hole bead, and pull it down so it rests right above the barrel knot.

Measure the cords


Measure the cords

I inspected my cords to see which one was longer. The longer cord will be used as the wrapping cord for the next barrel knot. 

Make another barrel knot


Make another barrel knot

Placing my barrel knot tube between the cords above the large-hole bead, I repeated the previous steps to create another barrel knot. 

Tighten the knot


Adjust the barrel knot

I pulled and twisted to tighten and adjust the barrel knot above the bead.

Leather and bead necklace tutorial


Cut the end of one of the cords

The look I wanted for this necklace was to have uneven tassels hanging in the front, so I cut a bit off one of the cord ends to make them a bit more uneven.

How to make a beaded leather necklace


Place the seed beads and spacers

Next, I placed three seed beads at the end of one of the cords.

Place the spacer


Then I placed a spacer.

Repeat the pattern


I repeated this until there were twelve beads and a spacer after every three beads.

Make a beaded leather necklace


Repeat on the second side

I made the same pattern of beads and spacers at the end of the second cord.

Apply the crimp ends


Place the crimp ends

To apply the crimp end, I slid the end of the cord into the crimp end stopping when the end of the cord was just visible at the end of the tube. Then I squeezed the middle section of the crimp end from a few different angles with my chain nose pliers until it was secure. 

Open the jump ring


Open the jump ring

To place the jump ring, I held it with the chain nose pliers, open end up.

Use bent chain nose pliers


Then, using my bent chain nose pliers, I twisted it open.

Insert jump ring into crimp end ring


Place the crimp end on the jump ring

I placed the small ring of the crimp end on the jump ring as I held it still in my chain pliers.

Place feather pendant


Place the feather pendant

I placed the feather pendant on the jump ring, as well, and closed up the ring with my bend chain pliers.

Repeat for the second cord


Repeat on the second cord

I repeated the steps to add a jump ring and feather pendant to the crimp end on the second cord, as well. 

Leather and bead necklace


Unique accessories


I loved creating this piece of jewelry. It was super simple, but it has a really striking effect. If you enjoyed this tutorial, please let me know in the comments.

Suggested materials:
  • Heart pendant
  • Large-hole spacers
  • Large-hole beads
See all materials

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