DIY Advent 22: Leather Loop (Bow Tie) Necklace

Slowly my DIY Fashion Advent calendar approaches to the end, just like the old leather pants from which I handicrafted shoe cuffs, shoe clips, shoe-decorations and this pretty leather loop necklace.

Here are the DIY instructions with photos for each step.

It’s up to you, leaving the bow tie plain or spicing it up somehow. On the bottom photo I provisionally fixed a couple of rhinestone studs, but I’m still not sure whether I should really let them off or not even take a few more rivets. But I will think about doing this after Christmas, when I have more time. For now, I think even the bow tie without rivets as necklace is very original.

For this DIY project you need:

1.) A piece of leather (or other solid fabric remnant)
2.) Chain
3.) Scissors
4.) Marker
5.) Ruler
6.) 3 chain-link rings and 1 chain lock
7.) Caliper

THE TUTORIAL:

How long your chain should be to depends on your taste. I personally like it more if the chain is not too long with the large loop, because the bow tie (Austro ) comes out better. Incidentally, I have taken a delicate chain and double-folded, because even the smallest chains from the craft store were too rough for my taste.

On the backside of the fabric draw a 14 cm x 8 cm rectangle and cut out with about 1 cm seam allowance. From the remnants cut additional strips about 1 cm wide and 5 cm long.

Fold in the edges and stitch.

Fold the rectangle into a loop and fix it in the middle by sewing.

Put the 1 cm wide strips of fabric over the fixation suture in the middle of the loop and sew it all together.

With a sharp object (seam ripper) make a small whole to each of the two upper edges of the loop and pass through the two connecting rings.

Mount the chain into the ring, and close it with the caliper by strong pressing.

Affix the third link ring on one end of the chain and on the other end mount the chain lock and press down firmly with the caliper. DONE!!!

THE FINAL RESULT:

The FINAL RESULT with RHINESTONE STUDS