DIY Leather Feather Necklace: Use leather, gold leaf and some gold chain to create a simple and stunning leather feather necklace.
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This Leather Feather Necklace with Gold Leaf is the perfect spring accessory. It was really fun to make and perfect for wearing, or gifting. It's a great way to use up leather scraps. You can make it in lots of different colors for a really fun look.
It’s really easy to make, with just a few simple supplies. The main item you'll need is a small piece of leather. This is great way to use any leather scraps. Look for bundles of scrap leather pieces at craft stores or online. Another source of leather can me upcycling old leather goods, like handbags, or wallets. You only need small pieces, so one bag can give you a lot of material. Use your own or look for them second hand at garage sales or thrift stores.
Matching Earrings
We made a long necklace with our leather feather, but you could also make earrings. To make earrings you will need an earring hook, and two leather feathers. Try to make your two leather earrings as similar as possible so that the two earrings match. Instead of attaching a gold chain to the top to create the necklace, attach the earring hook to the top. You may need an extra small jump ring to ensure that the feather hangs facing outward.
Stitching Detail
We've added a stitching detail to our feather. This stitching adds a lot of dimension to the leather feather. If you don't have a sewing machine, you can leave this step out for a more plain look. We used a regular sewing machine and regular thread to stitch the leather. Do practise on a small scrap of leather to ensure your settings are correct before stitching your feather. The sewing machine will make holes in the leather, and unlike fabric, even if you remove the stitching if you make a mistake, the holes will still show. You have just one shot at getting the stitching perfect, so be sure to work carefully. I liked the look of the stitching in a slight "V" pattern, going doing down, and then back up at a very slight angle. You can do the same, or just do one line that is straight down the center of the feather. Tie your thread ends off in neat knots at the back of the feather and snip off the loose ends for a clean finish.
We used black thread on black leather, but you can choose to use a contrasting thread color, if you want it to stand out more. You could even use a metallic thread for a different look.
Gold Leaf
We added a fun gold leaf detail to our leather feather. This step is optional. You could use silver leaf, or rose gold leaf as a variation. We wanted a spoty, not quite covered look, so to accomplish this look be sure to apply the adhesive with just a few dabs here and there and don't completely cover it. The gold leaf adhered very well to the leather and added a fun detail, and a little glam to the jewelry piece.
Chain Tassel
We also added a gold tassel made with a few lengths of gold chain to our feather. To make it we cut three extra pieces of gold chain using wire cutters. We varied their lengths for interest, but made them around the length of the feather. The chains are attached to the feather using a jump ring. Open your jump ring with small jewelry pliers and then after adding the chain, carefully close it to secure your tassel. This detail is optional. We used matching gold chain for the tassel detail and the necklace. You could also use silver, or rose gold for a different look.
Equipment
- scissors
- leather hole punch
- Sewing Machine
Materials
- Leather
- Gold Leaf
- Adhesive for Gold Leaf
- Gold Chain
- Jump Rings
- Thread
Instructions
- To begin with, create a feather template you're happy with and use it to cut out your leather. Look for feather patterns online, or draw your own. We liked using sharp scissors for cutting, but you can also use a x-acto knife if you prefer.
- The next step is to punch a hole in the top of the feather. We used a leather punch for this and it worked really well.
- Apply gold leaf adhesive to the bottom of the leather feather with a small paint brush, creating a spotty coat so that some of the leather will still show through. Dap off any excess with a paper towel. Wait for it to set, according to the manufactures directions, and then apply gold leaf. This step is optional. You can also use silver leaf, or rose gold leaf for a different look. Or leave the leaf off all together.
- Using a sewing machine and coordinating thread (or contrasting for a different look), stitch a line down and back up the middle of the feather. Pull threads through from the front to the back and tie off the ends on the back to finish.
- Cut fringe along the side of the feather with sharp scissors, stopping short of your stitch line, on each side. Try to angle the slits downward to look like a real feather.
- Using an open jump ring, add some pieces of gold chain in varying lengths to create a tassel at the top of your feather. Next add a long chain to the top jump ring as a necklace and then carefully close the necklace with small jewelry pliers.
How To Make A Leather Feather Necklace:
I can’t wait to wear this pretty feather necklace with some spring outfits. It would also be great to make two and turn them into earrings. These are perfect for wearing yourself or making for your best friend or girl friends as handmade gifts. These one of a kind custom feathers would even be a great item to make to sell at craft fairs or a place like Etsy.
With a Leather Feather Necklace or Earrings like this, life really is a party!
More Inspiration
You might also like How To Make A Leather Cuff Bracelet here.
Also check out our Macrame Feathers here.
You might also enjoy our Wood Feathers here.
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