Gender Neutral Projects

It's a good time of year to be planning the gifts you want to make for family and friends for Christmas (or any holiday or birthday or -- well, who needs a reason?).  While most of the women we know will enjoy earrings, necklaces or bracelets, jewelry for men is trickier.

This Herringbone Chain and Leather Woven Bracelet is easy and very gender neutral.  The rolo chain is available in a number of finishes, and leather also comes in a wide array of colors.

Herringbone Bracelet with green leather and black chain

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What you'll need

• 7mm rolo chain
  
• 1.5mm leather
  
• 2 to 4 large-hole beads for the ends (optional)
  

How much will you need?  This will depend on the number of rows of chain and the bracelet length.  For a standard 7 inch bracelet with 3 rows of chain you’ll need 21 inches of chain.  Leather can be harder to estimate, but again, for this length, cut 7 1/2 to 8 feet.

Herringbone Bracelet with red leather and gold plate chain

1.  Lay the lengths of chain parallel to each other.  It can be helpful to place a toothpick through the end links to keep them straight and be sure they are all the same length.

Keeping the chain straight

2.  Bring the leather through the end links so it is centered on the chain.

Center the leather

3.  Bring one end of the leather through the next row of links, pulling the leather gently until it is snug against the chain. 

4.  Bring the other end of leather through the same row of links in the opposite direction, again pulling gently against the chain.

Bring one end of leather through the next set of links

Both lengths of leather pulled snug in opposite directions through the same row of links

5.  Continue weaving the leather through the links until you get to the end.

Weave all the way to the end

6.  Finish the bracelet by weaving the leather through the links you started with (there will be 4 lengths of leather through these links, which provides the tension needed for keeping the bracelet snug). 

Bringing the leather back through the starting links

7.  Open the bracelet so it is wide enough to fit over your hand.  Tie a knot in each length of leather so it is next to the chain, which will keep the bracelet from being too big.  Add a decorative element as desired and finish by tying another knot.  Pull the knots snug, and cut remaining leather.

Make sure the bracelet will fit when it's at it's widest

Tying knots in the leather next to the chain keeps the bracelet from becoming too big

Some decorative elements to finish the leather add a nice touch