As any craft-loving do-it-yourself fanatic might know, it’s easy to accumulate piles of leftover fabric. Instead of throwing them out, upcycle scraps of faux leather fabric for cool do it yourself tutorials. DeliaCreates came up with a clever idea, using her leather scrap fabric to create an on-trend leather bead necklace.
- Gather your scraps of leather, a pair of scissors, matching thread, a sewing needle that’s durable enough for working with leather, and a necklace chain of your desired length.
- For starters, think about your overall design. If you want to follow the tutorial, work on cutting out circles for a beaded look, or diamonds for a more geometric style.
- Fold the beads in half and sew together with a 3/8 to 1/2 inch seam allowance. If you want to have a clean edge, make the stitch 3 mm or 3.5 mm.
- Back stitch at the beginning and then stop. Repeat for each bead and then thread them through the necklace chain. Voila, you’re all set.
Who knew that incorporating a few pieces of leather scraps could be totally chic? Create a monotone colored necklace in black or brown, or add a pop of color by alternating different hues. You can even change the overall bead design for added texture and variety. Nab some faux leather fabric and a necklace jewelry kit to create a few of these OMG-worthy—and wallet-saving—edgy beaded necklaces.
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Red Faux Leather
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Backstitching at the beginning and stopping before overworking the seam is a nice detail that probably helps keep the faux leather from tearing.
I can see this working really well with metallic faux leather scraps to create a more statement necklace without spending much money.
I hadn’t considered using a jewelry kit alongside fabric scraps, but combining the two opens up a lot of possibilities for quick accessories.
The clean edge stitching tip makes me think this project could look surprisingly polished despite being made from leftover materials.
This feels like one of those projects where you can experiment freely, especially since the materials are basically leftovers you’d otherwise toss.
Folding the beads in half before sewing is such a simple step, but it gives them that dimensional, bead-like look instead of flat cutouts.
I like that the tutorial doesn’t overcomplicate things, just cut, fold, sew, and thread, which makes it approachable even for beginners.
Using a 3/8 to 1/2 inch seam allowance for each folded bead seems like a sweet spot, especially since faux leather can get bulky if you go any tighter.
Didn’t realize you could just thread the sewn beads directly onto a necklace chain, which makes the assembly feel way less intimidating than expected.
The mention of faux leather is helpful since it’s easier to work with than real leather and more forgiving when you’re practicing stitches.
Using a durable needle specifically for leather is something I’ve learned the hard way, so I’m glad that was called out in the materials list.
I’ve got a pile of brown and black scraps, so the monotone necklace idea feels like an easy starting point before trying more colorful combinations.
Alternating different hues along the chain is a great idea, especially if you have mismatched scrap pieces that wouldn’t work for a single larger project.
It’s nice that you can customize the chain length to suit different styles, like chokers versus longer statement necklaces.
The idea of changing bead design for texture is interesting, since you could mix circles and diamonds on one chain for a more dynamic piece.
I appreciate how this tutorial turns random leather scraps into something actually wearable instead of just more clutter sitting in a craft drawer.
The tip about stitching at 3 mm or 3.5 mm for a cleaner edge was super helpful, since my previous leather projects always looked a little rough around the seams.
This seems like a great way to use smaller offcuts that are too tiny for bags or wallets but still too nice to throw away.
The geometric diamond option sounds perfect for a more modern look, especially compared to the softer feel of the circular bead shapes.
I liked the suggestion of cutting circles versus diamonds because it really changes the vibe of the necklace, and I hadn’t thought about using shape to control the overall style like that.