beaded grey suede pillow bracelet 2654

Another variation on the Nigerian design leather toggle bracelets. This one is made with a soft grey suede, a row of clear glass beads and a modified champaign cork used as a button.

This one measures about 8 5/8" (219 mm) inside circumference but it is extremely flexible and soft.

Here's another similar design you might like.

Available here

 Black waxed thread is used to detail the loop and is also used to create the seam. The beads are plain sewn into the seam and then the assembly is turned inside out to conceal the edge of the material.

The cork is glued into place using rubber cement. This is a high-tech shortcut that indigenous creators of the original designs would never have used. They would not have had these finely made glass beads either...artistic license.

Stuffed with polyester batting the loop flap is then stitched closed to form the opening that receives the button.

I call these pillow bracelets due to their oversize profile and soft texture.

More Handmade Artifacts can be found in the Etsy Shop ArtifactSite.

design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

soft suede toggle bracelet 2648

 This design is based on the traditional Nigerian african leather bracelets. This one is made with a skin of leather and stuffed to make a big soft pillow like bracelet.

The outside is a piece of brown suede that has been stitched together with waxed cotton thread. The closure loop was reverse stitched on a sewing machine and turned inside out to conceal the seam. The ends were bound together to close the loop.

 The closure button is a cork that has been carved to make a tapered plug with a button end. The cotton binding thread holds it in place.

The stuffing is polyester quilt batting inserted through the plugged end of the bracelet and packed in place with a chop-stick.

This bracelet look oversized but is featherlight and extremely comfortable

The inside circumference is about 8" (203 mm) but this design has a very soft quality and will compress slightly.

If you are interested in this design please leave a comment.





design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop