Hardware: Making a Leather Thong Closure

This simple, thin strap of leather makes a winding, romantic closure to wrap around rolls and journals. Bridle leather works best, as it is an oily, thick leather, which remains strong even when cut thin, but vegetable-tanned leather will also work well.

Materials

Leather

Tools

Strap cutter

Precision knife

Cutting mat

Hole punch, #7

Mallet

Techniques Used

Cutting: Using a Strap Cutter

Punching: Using Hole Punches

1 Adjust the strap cutter. Adjust the ruler arm of the strap cutter to the desired strap width for the thong, usually ¼ inch (0.6cm).

2 Measure the length. Measure the diameter of the item to be wrapped or enclosed. If you want the thong to wrap around the object once, multiply the diameter by 2 for the length. Add one diameter’s length for each additional time you’d like it to wrap around.

3 Cut the leather thong. Using the strap cutter, cut a long, thin strap (the thong) to the length measured in Step 2.

4 Angle one end. Using the precision knife, cut an acute angle on one end of the strap. This angled end makes for easier threading through the hole during assembly, and easier knotting around itself as a closure.

5 Knot the opposite end. Knot the other end of the thong with a standard overhand knot.

6 Punch the anchor hole. To attach the thong, mark and measure the anchor point on the project and punch a hole using the #7 hole punch.

7 Attach to project. Run the angled end of the thong through the hole from the rough side to the finished side. The knot acts as a stopper to anchor the closure.