Vera's Leather zipper pulls - a 2013 FAL Tutorial

Today, Vera, who blogs at Negligent Style, will show us how to work with leather to make simple and creative zipper pulls. If you don't know Vera, I suggest that you give her beautiful blog a visit. I love leather but I have never worked with it. After reading Vera's tutorial, I am keen to give leather a try. I bet you will be too.

What will you need to create leather zipper pulls?

Leather scraps, pliers with piecing and riveting tools, various key rings, rivets, scissors. Optional: pinking shears, rotary cutter, eyelets.

There are different types of zippers with various zipper pulls. Based on the zipper pull choose the right key ring that will fit properly. If needed use two key rings. Use small one as reduction for the larger one.

Measure the inner part of your key ring. In the example above it is 1.1cm. Multiple by 4 as you'll fold the edges of the leather towards centre. Please use this as example. It depends on the leather you are using. With softer leather I ended up using smaller key ring. The best way to determine the size is to try to fold the leather up and put the key ring on.

Once you have the key ring on fold the edges of the leather in to the middle. Put some kind of clip to hold the edges if desired. Punch the holes through all layers.

Do not worry if you don't manage to make holes in all the layers. Unfold and cut/clear the holes out with scissors.

Create a tassel by cutting straight lines toward the centre. Use pinking shears for fancy edges. Fold up again and line up those holes. Attach the rivet.

I use my pliers to attach the rivet. 

There are many possibilities. Create circles, hexagons and other shapes based on the style of your pouch. Here are just a few examples to get your creativity flow. You can also use eyelets if you don't have any rivets on hand.

Two hearts with strip in between. Attached by eyelet.

Two circles folded with strip in between.

Pinwheel style.

If you don't feel like using hardware simply cut out strip of leather and attach to zipper pull. The knot is called Lark's head (cow hitch) and it is the simplest zipper pull I have to share.

Thank you Vera! If you have not yet linked up your Q4 FAL finishes, please click here to go to the linky to add one link for each of your qualifying finishes. If you are working on one last finish, you can link up your other finishes now, so you don't miss the deadline for linking - midnight M.S.T. January 8, 2014.