Scrap Leather Ring, Take 2

Today will be a similar post to the previous few, but it will be another scrap leather ring, instead of the rubber one from last week.

I’ll focus on designing this particular ring, since it is a bit problematic.  This design is a bit problematic to describe because it takes some spatial perception, and that means that it is very hard to describe the process.

To start with, you need to measure your finger (see my previous Scrap Leather Ring post for further details on this process).  After that, you must lay out the pattern.  Below is what the pattern for this particular ring looks like:

I didn’t bother making it to scale, because your fingers will probably be smaller than mine.  However, you will want to notice that I left room for an overlap on the two ends.  You will need this when stitching the above ring.  Notice also the hole placement, you will need to punch the holes far enough into the piece that they will not rip through the side easily (I learned this the hard way).

When designing the patter, it is best to start out by tracing whatever it is you will be displaying in your ring–above, I display a glass disk.  Below is what my schematic looked like before I made the pattern above.

Also, keep in mind that you will need around a 1/4 in overlap onto your display piece IN ADDITION TO THE WIDTH OF YOUR PIECE (learned that one the hard way, too).  You will also want a smooth transition from the wide portion at the center of your display (top of the finger) and the band of the ring.

Once you have a pattern, lay it out on the inside of the leather, and cut out the pattern.  Then, punch the holes.  You will want them approximately 1/4 in apart and all along the sides.  Don’t punch them into the overlap portion.

Next time, we’ll discuss the hair pulling process of keeping the round glass disk inside of the leather while your attempt to trap it with hemp lacing–you can guess how much intensity that will bring!

Any questions or comments about the ease/difficulty of the project and/or different processes, are very welcome.  I sometimes skip steps.  Good luck!!!