Simple Lace Up Bracer
To make a pair of simple lace-up bracers, you will need the following materials:
- 2 square feet of heavy leather – https://amzn.to/396H6AO
- A pair of round shoelaces – https://amzn.to/2Ctzuw6
- A round hollow punch – https://amzn.to/2CgbMDL
- A tape measure – https://amzn.to/2WBg67v
- A utility knife (make sure to use a new blade) – https://amzn.to/2CNyAKZ
- A hammer or mallet. I recommend using a nylon or hide mallet, as a metal hammer will slowly destroy your punches.
- A pencil or pen.
Step 1: Measurements
First off, you need to make three measurements.
The first is wrist width. Measure around your wrist, and then subtract an inch. This will be referred to as W.
The second is from wrist to elbow. Subtract 3.5 inches, and this measurement will be E.
The third is at the thickest part of your forearm. Subtract 1 inch, and this number will be T.
Step 2: Drawing and Cutting
On a piece of paper, draw line T. Find the middle point, and draw line E at a right angle. At the end of line E, draw line W so that half is on each side of E, and parallel to line T. Next connect the ends of T and W (these lines will later be called “slanted edges”).
Cut out the paper template, lay it on the rough side of the leather and trace it, which should give you this:
Step 3: Punch the Holes
Measure in from the slanted edges approximately 3/8″ (9.5mm). Draw a line parallel to the slanted edges.
Redraw line E on your leather by finding the middle of T and W, and drawing a line to connect them.
Find the middle of line E. Draw a line perpendicular to line E, but parallel to T and W. Stop when you reach the lines that are parallel to the slanted edges
From the line you just drew, mark a spot approximately every 1.5 inches along the line that runs parallel to the slanted edges. These marks will be where you thread the laces. If the 1.5 inches seems too wide for your liking, you can shrink the number to 1.25 or 1 inch. Here I drew the big lines at 1.5 inches and the small ones at 1 inch to see which one I preferred to use.
Use the large hole punch and a mallet to punch out holes at the marked spots. One tip for cleaner punches and protecting your work surface is to place a piece of scrap leather beneath the leather you are working on.
Step 4: Lace it Up!
And the final step is to simply lace them up, and slide your hands through them.
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Finished Product!
