Fishtail Braided Leather With 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 Strands

Introduction

Welcome to the HWL Blog! Today, we’re diving into the art of leather Fishtail Braids—a timeless technique that adds texture and elegance to your jewellery and accessories. Whether you’re looking to create a stunning bracelet, a unique keychain, or a stylish bag, leather weaving is a versatile skill that can elevate your designs. In this tutorial, I’ll guide you through the process of making 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12-strand bracelets or necklaces.

Materials Needed

• Materials needed:
• leather strips of equal width and length (each about 24-30 Cm long for a bracelet, and 50-60 Cm for a necklace)
• Leather working tools (awl, knife, ruler)
• Clips or weights to hold your work

Fishtail Braid 4-Strands

1. First cross: Take strip 1 (far left) and cross it over strips 2 and 3, placing it between strips 3 and 4
2. Second cross: Take strip 4 (now far right) and cross it over the strips to its left, placing it between what are now the first and second strips
3. Continue alternating: Always take the outermost strip and weave it toward the center
4. Keep tension even: Pull gently but consistently to maintain uniform spacing
5. Push braids together: Periodically push the completed braiding up toward the secured end to keep it tight

Fishtail Braid 6-Strands

1. Round 1: Take strand 1 (far left) over strands 2 and 3, then under strand 4
2. Take strand 6 (far right) over strands 5 and 4, then under strand 3
3. Round 2: Take the new leftmost strand over the following two strands, under the third
4. Take the new rightmost strand over the following two strands, under the third.
5. Repeat the pattern: Keep taking the outermost strands and following the over-two, under-one rule

Fishtail Braid 8-Strands

1. Pass 1:Take the leftmost strand (1) over the next 3 strands, under the 4th
2. Take the rightmost strand (8) over the next 3 strands, under the 4th
3. The strands you moved are now in the center area
4. Pass 2:Identify your new leftmost and rightmost strands
5. Repeat the same pattern: leftmost over 3, under 1
6. Rightmost over 3, under 1
7. Continue Pattern: Always work with the current outermost strands
8. Maintain the "over 3, under 1" rule for each side
9. After each complete pass (left and right), you'll see the fishtail pattern emerge

Fishtail Braid 10-Strands

1. Left move: Take the leftmost strand (1) over the next 4 strands (2,3,4,5), then weave under strand 6
2. Right move: Take the rightmost strand (10) over the next 4 strands (9,8,7,6), then weave under strand 5
3. Both moved strands are now in the center area
4. Identify new outer strands: After each complete pass, new strands become the leftmost and rightmost
5. Repeat pattern: Always take the current outermost strands and follow the over-4-under-1 rule

Fishtail Braid 12-Strands

1. Left move: Take the leftmost strand (1) over the next 5 strands (2,3,4,5,6), then weave under strand 7
2. Right move: Take the rightmost strand (12) over the next 5 strands (11,10,9,8,7), then weave under strand 6
3. Both moved strands now occupy center positions
4. Continue alternating: Always take the outermost strip and weave it toward the center
5. Keep tension even: Pull gently but consistently to maintain uniform spacing
6. Push braids together: Periodically push the completed braiding up toward the secured end to keep it tight

Finishing

• When you reach the desired length, secure the loose ends
• Trim any uneven edges
• You can finish with rivets, stitching, or leather cement
• Or Crimp Ends, Jump Rings, and Lobster Clasp