SHORTENING A HANDBAG CHAIN
All the links of our bag chains and chains by the meter are unwelded , so you can very easily shorten your chains and this also allows you to make different creations decorated with chains. You will find on this page, 5 ideas for tutorials for mixing chain and leather .
1. BAG CHAIN AND LEATHER SHOULDER STRAP - LEATHER & CHAIN BAG HANDLE
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- Using wire cutters, cut a few centimeters of the bag chain (all our bag chains are 120 cm, adjust it according to your size by taking into account the remaining 23 cm of the leather strap). Be careful to cut it in the middle so that one end is not larger than the other.
- Fold each end of the short leather strap over 3.5 cm and secure the half-round ring.
- Using a round punch or leverage pliers, make a 3 mm hole (on both thicknesses of strap) 2 cm from the edge.
- Install the T3 double cap rivet using the correct installation set and the method of your choice: pliers, press or hammer handle.
- All you have to do is open the links at each end of the bag chain and close them on each half-round ring.
Deco Cuir Tip: To give the leather strap a more finished look, we recommend using a Deco Cuir edge finish (color of your choice).
- Prepare the edges with a light sanding (500 to 1000 grit)
- Apply the dye to the edge of the leather (using the tool of your choice: rollerball pen, cotton swab, awl, etc.).
- Repeat the operation 2 or 3 times.
- Rub beeswax on the slices and polish with a cloth.
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2. BAG CHAIN COVERED WITH A FLAT LACE
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- Thread the 5mm wide flat lace through each stitch of the bag chain. Be careful, if the bag chain is too long for you (120cm), you should consider shortening it before threading the lace (see our video "Removing Stitches from a Bag Chain").
- At each end of the chain, fold the lace back on itself.
- Using a round punch or leverage pliers, make a 2 mm hole (through both thicknesses of lace).
- Install the T1 double cap rivet using the correct installation set and the method of your choice: pliers, press or hammer handle.
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To learn how to install single or double cap rivets, we invite you to watch our video: "3 methods for installing a rivet" :
3. LEATHER BAG HANDLE & CHAIN - VERSION 2
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- On each side of the short strap and 1.5 cm from the edge, draw a 1.5 x 1 cm square with a silver pencil.
- Cut this square with a cutter.
- Thread the bag chain through the short leather strap. To reduce the length of the chain or to make it easier to thread through the hole (if the carabiners don't fit), we recommend opening a link with two flat-nose umbrella pliers.
Deco Cuir Tip: To give the leather strap a more finished look, we recommend using a Deco Cuir edge finish (color of your choice).
- Prepare the edges with a light sanding (500 to 1000 grit)
- Apply the dye to the edge of the leather (using the tool of your choice: rollerball pen, cotton swab, awl, etc.).
- Repeat the operation 2 or 3 times.
- Rub beeswax on the slices and polish with a cloth.
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4. BAG CHAIN BY THE METER AND EYELETS: A BEAUTIFUL MIX
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- Place 2 rolling eyelets on the flap of your bag (we invite you to watch our video on methods for placing eyelets).
- Thread the bag chain by the meter through the eyelets.
- Open one of the stitches at the end of the chain and close it on the other end of the bag chain.
To learn how to install eyelets, we invite you to watch our video: "The different types of eyelets and their installation methods" :
5. CHAIN ON THE FLAP OF YOUR BAG - LEATHER EDGE
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- Using a compass, draw a line 0.5 cm from the edge of your bag flap.
- Then, come and hit the claw for the lacing all along the line.
- All you have to do now is wrap your bag chain around the flap. To start your lacing, we recommend leaving 1.5 - 2 cm of lace then wedge it and glue it (with neoprene glue) in the lacing (see photo).
