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With the popularity of
high fantasy, few medieval costume pieces are as popular and sought-after, or
as easy to make at home, as a pair of simple leather bracers. While bracers can
be extremely finely crafted and decorated with intricate tooling, layering, and
additions like metal studs, at the most basic leather bracers are simply bands
of leather cut and formed to wrap around a person's forearms, and can be made
at home with very little time, investment, or experience in leatherworking.
Things You'll
Need:
Take the measurements of
your arms. You will need to know the distance from the inside "pit"
of your elbow to your wrist, the circumference of your wrist, and the
circumference of the widest part of your forearm (this should be close to,
though not at, your elbow). If you are planning on making a pair of bracers,
take the measurements of both of your arms to discern if any portion of them is
different.
Draw a trapezoid on a
piece of thick paper or card stock, using the measurements you obtained from
your arm. To do this, draw a line the length of the circumference of the widest
part of your forearm. Then draw a line perpendicular to and coming from the
center of the first line, the same length as the distance between your elbow
and wrist. Then draw a third line, parallel to the first and with its center at
the end of the second, the length of the circumference of your wrist. Then
connect the end points of the first and third lines, and cut this shape out.
Wrap it around your arm to test the fit of the bracer.
Trace the outline of this
shape onto the rough side of the leather. Then add a slight inward curve to the
smaller parallel side and a slight outward curve to the larger parallel side,
so that the shape looks like part of a very large ring, and cut it out.
Soak the leather in warm
water for a few minutes, then let it dry to damp. Wrap it around your arm to
test the fit, and make any adjustments needed.
Punch four or five holes
in the leather on each side of the gap. Make sure to punch holes larger than
the lacing you are planning on using, and punch them at least half an inch away
from the edges of the leather. Lace the bracer up comfortably, and wear it as
it dries. As the leather dries, it will stiffen somewhat and conform to the
shape of your arm. If the bracer becomes uncomfortable when it dries, re-soak
it and try again.
high fantasy, few medieval costume pieces are as popular and sought-after, or
as easy to make at home, as a pair of simple leather bracers. While bracers can
be extremely finely crafted and decorated with intricate tooling, layering, and
additions like metal studs, at the most basic leather bracers are simply bands
of leather cut and formed to wrap around a person's forearms, and can be made
at home with very little time, investment, or experience in leatherworking.
Things You'll
Need:
- 6
to 8 oz tooling leather - Leather
lacing - Leather
hole punch - Tape
measure - Thick
paper or card stock - Pen
or marker
Take the measurements of
your arms. You will need to know the distance from the inside "pit"
of your elbow to your wrist, the circumference of your wrist, and the
circumference of the widest part of your forearm (this should be close to,
though not at, your elbow). If you are planning on making a pair of bracers,
take the measurements of both of your arms to discern if any portion of them is
different.
Draw a trapezoid on a
piece of thick paper or card stock, using the measurements you obtained from
your arm. To do this, draw a line the length of the circumference of the widest
part of your forearm. Then draw a line perpendicular to and coming from the
center of the first line, the same length as the distance between your elbow
and wrist. Then draw a third line, parallel to the first and with its center at
the end of the second, the length of the circumference of your wrist. Then
connect the end points of the first and third lines, and cut this shape out.
Wrap it around your arm to test the fit of the bracer.
Trace the outline of this
shape onto the rough side of the leather. Then add a slight inward curve to the
smaller parallel side and a slight outward curve to the larger parallel side,
so that the shape looks like part of a very large ring, and cut it out.
Soak the leather in warm
water for a few minutes, then let it dry to damp. Wrap it around your arm to
test the fit, and make any adjustments needed.
Punch four or five holes
in the leather on each side of the gap. Make sure to punch holes larger than
the lacing you are planning on using, and punch them at least half an inch away
from the edges of the leather. Lace the bracer up comfortably, and wear it as
it dries. As the leather dries, it will stiffen somewhat and conform to the
shape of your arm. If the bracer becomes uncomfortable when it dries, re-soak
it and try again.