When you’re passionate about something, you generally find a way to express it. For hockey fans, this means dressing up in ice-hockey gear and heading to the rinks. For those who want to add a little extra flair to their outfits, they can make a leather lanyard with a puck hanging from it.
If you’ve ever been to a hockey game, then you know how important it is to follow the action closely and stay connected to the action. Even when the play isn’t in your direction, you can find yourself drawn to the action and drawn into the game. And while you’re there, why not grab some souvenirs – like a puck?
There are many ways to show your support for the sport, and this article will teach you how to make a hockey laceranyard. With some leather and an end product you can’t get anywhere else, you can’t help but admire the craftsmanship that goes into a handmade lanyard.
Table of Contents
The Materials You’ll Need
To start off, you’ll need leather of some sort. The best part of this project is that you can use whatever type of leather you have access to – whether you have a cowhide or a shearling, you can use it. Just make sure that it’s fairly thick, as you’ll need the strength to pull it through the metal prongs that you’ll use to strap it around your wrist or neck.
Besides the leather, you’ll also need metal rods. These are various sizes and depending on how thick you want your lanyard to be, you’ll need to choose the right one. For example, if you want your lanyard to be around your neck, you’ll need the thicker the metal rods, the smaller the diameter. The same goes for wrist support – the thicker the metal rods, the more support you have at the wrist. If you’re not sure which size to get, just ask the person at the hardware store for help.
Cutting
Once you have the materials, you’ll need to cut them into the correct shape. For the most part, you can use a hacksaw or a pair of scissors to do this. If you are using an electric drill, you’ll need to purchase an abrasive disk to prevent yourself from drilling through the leather when cutting.
Preparing The Ends
For the initial cut, you’ll need to prepare the ends of the leather – this means that you’ll need to round them over so that they’ll look polished when done. For this step, you can use any type of leather cleaner, but make sure to use it on a dry leather surface. After applying the cleaner, you can use a brush to remove any excess oil – this will make the leather look like it was sprayed on instead of brushed on.
Stitching
Once you have the ends of the leather prepared, you’ll need to start stitching it together. For this step, you can use almost any type of thread; however, you want to make sure that it’s not too thick or too thin. If you’re using a thicker thread than what the material will naturally absorb, then you may need to use a needle of a larger size to be able to stitch it through the leather without any holes popping up. This would make the leather weaker and more susceptible to tearing.
Mounting The Puck
With the stitching complete, you can move on to the fun part of making the lanyard – hanging the puck off of it! For this step, you’ll need to use the thicker metal rods and something to secure it to. You don’t have to be overly creative here; any type of hard plastic or cardboard will do – just make sure that it’s safe and flexible enough to fit smoothly around your wrist or neck.
Finishing Touches
Once you have your puck mounted, you can use a pair of scissors or a knife to trim any excess material around the edges. If you’re using a knife, make sure to cut vertically to the long grain of the leather so that it’ll become soft and pliable as you stretch it. When cutting, stay as close to the edge as possible without cutting all the way through – this will help give it more strength when you stitch it together again.
Once you have cut it, you can use an awl or a needle to poke holes in the leather where you’ll want to tie it together. Then, take your time in either starching it or using a clear nail polish to paint a design on it – anything to personalize it and make it special.
Making A Puck Lacey For Wrist Support
If you’re using wrist support, there are several things that you’ll need to keep in mind. The first is that you’ll need to make a smaller version of this lanyard for the wrist. But instead of a puck, you’ll need to use a ball. Also, you’ll need to use thinner metal rods and a shorter piece of leather – this will make it more flexible and comfortable on the wrist. When starching it, be careful not to lock your wrist while stretching the leather – this could cause strain and injury.
Final Touches
Once you have your wrist supported, you can use a razor or a knife to trim any excess material around the edges of the leather. Then, you can use a needle or an awl to poke holes through the leather where you’ll want to tie it together. When starching it, make sure not to lock your wrist while stretching the leather – this could cause strain and injury.
That’s pretty much everything you need to know about how to make a hockey laceranyard. From start to finish, this project only takes 30 minutes to an hour or two. With some basic tools and materials you can’t get anywhere else, you can’t help but admire the craftsmanship that goes into a handmade lanyard.