Tutorials

Leather Wrap Hat Band - Western Delica Pattern

Kiara Rimsza
July 23rd, 2025

Leather Wrap Hat Band - Western Delica Pattern

This tutorial teaches you how to make a leather wrap hat band using rows of Delica seed beads to create a Western-inspired pattern. The featured design, shown as the top in the images, combines earthy tones like turquoise, amber, and metallic colors in a geometric pattern that adds a handcrafted, Southwestern flair to any hat. It's a great project for adding unique, beaded detail to your Western look.

Finish using a different closure, like a button, to make this a 3 wrap bracelet.

*Please use caution while creating this project, it is very easy to poke yourself with the needle*

Materials Needed:

Delicas Size 11 Miyuki Seed Beads -- 1158 Galvanized Light Smoky Amethyst Semi Matte
Delicas Size 11 Miyuki Seed Beads -- 764 Transparent Dark Topaz Matte
Delicas Size 11 Miyuki Seed Beads -- 1272 Transparent Crystal Ivory Matte
Delicas Size 11 Miyuki Seed Beads -- 1163 Galvanized Mead Matte
Delicas Size 11 Miyuki Seed Beads -- 1261 Transparent Marigold Matte
Delicas Size 11 Miyuki Seed Beads -- 1268 Transparent Caribbean Teal Matte
Delicas Size 11 Miyuki Seed Beads -- 385 Sea Glass Green Matte
Natural Light Brown 1mm Leather Cord (7ft 4 inches - there will be a little leftover - use more leather if you wish your project to be longer - i.e. bigger hat)
Rose Gold Plated 8mm Silicone Suction Bead - 2.5mm Hole or color of your choice with a 2.5mm hole (1)
One-G Thread - 50 Yards - Brown
Tulip Size 10 Long Needles

Tools Required:

Thread Snips or Scissors

Bead Mat

GS-Hypo Cement

Mini Macrame Bead Board optional - you can also tape one end to your work surface

Pattern:

The pattern above shows the start and finish of the project, you will continue repeating the center pattern of the 3 shown until you reach your desired length

Instructions on Construction:1. Cut two lengths of equal leather measuring 3ft 8 inches each. Measure 8 inches to the point where you will make your first knot (longer if you want longer tail ends and you have longer pieces of leather as a whole), then place the two pieces of leather into the center of the macrame board. We will now create a Spanish Knot (also known as a Snake Knot).

Keep the left cord straight, loop the right cord under the left cord then over like shown in the picture above.

***TIP: you can also just tape the ends of your leather cord to your desk / work surface. The macrame board isn't necessary although very handy for using while traveling or an easy way to put your unfinished project away until you're ready to complete it.

2. While holding the loop you just made, take the left cord and thread the end through the previously made loop

3. Keeping the loops intact (don't let them fold over themselves), gently start to tighten the loops to create the knot.

4. Tighten the knot

***TIP: Be careful tightening your knots, it is much easier to tear leather than you realize.

5. Create two more Spanish knots so you have 3 in total lined up close together.

6. Cut 8 feet of one G thread, thread on the tulip needle and pull it to the center of the thread. At the end of the thread, tie an overhand knot to secure the ends together. Trim tail ends. Now we will attach the thread to the leather. First, you will put the knot end just under the left leather cord.

7. Thread your needle through the loop (over the leather)

8. Pull the thread to the right so the knot is "hiding" in the center between the two leather cords

9. Loop the thread under the right leather cord then over the left

10. Loop the thread under the left cord then over the right (can you tell we're making a figure 8?)

11. Create 2 more figure 8's and when your thread is going to the right, thread a 1272 Transparent Crystal Ivory Matte Delica Bead onto your needle and hold it below the two leather cords

12. Holding the delica bead with your left index finger and your thumb and finger holding the two leather cords, thread the needle back through the delica bead but now going over the leather cords. Pull tight

***TIP: Keep your thread consistently tight on both ends of the leather cord as you go, it will be easier to keep the left side tight and harder for the right. If one side is too loose it will warp your leather wrap.

13. Now add 2 1272 delica beads to your needle hold the delica beads with your left index finger and your thumb and finger holding the two leather cords - pull the thread through the two beads and pull the thread so it lays flush around the leather cord

14. Then thread the needle back through the 2 delica beads, pull through the thread and pull tight.

15. Now for the next row add 3 1272 delica beads

16. Then back through the 3 beads

17. For the next row add 4 beads and the row after that add 5

18. For the next row, use 5 beads, for the rest of the project (until you reach the end), each row will have 5 beads.

19. Keep following the pattern

20. Keep following the pattern until you have about 8 or so inches of thread left (it does not matter where you do this along your wire wrap). We will now tie off this thread and add new thread in the following steps.

Have the thread going off to the right

21. Turn your project over and thread your needle back through the row of delicas, but underneath the leather

22. Turn your project back around and then thread your needle through the previous row from left to right (over the leather)

23. Turn your project over and thread the needle back through the row of delicas, underneath the leather

24. Turn your project back around then thread the needle through the delica row one more time (it will be very tight). Cut the thread to leave two short tails and remove the needle.

25. Cut a new length of thread (about 6-8 feet whatever you feel comfortable working with) and pull your needle to the center of the long thread then line up the ends ***DO NOT KNOT THREAD***

Place the next 5 delica beads in your pattern (remember that you may be at a different point in the pattern, this is fine), and hold them in place using your pointer finger as you gently pull the needle and thread almost all the way through, you will leave about a 3 inch tail or so

26. Still holding the delicas, thread your needle back through the delica row

27. Turn your project around (still stabilizing those delicas) thread the needle through the row

28. Turn your project back around and thread the needle through the row above

29. Turn your project over and then thread the needle through the last row of delicas

30. Turn your project back around then thread the needle through the last row (this will be very tight)

31. Follow along the pattern to add the following row of delicas

32. And then back through the same row

33. Now you can cut the tails (not the current thread you are working with) - cut as close as possible to the leather

34. Then add a couple dabs of GS-Hypo cement to both sides.

***Why do we not tie a knot?***

We don't create a knot here because (especially if this project is worn as a bracelet) once the glue has dried, the knot is sharp, unsightly, and can cause irritation to the skin. Foregoing a knot and using tension and glue, we can create a secure and seamless finish to the start and end of our thread.

35. Once you have reached your desired length (I have 21 inches of beaded leather plus my leather tails) you will finish off the diamond of 1272 delica beads by decreasing a bead each time, just like in steps 11 through 17