DIY | Chokers

They are back! Now, chokers are the new it jewellery. You can choose a classic and simple velvet ribbon or you can create your own designs. All chokers have in common that they are wrapped tightly around the neck.

If you want to make a choker that matches your personality, the possibilities are infinite. A thin leather cord tied around the neck is a minimalist choker, alternatively, you can take a longer cord and wrap it around your neck a few times – or you make a broad soft leather choker and decorate it as you please.

For this inspirational collection we exclusively used leather cord. You will find many examples of how your own, self-made choker might look like. All the necklaces presented here are very easy to recreate. Now you can follow the trend designing a choker which matches your outfit and personal taste.

Choker with green lamb’s leather cord

We used the following materials to make this choker:

• 30cm green lamb’s leather cord
• 1 cross with crystals, silver-plated brass
• 2 ribbon crimp ends, 19mm, silver-plated brass
• 2 jumprings, 4mm, silver-plated brass
• 1 lobster claw clasp, 10mm, silver-plated brass
• 1 chain extender, silver-coloured

• jewellery thread (fireline 6lb)
• sewing needle for leather
• jewellery glue

First, you take the sewing needle for leather and the jewellery thread and fasten the cross to the middle of the leather cord. Then, you clamp the ribbon crimp ends onto the ends of the strap. If you want to, you can apply a bit of jewellery glue on the leather before you press the crimp ends together. After that, you attach the lobster claw clasp to one crimp end with a jumpring. Finally, you fasten the chain extender to the other crimp end with the second jumpring.

In an earlier blog post we explained how to open a jumpring correctly.

Choker with dark red lamb’s leather cord

We used the following materials to make this choker:

• 30cm  lamb’s leather cord, bordeaux
• 1 hamsa with crystals, gold-plated brass
• 2 ribbon crimp ends, 19mm, gold-plated brass
• 2 jumprings, 4mm, gold-plated brass
• 1 lobster claw clasp, 10mm, gold-plated brass
• 1 chain extender, gold-plated brass

• jewellery thread (fireline 6lb)
• sewing needle for leather
• jewellery glue

First, you take the sewing needle for leather and the jewellery thread and fasten the hamsa to the middle of the leather cord. Then, you clamp the ribbon crimp ends onto the ends of the strap. If you want to, you can apply a bit of jewellery glue on the leather before you press the crimp ends together. After that, you attach the lobster claw clasp to one crimp end with a jumpring. Finally, you fasten the chain extender to the other crimp end with the second jumpring.

In an earlier blog post we explained how to open a jumpring correctly.

Choker with cream-coloured lamb’s leather cord

We used the following materials to make this choker:

• 30cm cream-coloured lamb’s leather cord
• 32cm cable chain, gold-plated brass
• 2 ribbon crimp ends, 19mm , gold-plated brass
• 2 jumprings, 4mm, gold-plated brass
• 1 lobster claw clasp, 10mm, gold-plated brass
• 1 chain extender, gold-plated brass

• jewellery thread (fireline 6lb)
• sewing needle for leather
• jewellery glue

First, you sew the cable chain on the leather cord. Then, you clamp the ribbon crimp ends onto the ends of the strap. If you want to, you can apply a bit of jewellery glue on the leather before you press the crimp ends together. After that, you attach the lobster claw clasp to one crimp end with a jumpring. Finally, you fasten the chain extender to the other crimp end with the second jumpring.

In an earlier blog post we explained how to open a jumpring correctly.

Choker with red lamb’s leather cord

We used the following materials to make this choker:

• 30cm red lamb’s leather cord
• 1 infinity symbol, gold-plated brass
• 2 ribbon crimp ends, 10mm, gold-plated brass
• 2 jumprings, 4mm, gold-plated brass
• 1 lobster claw clasp, 10mm, gold-plated brass
• 1 chain extender, gold-plated brass

• jewellery thread (fireline 6lb)
• sewing needle for leather
• jewellery glue

First, you you cut the lamb’s leather cord to shape. You need a 30cm long and 10mm wide strap.

Then, you sew the infinity symbol to the middle of the leather cord using the the sewing needle for leather and the jewellery thread. Once this is done, you clamp the ribbon crimp ends onto the ends of the strap. If you want to, you can apply a bit of jewellery glue on the leather before you press the crimp ends together. After that, you attach the lobster claw clasp to one crimp end with a jumpring. Finally, you fasten the chain extender to the other crimp end with the second jumpring.

In an earlier blog post we explained how to open a jumpring correctly.

Choker with leather cord and gilded tube

We used the following materials to make this choker:

• 35cm leather cord, rustic brown, 1.5mm
• 1 clasp set with lobster claw clasp, gold-plated brass
• 1 gilded, curved tube, 50x3mm, gold-plated brass
• jewellery glue

Thread the tube onto the leather cord and glue the cord ends into the sockets of the clasp set. If you want to, you can press the sockets together a bit.

Choker with wavy leather cord

We used the following materials to make this choker:

• 30cm leather cord, dark bordeaux, flat, wavy
• 2 ribbon crimp ends, 13mm, gold-plated brass
• 2 jumprings, 4mm, gold-plated brass
• 1 lobster claw clasp, 10mm, gold-plated brass
• 1 chain extender, gold-plated brass
• jewellery glue

Clamp the ribbon crimp ends onto the ends of the strap. If you want to, you can apply a bit of jewellery glue on the leather before you press the crimp ends together. After that, you attach the lobster claw clasp to one crimp end with a jumpring. Finally, you fasten the chain extender to the other crimp end with the second jumpring.

In an earlier blog post we explained how to open a jumpring correctly.

Black leather choker with pendant

We used the following materials to make this choker:

• 30cm black leather cord, 10mm
• 1 glass pendant, gilded teardrop, blue-green
• 2 ribbon crimp ends, 10mm, gold-plated brass
• 2 jumprings, 4mm, gold-plated brass
• 1 jumpring, 5mm, gold-plated brass
• 1 lobster claw clasp, 10mm, gold-plated brass
• 1 chain extender, gold-plated brass

• awl
• jewellery glue

First, you pierce a hole into the middle of the leather strap with an awl. The hole should be placed close to the edge so that the jumpring can easily go through it. Hang the pendant into the jumpring and close it afterwards.

Then, you clamp the ribbon crimp ends onto the ends of the strap. If you want to, you can apply a bit of jewellery glue on the leather before you press the crimp ends together. After that, you attach the lobster claw clasp to one crimp end with a jumpring. Finally, you fasten the chain extender to the other crimp end with the second jumpring.

In an earlier blog post we explained how to open a jumpring correctly.

Nappa choker with Swarovski crystals

We used the following materials to make this choker:

• 30cm black nappa cord with Swarovski crystals
• 1 clasp set with lobster claw clasp, 5mm, silver-plated brass
• 1 chain extender, silver-coloured
• jewellery glue

First, you glue the leather cord ends into the sockets of the clasp set. Then, you fasten the chain extender to one side of the clasp set.

Deerskin choker with gilded tube

We used the following materials to make this choker:

• 30cm deerskin cord, natural brown ( or light yellow)
• 1 clasp set with chain extender, gold-plated brass
• 1 curved tube, 26 x 3 mm, gold-plated brass
• jewellery glue

First, you thread the tube onto the leather cord. Then, you apply a bit of jewellery glue in the sockets of the clasp set, glue the cord ends into the sockets and press them together around the leather cord.

As the leather cord is very soft, it might be difficult to string the tube. In our example we made a little hole into one end of the cord and pulled a thin thread through the hole. Finally, we used a split needle to pull the leather cord through the tube.

Braided leather choker with crystal pendant

• 30cm braided leather, flat, dark brown
• 1 clasp set, 5mm, silver-plated brass
• 1 chain extender, silver-coloured
• 1 pendant, silver-plated steel with purple crystal
• jewellery glue

String the pendant onto the leather cord and glue the cord ends into the sockets of the clasp set. Finally, you fasten the chain extender to one side of the clasp set.

Choker with fur and chain

• 30cm leather strap with fur and chain, 10mm
• 2 ribbon crimp ends,10mm , silver-plated brass
• 2 jumprings, 4mm, silver-plated brass
• 1 lobster claw clasp, 10mm, silver-plated brass
• 1 chain extender, silver-coloured
• jewellery glue

You clamp the ribbon crimp ends onto the ends of the strap. If you want to, you can apply a bit of jewellery glue on the leather before you press the crimp ends together. After that, you attach the lobster claw clasp to one crimp end with a jumpring. Finally, you fasten the chain extender to the other crimp end with the second jumpring.

In an earlier blog post we explained how to open a jumpring correctly.

Have fun making your own chokers!

Have you got any questions, suggestions or comments? Please write to us in the commentary field below. Thank you!