Leather Mystery Braid Cuff 

This guy is like that art teacher in jr. high where you walk into class on the first day with no interest in art but because of his great attitude, patience and dedication to his craft, you develop an interest where you had none before.

Hi! I'm Catt in Portland, Oregon. I made and sold these "Mystery Bracelets" while in Madison, Hi School, I graduated 1971. Being a "Hippie Chic", I was into making crafts like Candles (I made my own molds),Macrame (I have the Macrame hanging Owl plant holder from my Mothers' home) this "Owl" is hanging safely on my balcony wall and in excellent condition. Small macrame like bracelets, earrings, necklaces. Leather items these "Mystery bracelets" were my lunch money, some clothing money, craft money and of course my horses' shoes, bridles, saddle pads, grain, hay. My Mystery bracelets were not copied from anyone and I didn't tell anyone how I made them. They started from scrap leather that was too nice to throw away. Thank you for reading this comment; got a little excited.

This video should be shown to teachers. Everything is clear, concise, easily understandable, full of positive energy. I don't know what caused youtube to suggest this to me, but good grief I'm glad it did!

Craftsmen sharing their expertise are some of the best contributors to RU-vid.

dont know how i ended here.but this video solve 1 life mystery. thank you sir

I don't have any interest in leather working at all. BUT the way this guy talks and his attitude is awesome. I'm subscribing just so I can watch more leather Bob Ross.

Damn! He is such a good teacher. You can tell he has a lifetime of experience and love for what he does!

Can't believe this is free and available to the public. Thank you for your dedication to your craft and for making this an accessible hobby to everyone!

I believe most of us here wonder why this popped up in our recommended videos but ended up watching it ang liking it. Thank you, Sir!

‘Chew up a little real estate’ is the best way I’ve heard to say ‘get smaller’ 😄😄

I bet it smells fantastic in his shop. Idk if it’s the leather or polish or combo but walking in a leather shop always smells so good.

I’ve always wondered how those are done, so cool to see how! My grandma used to do leathercraft, but her rheumatism put an end to it. So I feel that by learning the craft, I’m honouring her, in a way.

your like the bob ross of leather. such a soothing lesson

I've always wondered how you make these, but I have no idea how it ended up in my feed, haha... Cool info, though!

I foolishly undid a braided wristband... now I "know" how to redo it, but not this late a night and sober... Thank you sir!

I'm not sure why this showed up in my suggestions but it brought me tremendous joy and a flood of emotion. My father had a leather store from the 70s thru to the late 90s. Even after he was infirmed at the VA hospital he taught leather working to others there. I've made plenty of these cuffs but it was a long time ago. I was a daddy's girl and wish I'd taken over the business like he wanted me to back then. Thank you YT for the suggestion and thank you to the content creator for this great video.

This guy is a wizard with leather. So easy to learn and motivating.

I knew a guy who was a master of the mystery braid. He could braid any odd number of strips. He made me an absolutely gorgeous guitar strap with fifteen strips over fifty years ago that I still have and even occasionally use.

I've been looking for a hobby for my up coming retirement and thanks to you I have found it. Thank you.

You are an amazing teacher. Each step is clearly explained and you address issues and reasons and just general good practice while teaching us to do a really cool project and it didn't feel like learning. I often ( most of the time) rewind a video every 10 sec to rewatch because I have forgotten what I just saw. I am absolutely confident I could ( and am about to) replicate it and not rewatch once. You have a true gift. Thank you

I was engaged the the whole video and I don’t even craft.

It's been a while since I had done a mystery braid and was looking for a refresher video. Wow was I surprised to see the man who originally got me started with leather working explaining it again in his wonderful clear style. It's great to see you on here reaching more people!

I've always wondered how this was done! I love it! I am so interested in leathercrafting. I love every part of the process and all the tools involved. I'm in a really rough situation and hoping to come out of this dark place, and I think I'm going to take the leap and invest in this. I'm a beginner, with no experience but I feel naturally drawn to leathercraft and very confident that I can achieve this goal.

the amount of mental gymnastics needed for someone to create this for the first time... oh boy, that's some crazy stuff right there

Wow! I don't work with leather, but I really appreciate being able to see the magic of how it's done. :D You're an excellent teacher. Thank you!

I love how energetic and enthusiastic this guy is. He loves working with leather and that's awesome.

I have absolutely no intrest or ontent in doing this.... but I stumbled over this video and now I'm fascinated!!!

I was making these in the early 70s. In fact, my wedding headband was a blue velvet one that my daughter used too.

I also loved the close up and very useful demostration of how to detangle twice and how each of them where very different acording to the amount of sets doneand the explanation of start braiding under instead off over for a better clean look. I suscribed

Sometimes, when you’re cutting something this narrow, the knife tends to travel and you won’t get a straight line. I found that if you take a wide strip of painters tape and attach it to the Skiver side on both the piece you’re cutting and the piece that you’re laying the square on for stability you will get a nice neat cut with out the chance of wondering.

Would love to spend a week with Chuck learning this in his shop. What an amazing instructor!

Almost 40 years ago I went to a cub scout camp were we made braided leather bracelets like this. I couldn't figure out how to do the braid and it has bothered me ever since. Thank you internet.

Fantastic demonstration and you are an excellent teacher! I've never done leather working before and I feel that I could make one of these. Thank you!

This answered a question I've had for years. I finished the video and immediately made one with my brothers old scrap leather, tin snips, my pocket knife and a dull exacto knife. Not how I expected my morning to go, thank you for the inspiring video :)

The confidence you make all of your cuts and punches is impressive. Belies you experience. Nicely done.

I'm a 58 year old man who never knew how to braid until seeing this video 👍you my friend are an artist with the love you show is amazing !!! Thank you and I pray that you're still doing what you love doing. I'm gonna subscribe because I'm interested in learning how to work with leather ! 👍💯😎

Another “why am I watching this” moment But good stuff though✌🏻

You make me like the leather subject at college, our professors don't really explain how to do leather works, they just show us and tell us to figure it out and be creative. ThanQ so much I just subscribed XD

Chuck, your the best. I am 70 now and started doing leather projects because of you 2 years ago. I binged watched your videos. Loved every one and I have made so many leather products as gifts for family and friends.

Knowledge is nothing if cannot translate into a common easy message that anyone can understand. I love your style of teaching, awesome work! Thank you so much!

he feels like a dad tbh it makes me feel so comforted

I bought a pack of bracelets already cut and it came with braiding instructions. Yours are so much easier to understand. And the tips are awesome! Thank you so much

When he described a bad cut as 'squirrely' i knew he was a professional craftsman. Instant sub

In my 22 years of life I have never had such a good explanation to braiding. I swear on it.

From a British person- I love this dudes accent. I feel like he would suit saying a small YEE HAAW

I have a bracelet just like that and for years, I stared at it wondering how it was braided. Now I know, and since that bracelet lost some of the braids over time due to wear (or maybe it had just one set to begin with), I was able to add a second set. It looks wonderful again. Thank you.

I don't know why I see this but I appreciate your attention to details. It is clear that you love what you do!

The way you verbally gave yourself a pat on the back after every move was honestly so nice to hear. I did used to wonder about these leather braids back when I had a woven belt in grade school. So thanks for solving that bit of ancient mystery for me! 😁

Wonderful teaching attitude! You turned a subject that’s interesting to you into a subject interesting to everyone watching. So great seeing how much you enjoy what you do. Thank you!

I always thought these looked so cool and could never figure out how it was done, you're really good at explaining it and making it easy

Mind blown. I didn't even skip a second of this video. One of the best how-to videos I've ever seen. I wish all my old teachers could communicate that well. 👍

I learned something new today...It's a good day when I can learn something new...

On the next episode of "Why is this in my recommended and why did I watched it all" We learn how to do mystery braid and tips on leatherworks.

I dont know how i got to this video. But watching how that braid was done, was pretty effin cool

I have always enjoyed working with leather. I just wish that I would have stayed with it. Thanks for sharing this with me.

How did so many people give this a thumbs down? He was extremely easy to follow even when he had to show us how to cut by hand if we don't have the tool.

Nice, good to know leather workers dont use magic to do that braid

RU-vid is weird when I'm on it for this long. I have absolutely no interest in leather work, but here I am, captivated AF...

Genius! I always wondered.......... I bet the strength in this fella's hands is amazing.

You are such a positive teacher. If i were young i would love to do my job training at your place.

I like how he compliments himself. "Nice!"

I had been wondering how to do this since I had learnt it in middle school but forgotten exactly how you twist the leather at the end and then this got recommended ,what a coincidence~

RU-vid knows me better than I do, and by a large margin: I didn't know I would like this video, it seemed so unlike what I usually watch, but I _did_ like it, it was great! Very entertaining and really nice.

just discovering your video. Really clean explanation from someone who know his job.

I’m doing mystery cuffs with my 5 grand girls this week! Should be fun, thanks for the tips and tutorials.

Seriously excellent job! I love how organized you were, quick you were, and the words were exactly what needed to be said! You could teach other video makers how to do it! Thank you for not wasting my time!

His opening about sums it up. I had one of these bracelets when I was a kid and I’ve always wondered how it worked.

I don't know why youtube recommend this but this video comtent amaze me and I discover a new knowledge. Thanks for a good content and keep it up and I like it.

This is an important video. Lessons in logic and small skills and facts that apply to a world wider than leather working.

Very nice!! your teaching method is great !!

The Missionary house father in Pietermaritzburg made us each one as a toggle for our neckerchief for Caravans . Our pack went to his workshop to show us how it's done. I've never forgotten and have used the technique as a nursery school teacher in arts and crafts

Subscribed for 3 reasons. 1) True craftsman that makes amazing stuff. 2) Blew my mind with this braid. 3) Repeatedly doing something really well and saying "Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice". Please NEVER stop doing #3. Very cool stuff.

I love this channel. Great ideas all the time but without constantly plugging their products.

And just like that I've managed to become wildly interested in leatherwork. Great video!

One of the better "how to" videos. Very well done.

I used this same method for a Rifle Sling, as you walked with your Rifle over your shoulder and bouncing around the Mystery Braid takes up the shock.

great and informative. the host does a great job

have nothing to do with those crafts but enjoyed every second 💖 thank you

Wonderful teacher! Tricks and tips are so helpful. The tone of his voice is soothing.

I used to do leather-crafting several decades ago. I learned a valuable lesson, that if you're doing custom work, you get paid in advance...especially if the person's name or initials are tooled into the project. I made a gun-belt with the impossible braid sections coming up to a carved name, in cursive, across the back and two slots up forward on the sides for two cross-draw 45 colt western gun-slinging revolvers that were western carved and the fellows initials carved in and shaded and the letters painted. The leather left natural color. The set was for the owner of a gasoline chain of stations. He got sued for something underhanded and went bankrupt and refused to pick up his project. I had a month of work and leather tied up in it. ALWAYS GET ALL THE MONEY UP FRONT BEFORE STARTING A CUSTOM JOB !!! ( I subbed. ) Bill, from Tn. 🇺🇸

Nice professional video that has gave a lot of people a new hobby and knowledge nice one .

Great clear instructions. I think I need to bring snaps into my work.

This is a very good TV show and we love it!

I can smell his workroom through the video. I love the aroma of leather. Great lesson, thank you!

Very Detailed! Answered all the questions other videos did not. Thank you.

Never watched anything like this before.... It was riveting !

I need some leather in my life. I lol when he said " now don't hit it into next week"!

It's really great to see the passion from this man with his work. When I tell people what I do for work they all jump off the nearest bridge from boredom.

wonderful job thanks for teaching

Спасибо тебе, дедушка американец. Хорошая работа.

I untangled one of these I had as a kid, and could never figure out how to redo it, so this is like a miracle...

It is fantastic to see a master craftsman at work. I think this video not only shows how it’s made, it also teaches to appreciate the handcrafted items. We live in a world of mass produced cheap items and most will agree, good work isn't cheap, cheap work isn't good. There is a reason why people are mesmerized watching you work. Thanks for the great video thumbs up!!!

I have some bracelets similar to these but I somehow undid the braids a long time ago and haven't been able to get it back to how it was since then. So yay now I can redo the braids.

This is AWESOME! Great content, wonderfully delivered!

Once I was blind, but now I see. Thank you for revealing the mystery of the mystery braid.

I always wondered how this was done..I subscribed as I worked with leather back in 80s and starting it back this year.

You are an awesome teacher!

😂😂😂I like what you said “ best friend, worst enemy “

I have been teaching braiding for almost twenty years and you are the only other person I have seen teach the mystery braid the same way I teach it. Classes usually really like doing it withe five strands.

Thank you so much for explaining every step in a warm and welcoming way, even right down to doing just a normal three strand braid before moving on to braiding the mystery braid :) it really made leather working seem more accessible to a brand new beginner