Hey everyone! It's time for another tutorial! But instead of my usual
polymer clay beadmaking tutorials, I'm going to share a bracelet
how-to. This design all started with my
May CoM bracelet.
It was such a fun bracelet to make and I got some questions on
how I'd made it, so for today's post I made a second bracelet and
photographed all the steps to share the process with you. I hope you
enjoy!
Here's the bracelet you're going to make…
Supplies you'll need:
- 20 gauge wire
- 22 gauge wire
- 24 gauge wire
- 3mm micro suede
- SoftFlex beading wire
- crimps
- crimp cover
- clasp
- headpin
- focal bead or an assortment of beads to stack for your focal
- 4 8mm-10mm coordinating beads (for the centerpiece)
- an assortment of coordinating small beads (for the bracelet strap)
Tools you'll need:
- wire cutters
- round-nose pliers
- flat-nose pliers
- bent-nose pliers
- crimping pliers
- scissors
- permanent marker
- measuring tape
First,
string your focal beads onto a headpin and wrap tightly. I used four
beads to make a stacked focal bead, but you can use whatever you'd like.
Next we're going to make the wire-wrapped center piece…
1.
First, form your base for the centerpiece——take a length of 20 gauge
wire about 3 inches longer than the length across the top of your
wrist. Make a double loop and wrap the tail end of the wire twice.
2.
String your 8mm - 10mm coordinating beads and your focal onto the
wire, and then loop and wrap the other end. You want these loops to
come just past the sides of your wrist.
3. Cut a 36 inch length of 22 gauge wire and wrap it over your 20 gauge wrapping that you just made.
4.
Continue wrapping with the 22 gauge wire, passing over the top of the
first bead, then wrap twice between the beads, and then over the top of
the second bead.
5. Repeat steps 3-4 on the other side. Mark the center of the base wire with a permanent marker.
6. Continue wrapping both sides of the 22 gauge wire towards the mark you made to center the focal.
7. Wrap both wires around the base of the focal——this will tighten it so it won't wobble.
8. With the same wires, wrap around the base wire again.
9. Continue wrapping all the way to the loop of the base wire at the end.
10. And then with the same wire, wrap back to the center. Do the same on the other side.
11. Wrap around the focal again, crossing over the base wire.
12. Trim the wire ends and straighten the centerpiece, making sure the two loops on the end are straight.
There
are really no rules to these steps (9-12). Your goal is just to make
sure the focal is tight and that you like the wrapping over and around
your beads. Play around until you are happy with the results.
Now we're going to move onto making the back of your bracelet…
13. Curve the centerpiece to fit your wrist.
14.
Thread the micro suede onto one loop, double over, and fit to your
wrist. Keep in mind that you don't want the finished bracelet to be
able to turn on your wrist, so make it a little snug. Be sure to take
into account the length of your clasp.
15. Cut two lengths
of suede about 3 inches longer than the length needed to fit your wrist.
This extra length will be for the clasp connector and the tassel. Thread
the suede through the loop on the right side of your centerpiece.
16. Cut a length of SoftFlex beading wire and thread it though the loop also, placing it inside the suede.
17. Next, thread a seed bead or crimp onto both strands of the SoftFlex wire to hold it in place for the next step.
18.
Fold the micro suede over the SoftFlex and using a length of 22 gauge
wire, wrap around the suede and SoftFlex to hold them together. If your seed bead or
crimp is not hidden you can remove it.
19. String your small coordinating beads on one strand of the SoftFlex.
20. String the second strand. Crimp and cover.
21.
If you want, you can leave your bead strands and suede lying side by
side, or you can weave them together. I wove mine together, but didn't
follow any pattern——I just played around until I found an arrangement
that I liked.
22. Cut a length of 22 gauge wire and thread
it through the crimped loop at the end of your beaded strands, passing
it between the suede strands——when gathered together, the crimp will be covered.
23.
Wrap around the suede strands and beaded strands, keeping the crimp
end in the center. Slide the clasp into the two inside suede strands. (I
added some wirewrapping to the clasp to make it a bit fancier.)
24. Hold the clasp in place by making another wirewrapping in 22 gauge wire on the left side of the clasp.
25. Trim the suede ends even and using 24 gauge wire, make a small wrap at each end.
And you're finished! Enjoy wearing your new bracelet!
Be sure to share a link of your finished bracelet in the comments below… we'd love to see it!
