The beaded bracelet is a must-have accessory for every girl. You can make it yourself or buy it from your favorite store, but either way, it’s the perfect way to express your personal style.
The easiest way to make a beaded bracelet is with a stretchy cord like elastic or rubber bands; this will keep the beads in place without damaging them when you wear them out!
Keep reading for 15 simple steps on how to make your very own beaded bracelets in no time at all!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Making a beaded bracelet can be easy with just a few materials. |
| Follow a step-by-step guide to avoid mistakes in your project. |
| Consider the type of bead, stringing material, and clasp you want to use. |
| Be creative with your designs by personalizing your bracelets. |
| Explore other tutorials or resources on beaded bracelets to learn different techniques. |
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
To make your own bracelet, you’ll need:
Beads. Choose beads in a color that complements your outfit or the event where you plan to wear it. If you’re making a gift, consider what kind of color palette the person likes and purchase some coordinating beads.
For example, if your friend is into pinks and purples, consider buying amethyst or rose quartz beads for her bracelet.
Thread (or dental floss). Most people use embroidery floss because it’s easier to handle than sewing thread but either will work just fine and either can be found at any craft store for relatively little money.
Scissors (or clippers) with rounded tips instead of sharp points so that they won’t cut through any threads as you go along!
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Step 2: Measure Your Strands
Using your tape measure, measure the circumference of your wrist, or the length of your friend’s wrist if you’re making it for them.
If you want to add a clasp and make a bracelet, measure the distance from where you want to attach the clasp to where you want it to end. Subtract this measurement from your initial measurement and write down what’s left (this is how long we need our strands).
Now that you know how long each strand needs to be, we can figure out what kind of bead size will suit us best.
The easiest way I’ve found is by using different lengths as benchmarks: all four strands should come together at one point the center knot and then extend beyond that point into two pieces with enough room between them so they fit comfortably around another person’s wrist without being too bulky or tight on either side of their hand/wristbone area (see image above).
Step 3: Tie Your Knots
To finish your bracelet, tie a knot at the end of the cord. This is known as a “bead on an inch” or “BOI” knot.
Tie another bead on and make sure that it’s tight enough to stay in place, but not so tight that it can’t be adjusted later down the line if necessary.
Tie a second knot on top of this bead (make sure it’s also tight enough not to fall out), then continue tying knots as needed until you reach either end of your bracelet (or both ends).
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Step 4: Thread On Your Beads
Now that your cord is threaded through the bead, you’re ready to begin stringing them on!
When threading beads onto your bracelet, it’s important that you use the correct size beads for your project.
If you don’t have a beading needle (the long, thin tool used for stringing beads) handy, use something else that can easily poke through both sides of a bead: a straight pin or sewing needle work great here. You can also use a crochet hook (or even just some wire cutters!).
Step 5: Alternate Between Shapes And Colors
You can use any type of bead for this DIY project, but it’s best to use beads that are the same size. The more you use, the more colorful your bracelet will be!
In step 4 we used three different shapes and two colors of beads on our bracelet. Now we’re going to alternate between those two shapes and add in more colors using four more different shapes.
You can also mix up your color palette by using a variety of shades within one color family (like reds or blues), or even combining two different color families as I’ve done here with gray and white/creamy brown shades.
| Steps | Description |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Choose colorful beads, such as Miyuki Delica Seed Beads, in varying shapes and sizes. |
| Step 2 | Select two colors and shapes of beads from your collection. |
| Step 3 | Thread one bead of each color onto your stringing material, such as Beadalon Wildfire Thread. |
| Step 4 | Repeat step 3 until you’ve added your desired number of beads to your bracelet. |
| Step 5 | Continue alternating between the two shapes and colors until you reach the desired length. |
This table provides step-by-step guidance on how to alternate between shapes and colors when making a beaded bracelet. It recommends using Miyuki Delica Seed Beads for their color and shape variety and Beadalon Wildfire Thread for their durability. Following these steps will create a dynamic, visually appealing pattern on your bracelet.
Step 6: Cut Off Excess Thread
To cut off excess thread, use a sharp pair of scissors. Be careful not to cut too close to the bead or you risk cutting through the thread that’s holding your bracelet together.
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Step 7: Tie Another Knot
To make sure the bracelet is tight and secure, it’s important to tie a knot in the end of your thread.
This will also help you make a bracelet with consistent sizing by ensuring that each bead is uniform throughout. You can use one of two types of knots for this purpose: either a loop or a double knot.
A loop allows you to slide beads onto your thread as needed; however, if you choose not to use loops then make sure to use a double knot so that it doesn’t come undone!
Step 8: Start Wrapping!
Now you’re ready to start wrapping! Begin by taking the end of one strand and threading it through the first bead on your bracelet.
Pull tight, but not so tight that it’s too difficult to pull through. Once you’ve done this, take the other side of your thread and wrap it around a few times before pushing it back through. This will ensure that any gaps are hidden by stitches.
If you’re using seed beads or another small type of bead, keep in mind that they may require more wraps than larger beads do but don’t worry too much about how many wraps each bead needs!
As long as they’re all covered by thread when finished, they’ll look great! You can also use different kinds of threads if you want something fancier than plain cotton floss (which works best). If so: just make sure whatever kind of string/threading material is being used meets industry standards for strength before proceeding with Step 9 below 🙂
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Step 9: Wrap And Cut More Thread
Now you’re ready to wrap the thread around the bracelet several times. This is a crucial step, because it’ll allow your beads to remain in place and will create a more substantial bracelet.
When you’ve wrapped enough times, cut off any excess threads with your jewelry shears (or scissors). Repeat this process until you have enough beads on your beaded bracelet!
| Steps | Description |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Pick up your beading wire or thread and wrap it around your fingers a few times. |
| Step 2 | Hold the wrapped thread in place with your other hand and use a pair of scissors, such as Fiskars Softouch Micro-Tip Scissors, to cut the thread. |
| Step 3 | Remove the excess thread or wire to leave enough for your project. |
| Step 4 | Repeat as needed, depending on the length of thread or wire you need for your project. |
This table provides step-by-step guidance on how to wrap and cut more thread or wire when making a beaded bracelet project. It recommends using Fiskars Softouch Micro-Tip Scissors for cutting the thread or wire accurately. Following these steps will ensure you have enough thread or wire to complete your project without wasting supplies.
Step 10: Wrap Four Times And Cut Excess Thread
Now you will start to tie a knot at the end of your thread, but it’s important that you wrap four times around the last bead before doing so.
This is because if you don’t do this, then your bracelet will not be as secure and likely come undone over time.
Once you’ve wrapped four times around the last bead then cut off any excess thread from either side of it using scissors or nail clippers (you can also use wire cutters).
Once you have done this, pass through one side of your previous knot twice so that there are now two loops on either side of it again and tighten by pulling on each one individually until all three seem balanced.
Then tie another knot on top of this one with 3-4 wraps away from where we started just like we did earlier when starting out with our first piece of string.
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Step 11: Tape The End Of The Strand To The Bracelet So It Stays In Place
Now, it’s time to secure the end of your thread so that you don’t have any loose strands. To do this, simply place a piece of tape over the end of the strand. If you’re using an especially long strand, you may want to wrap several pieces of tape around each other for added security.
If you choose to use more than one color in your bracelet, make sure each color has its own spot at which it is secured on either side so that they don’t overlap with each other and get tangled up during construction. For example:
It is important that there are no frayed or loose ends sticking out into open space once you’ve finished taping off your threads!
Step 12. Tie A Knot At The End Of The Other Thread To Create The 2nd Bracelet Loop
Now that you have one bracelet loop on your hand, it’s time to make another one. To do this, tie a knot at the end of the other thread and pull it through to create a 2nd bracelet loop.
This step is similar to Step 8 (Tie A Knot At The End Of Your Thread) and Step 11 (Pull Your Thread Through).
| Materials | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Thread | 1 strand |
| Beads | As needed |
| Steps | Instructions |
|---|---|
| 1. | Tie a knot at the end of the thread on the opposite side of the first loop. |
| 2. | String the beads onto the thread, making sure to leave enough space at the end to tie a knot. |
| 3. | Loop the thread around and tie another knot to create the second loop. |
| 4. | Trim any excess thread carefully with scissors. |
Note: The number of beads needed will depend on the desired size and design of the bracelet.
Step 13. Repeat Steps 10 To 12 On This Side.
Since you’ve already done all the hard work, now is a good time to take a break. Relax and congratulate yourself on your hard-earned accomplishment! You’ve just made your first beaded bracelet!
- Tie a knot at the end of the thread on this side.* Trim down all the thread ends with scissors.* Repeat Steps 10 To 12 On This Side.
Step 14. Trim Down All The Thread Ends Using Scissors
Now that you’ve completed all of the steps, you are ready to trim down all of the thread ends. Using scissors, cut off any excess thread until each end looks smooth. This is a great time-saving tip!
A small pair of scissors will help you get right in close when trimming these little threads without having to worry about getting poked by an awkward stitch or stringing needle at every turn.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed learning how to make a beaded bracelet. It’s such a fun project to do with friends, and the finished product is so beautiful. Don’t forget to share your results with us! We would love to see what you came up with using this tutorial as your guide.
Further Reading
If you’re interested in making beaded bracelets, here are some additional resources you might find helpful:
WikiHow’s Guide on How to Make a Beaded Bracelet: A step-by-step guide with images to help you create your own beaded bracelets.
Sarah Maker’s Guide to Beaded Bracelets: A comprehensive guide to making beaded bracelets with lots of tips and tricks to help you get started.
Cooksongold’s Step-by-Step Guide to Making Beaded Bracelets: A detailed tutorial with instructions on how to make different types of beaded bracelets.
FAQs
What materials do I need to make a beaded bracelet?
To make a beaded bracelet, you will need beads, stringing material, clasps, and pliers. Depending on the type of bracelet you want to make, you may also need crimp beads, jump rings, and other findings.
How do I choose the right beads for my bracelet?
The type of beads you choose will depend on the look you’re going for. Beads come in a range of sizes, colors, and materials, so consider what will look best with the design you have in mind. You may also want to consider the durability of the beads you choose.
What stringing materials are best for beaded bracelets?
There are several types of stringing materials you can use for beaded bracelets, including nylon thread, silk cord, and beading wire. The type of stringing material you choose will depend on the type of beads you are using and the strength of the final product you want.
What are some beginner-friendly beaded bracelet designs?
There are many easy beaded bracelet designs that are great for beginners to try. Some popular options include simple stretch bracelets, single-strand string bracelets, and woven seed bead bracelets.
How can I personalize my beaded bracelets?
Adding charms, pendants, and other embellishments can be a great way to personalize your beaded bracelets. You can also mix different types of beads and use different colors to create unique designs.
Hellen James is the creator of Unified Crafts and has been crafting since she was a kid accompanied by her mom to the craft store, where she was free to choose whatever ignited her imagination.