Project: 3 Strand Bracelet

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Project: 3 Strand Bracelet

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Materials and Tools:

 Beading Wire

 Crimp beads (12)

 Crimp bead covers (12)

 3 different kinds of beads (you need a few inches worth of each)

 Focal beads (you can use 1 to 3 beads for this)

 20 gauge wire

 Clasp (I used a toggle clasp)

 Jump rings (I used about 4 7mm jump rings)

 Wire cutters

 Crimp tool or chain nose pliers

 Round nose pliers

 Chain nose pliers

 A second pair of pliers (such as bent nose pliers)

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Possible Substitutions/How to Source Inexpensively:

You can try sourcing beads from thrift store jewelry you take apart or use coupons or hit up a sale at your local bead store.

If you don’t have a crimp tool, you can use chain nose pliers to close the crimp beads.

Just smoosh the crimp bead and then fold it in half.

To figure out the length of the bracelet:

#1 Measure tightly around your wrist.

#2 Subtract by the size of the focal bead(s). This number is how long the bead strands plus any bead links will be. Once you add the clasp, the bracelet will be looser on your wrist.

NOTE: If you prefer a tight bracelet then also subtract the size of the clasp, too to get your strand size.

Step #1

First we’ll make 1 to 3 bead links. With this project I used 3 smaller beads to make 3 bead links. You may want to just use one large bead.

Possibly you won’t even want to add this element to your bracelet at all.

To make the bead link, first cut a piece of 20 gauge, half hard wire about 3 inches long.

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Step #2

Hold the wire in round nose pliers about a third of the way down the wire. Bend the wire toward you and around the pliers.

Step #3

Remove the wire from the round nose pliers and hold the loop in chain nose pliers.

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Step #4

Wrap the shorter end of the wire around the longer end. As you do this, also

straighten the loop. (Alternatively, you can straighten it before you do the wrap or even by rolling back your hand while the loop is still in the round nose pliers.

Step #5

Continue wrapping a few times and then cut off any excess wire. Make sure to keep your wraps even and tight. Make sure the end is not poking out.

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Step #6

Slide a bead onto the wire.

Repeat steps #2, #3, #4 and #5 for this end. (Hold the wire just above the bead to start.)

Repeat for all the bead links you would like to make.

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Step #7

Measure your bead links.

Pursuant to the note on page 3, subtract this amount from the total length of the bracelet to figure out how long the actual beaded strands should be on your bracelet.

Step #8

Cut 3 strands of beading wire to the length of #7 plus about 6 inches or so.

Step #9

I tape one end of each piece of beading wire to hold the beads on. Alternatively, you could use a commercial product called a bead stop.

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Step #10

Bead each wire with one of your bead choices to the length in step #7.

Step #11

On the free end of the beaded strands, slide a crimp bead, small bead (such as a seed bead) and a crimp bead. You may need to use an additional seed bead next to the last bead of your strand depending on the size of the bead. (I did that in this bracelet).

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Step #12

All 3 strands will go through one of the loops on one of your bead links.

If you’re not using bead links, then you’ll string them to your clasp.

However, you can just crimp them doing one strand at a time.

Step #13

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Take the end of the wire, pull it through the loop of the bead link (or clasp) and then slide it back through the crimp beads, seed beads and a few of the beads of the strand. Pull it tightly, but leave a little bit of room so the bracelet is somewhat flexible.

Step #14

Using a crimping tool, use the notch that is closest to the handle to close the crimp bead. Then use the notch closer to the tip to fold the crimp in half.

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Here are photos that you can see a bit better:

How to close a crimp bead:

I wanted you to be able to see this perfectly clearly, so the photos are without the necklace. But in reality, the wire would be going through the crimp bead and this would be at the end of your necklace.

Put the crimp bead in the large notch in the crimp bead tool – the part furthest from the tip.

Close the crimp bead tool. It will close the crimp bead. It will have a bend in the middle and look like the photo below.

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Now take the crimp bead and put it in the notch closest to the tip. What you’re trying to accomplish is folding that bead in half really.

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Close the tool.

After it’s closed, I like to make sure it’s secure by tugging on the wire to check.

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Step #15

Since the crimp bead isn’t very pretty when it’s closed, I like to add a crimp bead cover. This bead looks like a “C” or a clam.

Hold the crimp bead cover in a crimp tool or in chain nose pliers.

Put it around the crimp bead.

Close it.

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They should just look live silver beads when they’re closed.

Step #16

Repeat the process for all 3 strands.

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Step #17

Now repeat this process again for the other end. If you are using 2 or 3 bead links, add them to a bead link. If you’re using just one, the other end will go on an end of your clasp. If you’re not using any bead links, just add them to the other end of the clasp.

Step #18

Trim off any excess wire very close to the beads.

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Step #19

Open a jump ring. Hold the jump ring with 2 pliers (I’m using chain nose and bent nose pliers). The opening of the jump ring should be centered and the pliers on each side.

(Or watch a short video on how to properly open and close jump rings here.)

Step #20

Push one pair of pliers back and pull one forward, maintaining the circle of the jump ring and open it.

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Using the jump ring, attach any remaining bead links and the clasp to the bracelet.

Close the jump ring by doing the opposite of opening. I go past the point of closing a couple of times. The jump ring might click into place, you may feel or hear it click.

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Ideas for Customization:

 Use any beads you like – mix them up, the strands don’t have to be just one type of bead!

 Make it with just 1 or 2 strands instead.

 Make more bead links or use none at all.

 Use a lobster clasp with jump rings at the other end.

 Make one of the strands a series of bead links instead of stringing.

 Add chain instead of one of the strands.

 Try it in copper or gold.

 Use a bead link as one end of a clasp and a lobster clasp on the other end.

My Materials:

Clasp is from Happy Mango Beads www.happymangobeads.com Green beads and clear beads I purchased at Michaels

The pink beads were from Etsy (I have had them for a long time, so I don’t know the exact shop.) They are flower beads.

Pewter flower beads from Happy Mango Beads

Stuck?

Send me an email and I’ll try to help you: [email protected]

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(Put RYC Help in the subject line so I see it more quickly. If it’s a jewelry making question, it’s always helpful if you can attach a photo if possible so I can see where you’re getting stuck.)

Teaching women to rediscover their creativity through making jewelry.

www.KimberlieKohler.com

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