This post is for all the moms out there with a stash of old amber necklaces just begging to be made into something new and pretty. Because if you’re anything like me, those necklaces have been gathering dust for half a decade now. Go on and dig the necklaces out of storage – I’m going to show you how easy it is to make a wrap bracelet using the amber beads.
I posted about the bracelets yesterday and I went over all the things I did wrong. I’m not sure if it was helpful information or if I just scared people away. Perhaps it helps to know that I often mess up my craft projects. There is definitely precedent for my agony:
• Making Amber Wrap Bracelets (What NOT To Do)
• My Misadventures with Chalk Paint
• My Favourite New Thing (Work in Progress Wednesday) Okay, nothing bad happened in this post. I just really like the photo of my forlorn daughter hugging the mannequin.
Wow, I can’t believe I never wrote about stabbing a barbed needle clear through my finger while felting a crown on the eve of my daughter’s birthday. I’m talking in one end and out the other. That’s why you should never needle felt a gift at the last minute.
But back to the bracelets. You won’t mess up your bracelets; you’ll be smarter than me. It won’t take you a whole episode (season) of Downton Abby to finish the first one – I’ll bet you can knock off a bracelet in an episode of The Office or less. Although that might really be more of a knitting show. Maybe rug hooking? Whatever, it doesn’t matter.
To make a bracelet, you need to do is gather your supplies — a list is on the next page.
Supply List for a Wrap Bracelet
You will need:
- Old amber necklaces
- Leather cord (round works much better than square)
- A button
- Waxed thread/polycord that’s thin enough to thread through the beads
- A sewing needle
- Additional beads for contrast and/or length (optional)
The amount of leather cord and thread that you need will vary based on how many times you want the bracelet to wrap your wrist. I used the lengths suggested by the Lima Beads website (there is also a video tutorial of the ladder stitch if you find my instructions aren’t clear enough):
| Number of Wraps | Leather Cord | Waxed thread | Bracelet Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 inches | 7-8 feet | 7.5 inches |
| 2 | 45 inches | 14-16 feet | 15 inches |
| 3 | 60 inches | 21-24 feet | 22.5 inches |
| 4 | 75 inches | 28-32 feet | 30 inches |
| 5 | 90 inches | 35-40 feet | 37.5 inches |
It really helps to measure your own wrist first though. I chose the length for two wraps and I was able to wrap the bracelet around my wrist three times. However, my wrists are about as thick as a prepubescent chicken’s leg and if I had measured ahead of time, I would have known that I could choose a smaller length.
To Make An Amber Wrap Bracelet
1. First, thread the leather cord through the button’s holes and pull the button along the cord so it’s in the centre.
2. Next, tie the cord in a knot to keep the button in place.
3. Secure your thread to the leather cord. I looped mine around the cord a few times, tied it in a knot once or twice, and then snipped off the extra bit. A lot of the tutorials I read recommended adding a dab of glue here, but I don’t have any so I skipped this part. No word yet on whether that was wise or not.
4. Next, you’ll need to find a way to secure your project so that the button end stays put and the cords aren’t slack. I originally used a clipboard to hold the button down but the leather cords moved around too much. Then, after many long nights, I discovered that I could wedge a button in my laundry hamper and hold the cords taut under my foot. It worked perfectly – the only thing is that your hamper can’t be empty or it will slide towards you as you pull against it. That’s not a problem in this house. I’m not even sure what an empty hamper looks like. FYI: I totally photoshopped the dirt off of my floor. Bwahahaha.
IT’S TIME TO ADD THE BEADS!
5. Once you’ve attached your thread and secured your project, you can start adding beads! It’s best to start with a smaller bead if you have any; the cord will sit more nicely if the beads gradually increase in size at the knotted ends. Once your bead is on the thread, bring the needle up over the left cord and then back to the bottom, this time under the right cord.
6. Slide your bead right down into place.
7. Bring the needle up and over the right cord, through the bead a second time, and then back under the left cord. Do you get it? We’re making figure 8s, going through the bead with each pass.
8. Under and over the left cord, through the bead, under and over the right cord, through the bead again. And again and again and again.
9. Continue in this manner until your bracelet is long enough, then tie the cord and the thread off with a knot. At this point, I wound my thread through the leather knot a few times and then knotted the thread itself a few more times. Again, tutorials seem to all recommend glue here. I still have no glue.
10. The last step is to tie a second knot in the cord – one that is about the same size as your button. Don’t make it too small or the button won’t fit through. Don’t make it too big or the button will just fall out when you’re wearing the bracelet. Don’t worry too much though – this bracelet is pretty forgiving. I just eyeballed it. A friend showed me her bracelet at church today – it originally had extra knots at intervals down the cord so that the wearer can adjust the size. That’s smart. I wish I thought of that.
I can’t wait to make some more – I just need to dig up a few more old necklaces. if you come across any tips or tricks for making these even better, be sure to let me know!
Do you have leftover beads? I used mine to decorate my handmade Traveller’s Notebook — find out how I made it
Look for my post in the following link ups:
Homemade Mondays | Mama Moments Mondays | Thank Goodness It’s Monday | The Art of Home-Making Monday | Keep Calm and Craft ON