Read an Excerpt
Beautiful Bracelets by Hand
Seventy-Five One-of-a-Kind Baubles, Bangles and Other Wrist Adornments You can Make at Home
By Jade Gedeon Page Street Publishing Co.
Copyright © 2014 Jade Gedeon
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-62414-092-1
CHAPTER 1
Beads
Long used for ornament and an early form of currency, beads have been traded globally for centuries and play an integral part in the development of commerce and economic networks. Our human ancestors began creating beads around 43,000 years ago, and you can seriously understand why Small, beautiful objects just get your want genes tingling.
Gilded Waves Bracelet
Be warned, the combination of cerulean tones and glimmering gold in this piece will have you daydreaming of sun-soaked sands and crystalline waters. Might as well give up on work and skip to the beach! When shopping for beads, line up your strands and play around until you get a pleasing variety of shapes and sizes.
BITS YOU'LL NEED
• Ten gold-plated crimp bead covers
• Ten 3×2mm crimp tubes
• Three 7×5mm gold-plated jump rings, 18 gauge
• One five-strand gold-plated D-ring toggle clasp
• Five 9" (22.9 cm) strands of beading wire, 0.024" diameter
• Three strands of gold-plated beads (or raw brass) at least 7" (17.8 cm) long
• Two strands of turquoise glass beads at least 7" (17.8 cm) long
TOOLS
• Crimping pliers
• Wire snips
• Nylon-jaw pliers
• Chain-nose pliers
• Flat-nose pliers
1. Line up your strands in stringing order. Measure your wrist or a favorite bracelet, then subtract the length of the clasp, (don't forget the jump rings) to get the approximate length of your bead strands. Cut five pieces of beading wire that are 2 inches (5.1 cm) longer than your required length. This will give you extra room to work with.
2. Thread crimp onto wire, loop through clasp and thread back through crimp, leaving a short tail. Lay the tube in the first U-shaped notch of the crimping pliers. Taking care to keep the strands separated, squeeze closed to crimp. Move the crimped tube to the round opening. Turning 90 degrees, squeeze to secure. If tail is too long, trim carefully. Repeat for additional four strands.
3. String your largest strand first. Most beads need a little room to move, but if working with heishi (disc) beads, take care to allow extra space for the beads to flex when worn. Thread through the other end of the clasp with a crimp bead, but before crimping try it on to make sure it fits and moves correctly. Make any adjustments to length and extra room before crimping. String additional strands from next largest to smallest, checking each time for fit before crimping.
4. When all the strands are crimped on both ends, connect the toggle with jump rings, using pliers to close.
5. Slip crimp covers on one by one. Use a pair of nylon-jaw pliers to close them gently without marring the finish.
6. Plot which poolside/beach/island you'll wear this to first.
Strata Bracelet
Finished with a tiny tassel, layers of luminescent hues will make you swoon every time you excavate this gemstone beauty from your jewel box. Ours is a mix of green onyx, smoky quartz, carnelian and labradorite.
BITS YOU'LL NEED
• 5 ½" (14 cm), or more, selection of coordinating 4×2mm faceted rondelle gemstone beads
• Two brass beads (hole must be larger than 2mm in diameter to fit over crimp tubes) or two crimp bead covers
• Two 3×2mm crimp tubes
• Four 5mm jump rings, 18–20 gauge
• One 4mm jump ring, 16–18 gauge
• One 4mm jump ring, 18–20 gauge
• One 9×5mm lobster clasp
• 9" (22.9 cm) length of beading wire, 0.014" diameter
• Spool of silk thread (you'll only need a small bit)
• Fray Check or clear nail polish
TOOLS
• Crimping pliers
• Wire snips
• Nylon-jaw pliers (if using crimp covers)
• Chain-nose pliers
• Flat-nose pliers
• Scissors
• Cardstock (an old business card works great!)
1. Make your itty-bitty tassel. Working with a 5/8-inch (1.6 cm) width of card, wrap your thread through a securely closed 4mm jump ring and around the card. Continue wrapping around fully about twenty times, then, grabbing firmly, slide off the card.
2. Wrap the string around the top of the tassel, just under the jump ring, about six times.
3. Loop thread through the last wrap and knot securely. Using a surgeon's knot (see techniques, here), knot again twice and dab knot with a bit of Fray Check or clear nail polish. Let dry and snip off excess string. Trim bottom of tassel.
4. Cut your beading wire 2 inches (5.1 cm) longer than your required length. This will give you extra room to work with. Thread and crimp your beading wire onto a securely closed 5mm jump ring. See techniques (here) for detailed instructions on crimping.
5. Thread your brass bead over the closed crimp tube to cover. If using crimp covers, slip them on and use a pair of nylon-jaw pliers to close them gently without marring the finish.
6. Thread the jump ring with tassel onto your wire.
7. Decide on your layout and string your beads. We strung our stones in (roughly) 1-inch (2.5 cm) lengths.
8. Unless using a crimp cover, thread brass bead and crimp tube onto free end of wire. Finish by looping wire through a securely closed 5mm jump ring, then crimp tube. This is a good time to test the length and adjust. Crimp to close and trim excess wire.
9. Attach two 5mm brass jump rings to one end, linking each to the other.
10. Attach the lobster clasp to the opposite end with a 4mm jump ring.
11. Congratulations. You are now a geogemjewelologist.
Vertebrae Bracelets
With endless options in color combinations, these work great as gifts for jewelry-wearing blokes. The African glass beads are shaped to mimic interlocking snake vertebrae and have a modern and edgy feel, despite their vintage origins.
BITS YOU'LL NEED
• About 16" (40.6 cm) of assorted African glass snake trade beads (we used 9mm beads)
• Two 18×12mm lobster clasps
• Two 7×5mm brass jump rings, 16–18 gauge
• Two 9mm round jump rings, 16–18 gauge
• Two 5mm round jump rings, 16–18 gauge
• Two 9" (22.9 cm) lengths of beading wire, 0.024" diameter (longer for men or those with larger wrists)
• Four 3×2mm crimp tubes
• Four 9–12mm round brass beads (hole must be larger than 2 mm in diameter to fit over crimp tubes)
TOOLS
• Crimping pliers
• Wire snips
• Chain-nose pliers
• Flat-nose pliers
1. Once you've decided on your bead arrangement, cut two 9-inch (22.9 cm) lengths of beading wire. This will give you extra room to work with.
2. Thread and crimp your beading wire onto a securely closed 5mm jump ring. See techniques (here) for detailed instructions on crimping. Thread your first brass bead over the closed crimp tube and continue adding your glass beads.
3. When you've finished stringing your glass beads, add another brass bead to finish, then slip on your crimp tube and loop through a 7×5mm jump ring.
4. Bend your bracelet to determine how much slack you'll need to have the beads move comfortably. Once you're sure about how much extra room you need to leave (you're sure that you're sure, right?), crimp the tube closed.
5. Slide the brass bead over the crimp and snip off the extra tail.
6. Connect the jump ring to a lobster clasp.
7. Add the 9mm jump ring to the other end.
8. Repeat steps 1–7 for a second bracelet. Contemplate giving the second to a friend, but decide against it when you realize how great they look together.
Coded Bracelet
Hide a message in your jewelry! We've used three beads to represent a dash, but you can substitute tube beads if you please. You can also choose beads with a more daring contrast to make your message pop. Depending on the size of your beads (and wrist), you should be able to fit three to six characters—your choice of word (or acronym) will be dictated slightly by your wrist by your wrist and bead size.
BITS YOU'LL NEED
• Beads (we used 4mm round brass and pearls)
• Two crimp bead covers
• Two 3×2mm crimp tubes
• One 12×8mm lobster clasp
• One 7mm brass jump ring, 16–18 gauge
• One 6×4mm brass jump ring, 16–18 gauge
• 9" (22.9 cm) length of beading wire, 0.014" diameter
TOOLS
• Crimping pliers
• Wire snips
• Nylon-jaw pliers (if using crimp covers)
• Chain-nose pliers
• Flat-nose pliers
1. Subtracting 1 inch (2.5 cm) for findings, measure your wrist or a favorite bracelet to get your beading length. Calculate how many beads will fit on this length and play with the characters to determine what you'd like to say and if it can fit. We fit five characters on ours. Pearls represent the dots and dashes while the brass acts as the pause. One pearl is a dot, and three a dash. One brass bead is a quick pause within a character, and three a space between characters.
2. Cut your beading wire 2 inches (5.1 cm) longer than your required length. This will give you extra room to work with. Attach the lobster clasp to a 6×4mm jump ring and close securely, then thread and crimp your beading wire onto the jump ring. See techniques (here) for detailed instructions on crimping.
3. String your beads.
4. Thread brass bead and crimp tube onto free end of wire. Finish by looping wire through the 7mm jump ring, then crimp tube. This is a good time to test the length and adjust. Most beads need a little room to move when the bracelet is flexed. Crimp to close and trim excess wire.
5. Slip crimp covers on one by one. Use a pair of nylon-jaw pliers to close them gently without marring the finish.
6. Show off to a friend. If they can decipher your message with a single glance, then you might be friends with Jason Bourne.
Raku Handpiece
There is something gorgeous about the rustic earthy finish of raku ceramics. The handmade scarab bead we used was purchased from Wondrous Strange on Etsy and has a beautiful iridescent sheen. You can substitute another focal shape or material, but it will need to have three attachment points. Many of the makers will happily add loops to a different bead or customize an alternate design for you, so have a bit of fun with it.
BITS YOU'LL NEED
• Focal bead (ours is 2" × ¾" [5.1×1.9 cm])
• 12" (30.5 cm) length of chain (we used 9" [22.9 cm], but you might need a bit more depending on the size of your focal and hand)
• Ten 6mm jump rings, 16–18 gauge
• One 12×8mm lobster clasp
TOOLS
• Metal shears or wire snips
• Chain-nose pliers
• Flat-nose pliers
1. Measure carefully, then cut your chain lengths. Cut your lengths a bit longer than you think you need—you can always trim them back. For our piece we used two 2-inch (5.1 cm) pieces to go around the wrist, one 2-inch (5.1 cm) piece for the ring and one 3-inch (7.6 cm) piece to connect the ring to the base of the focal. Drape the chain around your finger to determine the length, making sure it can move easily over your knuckles.
2. Lay out your piece.
3. Assemble the ring chain first by looping onto a jump ring. Make sure there are no kinks or twists. Add the connector chain before closing.
4. Attach the connector chain to the base of your focal and the other two lengths to the sides. Finish with a jump ring extender on one end, linking one to the chain and each successive jump ring to the next. Attach the lobster clasp to the other end with a jump ring. Try it on and tweak if necessary.
Ombre Bracelet
A dip-dyed effect elevates this simple strand from subtle to sublime. For ease we've used a presorted length of graduated-color smoky quartz. When shopping, search for shaded gemstone strands. You can also create your own ombre effect with different shades of glass or crystal beads.
BITS YOU'LL NEED
• 3¾" (9.5 cm) length of shaded beads (we used 5×3mm heishi)
• 2" (5.1 cm) length of chain
• Two 4mm round brass beads (hole must be larger than 2 mm in diameter to fit over crimp tubes) or crimp bead covers
• Two 3×2mm crimp tubes
• One 12×8mm lobster clasp
• Three 4mm brass jump rings, 16–18 gauge
• Three 6×4mm brass jump rings, 16–18 gauge
• 6" (15.2 cm) length of beading wire, 0.014" diameter
TOOLS
• Crimping pliers
• Wire snips
• Nylon-jaw pliers (if using crimp covers)
• Chain-nose pliers
• Flat-nose pliers
1. Thread and crimp your beading wire onto a securely closed 4mm jump ring. See techniques (here) for detailed instructions on crimping. Thread your first brass bead over the closed crimp tube. If using crimp covers, slip them on and use a pair of nylon-jaw pliers to close them gently without marring the finish.
2. Arrange your selected beads.
3. Thread your beads on in order.
4. Thread brass bead (unless you are using crimp covers) and crimp tube onto wire. Finish by looping wire through a 4mm jump ring, then crimp tube. This is a good time to test the length and adjust. Most beads need a little room to move, but if working with heishi (disc) beads, take care to allow extra space for the beads to flex when worn. Crimp to close and trim excess wire.
5. Attach chain to one end with a 6×4mm jump ring.
6. Attach clasp to the other end of the chain with a 4mm jump ring.
7. Attach two 6×4mm jump rings to the other end of your bead strand.
8. Done!
Beribboned Bracelet
A perfectly simple formula that easily fits many wrists. We used opalescent glass and cool teal ribbon, but you can play with color, texture, shape and size for infinite variations.
BITS YOU'LL NEED
• 5' (152.4 cm) length of of ¼" (6 mm) ribbon (or 2½' [76.2 cm] if using a single strand of a thicker ribbon)
• 6" (15.2 cm) length of 12mm round beads
• Two to four brass beads (hole must be larger than 2mm in diameter to fit over crimp tubes) or two crimp bead covers
• Two 3×2mm crimp tubes
• Four 5.5mm brass jump rings, 20 gauge
• Two 7mm brass jump rings, 18 gauge (larger for thicker ribbons)
• 9" (22.9 cm) length of beading wire, 0.024" diameter
• Fray Check or clear nail polish
TOOLS
• Crimping pliers
• Wire snips
• Nylon-jaw pliers (if using crimp covers)
• Chain-nose pliers
• Flat-nose pliers
• Scissors
1. Cut four 14-inch (35.6 cm) lengths of ribbon. Dab the edges with Fray Check or clear nail polish to seal so they won't unravel. Let dry.
2. Cut your beading wire 2 inches (5.1 cm) longer than your required length. This will give you extra room to work with. Thread and crimp your beading wire onto two securely closed 5.5mm jump rings. See techniques (here) for detailed instructions on crimping.
3. Thread your brass bead (or beads) over the closed crimp tube to cover. If using crimp covers, slip them on and use a pair of nylon-jaw pliers to close them gently without marring the finish.
4. String your beads.
5. Thread brass bead (unless using crimp cover) and crimp tube onto free end of wire. Finish by looping wire through two securely closed 5.5mm jump rings, then crimp tube. This is a good time to test the length and adjust. Most beads need a little room to move when the bracelet is flexed. Crimp to close and trim excess wire.
6. Attach the 7mm brass jump rings to each end, through both smaller jump rings.
7. Thread your ribbon through the 7mm jump ring.
8. Using both ribbons, form an overhand knot close to the jump rings. Do this on each side. See techniques (here).
9. Tie a bow to close, preferably on your wrist.
Vinyl Heishi Bracelet
These sequin-style African heishi beads were originally made from vulcanite, but you can easily and affordably find vinyl versions in a great assortment of vibrant colors. Create stacks of different solids or mix hues up within each bracelet for an entirely different feel.
BITS YOU'LL NEED
• 8" (20.3 cm) strand of vinyl heishi beads per bracelet (we used 6mm beads)
• One skein of embroidery floss
• 12" (30.5 cm) length of elastic cord
• E6000 adhesive
• Cardstock (an old business card works well)
TOOLS
• Scissors
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Beautiful Bracelets by Hand by Jade Gedeon. Copyright © 2014 Jade Gedeon. Excerpted by permission of Page Street Publishing Co..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
