I am not really fond of stretchy bracelets. You know, the kind where you use beading elastic. They do eventually break and have to be restrung. I inevitably change over to beading wire at first opportunity! However, I changed my mind after seeing the tutorial by Jennifer VanBenschoten over on Beading Daily. Her way of making a stretchy bracelet more durable as well as her tips all make sense.
She uses a doubled up length of elastic with only 2 ends to deal with. This is a good thing because if you use 2 lengths of elastic, you'd have 4 ends!
Her instructions are for a tasseled mala bracelet. If tassels are not your thing, then this tutorial still works if you substitute the tassel for a charm or a bead.
Before You Go:
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips
She uses a doubled up length of elastic with only 2 ends to deal with. This is a good thing because if you use 2 lengths of elastic, you'd have 4 ends!
Her instructions are for a tasseled mala bracelet. If tassels are not your thing, then this tutorial still works if you substitute the tassel for a charm or a bead.
Before You Go:
- Easy Crochet Jewelry Tutorial using Elastic
- Clever Coiled Headpin Idea for Stretchy Bracelets
- Mosaic Tila Bead Wrapped Headband and Bracelet Tutorials
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips
Wow, thanks. That is a great help. I, too, am one of those who refuses to make stretchy bracelets. However, I may give this one a go. (I still have some stretchy cord I can utilize.
ReplyDeleteMe, too! Otherwise the stretchy cord I have is going to languish forever!
DeleteI thought this was a fun project!
ReplyDeleteOver on the tutorial are lots of hints and tips from readers/beaders.
They suggest pulling the stretchy cord a number of times before starting to bead so that it doesn't stretch out later from the weight of the beads.
One gal even suggests using a crimp cover over your glued knot. I thought that was an excellent suggestion!
One thing I did think of is that you have to use big-holed beads for some of the size of elastic that you are going to use. Otherwise it's just not going to fit into the beads. This could be a problem....does thin elastic work just as well doubled up? Hmmmm........
The size of the holes will dictate what size elastic to use. I think that even thinner elastic doubled up is a whole lot better than when it is used singularly.
DeleteIt looks like the tutorial is using gossamer floss - which I find always wears out and frays eventually. I prefer Stretch Magic and, unfortunately, there are very few beads that will accept a doubled length of 1 mm stretch magic. I have never had problems with a single length of cord and a surgeon's knot slipping as long as I pre-stretch the cord, keep some tension in the elastic (i.e. it is slightly pulling when the knot is done), pull the knot tight from all sides, and add a drop of glue. Most important to durability is to roll the bracelet on and not pull it up and stretch it out over your hand. It's a pretty bracelet design.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Stretch Magic works better. I would use 0.5 mm. It is stronger if it is doubled up. Love your tips, Lisa - especially the part about rolling on the bracelet! Thanks for sharing.
DeleteI tried every el cheapo brand of stretch elastic, found they're all awful, and finally tried Stretch Magic. It's the best! I went to Lacy's in Toronto on Thursday to buy more and they're on back order. So far I haven't had to double it -- I prefer 1mm but have also used the 7 mm with smaller-holed beads. You might have some reject beads, but I've been able to get that through most small-holed beads on a string. Pre-stretching is absolutely essential, along with keeping a very slight tension so the bracelet isn't floppy especially with 6mm or smaller beads and rolling the bracelet on, as Lisa says. I use a big hole metal spacer bead at the "back" of the bracelet or two of them on either side of a focal bead to hide the knots.
ReplyDeleteThanks Barbara, for confirming that Stretch Magic is a good brand. I didn't know they made the 0.7 mm version. Great tip on the large hole spacer bead.
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