DIY Beaded Bracelet

A Braided Bracelet using Cotton Cords

This bracelet is braided using two different colours of cotton cord. A decorative novelty button is used as a fastener.

1. Cut a 150cm long piece of yellow cotton cord, double it over, having threaded on the novelty button so it is in the middle.

2. Cut a 580cm long piece of blue cotton cord. Double it over to find the middle and then roll each end onto a piece of card to keep it in order and out of the way.

3. Place the blue cord underneath the yellow cord, making sure that there are two equal length ends on either side of the yellow doubled over cord in the middle.

4. Pass the outer blue cord (on the right) over the first yellow middle cord (on the right) and then under the other yellow middle cord (on the left).

5. Pass the outer blue left cord over the first yellow middle cord (on the left) and then under the other yellow middle cord (on the right).

6. Tighten by pulling both long cords and continue the procedure explained in paragraphs 4 and 5 until the desired length of the bracelet is reached.

7. Finish with a knot, a space for the decorative novelty button (fastener) and then another knot.

Another variant

Hair Clips decorated with Foam Rubber and Sequins

Hair clips decorated with self-adhesive glitter foam rubber, sequins and beads threaded onto a piece of silver-plated wire.

1. Draw two circles using a pair of compasses and cut out.

2. Cut a piece of silver-plated wire measuring 20cm and thread on a bead. Double over the wire.

3. Thread sequins and beads onto the wire and finish with the foam rubber circle. Twist the wire and cut off the ends.

4. Remove the backing paper from the foam rubber and attach the finished decoration onto the hair clips.

5. Attach the other circle onto the hair clips; i.e. onto back of the first decorated circle. The hair clips is now sandwiched between the foam rubber circles. Squeeze.

DIY Hex Nut Accessories

Bracelet Materials:

- suede cord (18 inches)

- 14 small hex nuts

Necklace Materials:

- gold chain (18 inches)

- 6 medium hex nuts

- gold wire (26 gauge)

First, the bracelet. You’ve likely seen something similar to this all over Pinterest, so we had to try our hand at creating our own version of what is quickly becoming a crafty classic.

Tie a knot at the top and braid as you would any braided bracelet. After about 2 inches, start sliding hex nuts onto the outer edges of each braid step. Repeat until you’re through all your hex nuts.

Create a looped knot at the end to act as your clasp.

And you’re done! Next, the necklace.

Lay out your hex nuts in a design you like. We went with a simple triangle or pyramid shape.

Start with two hex nuts and use wire to wrap around and connect them.

Continue all the way around your shape.

Use that same wire to connect each end of the chain to the pendant you’ve made.

Boom! You’ve got a brand new pendant.

A Neon-Coloured Plaited Cord with sewn-on Piece of Jewellery Chain

A bracelet made from neon-coloured plaited cord with a silver jewellery chain which is sewn onto the cords with neon-coloured macramé cords. The bracelet is fastened with a two-part magnetic clasp.

1. Cut two pieces of plaited cord, each measuring approx. 21cm. Also, cut a 19cm long piece of jewellery chain and two 50cm long pieces of macramé cord. Bundle and secure all the ends together at one end with a piece of sellotape.

2. Glue the assembled ends in place inside one of part of the two-part magnetic clasp using instant glue.

3. Attach the jewellery chain onto the plaited cord by feeding a piece of macramé cord in and out through each section of the jewellery chain and around the plaited cord.

4. When finished, trim the bracelet by cutting off the excess cords. Secure the ends with a piece of sellotape and glue them in place with Super Attak instant glue inside the other part of the magnetic clasp.

A Bracelet and a Necklace with an Angel

An angel and beads are threaded onto a piece of elastic beading cord and tied with two or three tight knots.

Angel necklace: Beads and an an angel are put onto a head pin. Twist to form a loop. This is attached onto a piece of leather cord with a round jump ring.

An Elastic Bracelet with Neon Beads

A bracelet with a fluorescent look. This simple bracelet is made from neon beads in different colours which are threaded onto a piece of elastic beading cord. Finish by tying a few reef knots.

1. Thread neon beads onto a doubled over piece of flat elastic beading cord.

2. Finish the row of beads with four or five tight reef knots; i.e. alternately, starting with a knot with the cord at the top.

3. Cut off the ends of the cord as close to the reef knots as possible. Hide the ends inside the nearest bead.

A Silicone Bracelet with Rocaille Seed Beads

This silicone bracelet with a built-in fastener has been decorated with rocaille seed beads and drop beads threaded onto a piece of copper wire.

1. Cut a 130cm long piece of black copper wire. Wrap one end of the wire around one end of the silicone bracelet. Shorten the other end of the wire slightly.

2. Thread black rocaille seed beads onto the long end of the copper wire.

3. When the wire is filled with a sufficient number of black rocaille seed beads, wrap this piece tightly around the top end of the bracelet (moving downwards) seven or eight times.

4. Now thread enough transparent drop beads onto the copper wire for this to reach 15 or 16 times around the silicone bracelet. Thread the same number of black rocaille seed beads onto the copper wire as in section 1. A symmetrical pattern is achieved with the same number of black rocaille seed beads on each side of the section with the transparent drop beads.

5. Finally wrap the last bit of copper wire tightly around the silicone bracelet three or four times. Fasten the copper wire by pushing it back though the last section of black rocaille seed beads and cut off the excess wire.

A Bracelet with Macramé Cord and a Piece of Jewellery Chain

A piece of macramé cord and a jewellery chain have been tied onto a silicone bracelet with a built-in fastener.

1. For the silicone bracelet you will need three pieces of macramé cord, each measuring 130cm and a piece of jewellery chain of approx. 27 or 28 chain sections. Arrange the macramé cord 3-fold and place it underneath the silicone bracelet. Now feed one end of the 3-fold cord up through the first chain section and over the silicone bracelet.

2. The cords from underneath should now be placed over the cords on top, then underneath the bracelet and up through the next chain section.

3. From the chain section, feed the cords over the bracelet. Continue this pattern until the end of the bracelet is reached.

4. NB! Try to get the three  macramé cords to lie flat next to each other whilst plaiting. This gives the best result.

5. Finish the bracelet by tying two tight knots. Tie a knot at both ends of the 3-fold macramé cord and melt the ends.