make-woven-rope-bracelet

WOVEN ROPE BRACELET

DIRECTIONS

1.Thread a big eye needle with 1 yard of beading thread. Although this project requires two yards, working with that length can be a challenge to repeatedly pass through so many beads. We will offer instruction on how to connect another yard below.
2.Pass the needle through a stop bead which is essentially a bead that is meant to stop your work from slipping off at the end of the thread. To add a stop bead, use any bead (it will not be part of the finished bracelet). Pass the needle through it leaving a 12” tail on the end. Pass the needle through it again going in the same direction.

3.String on 5 garnet beads, 1 crystal bead, and 1 more garnet bead.

4.Pass the needle through the first three garnet beads on the thread (after the stop bead) and 1 garnet bead you just added. Your needle will be passed through a total of 4 beads.

5.Pull tightly on the thread to create a side set, which consists of 2 garnet beads flanking a crystal bead. The side set will curve around the center of the work.

6.Pass the needle through 2 garnet beads, 1 crystal bead, and one more garnet bead.

7.Pass the needle through 3 garnet beads of your previous work, and 1 garnet bead you just added. This will create another side set - 2 garnet beads flanking a crystal bead.

8.Pull tightly on the thread and the set will curve around the center of the work.
9.Continue the bracelet using steps # 6 through # 8 until your bracelet is the length you need. The size of the clasp you choose will determine how long your bracelet needs to be. For example: If you are using a 1/2” wide clasp, and your bracelet needs to be 7” to fit your wrist, then you should string 6 1/2” of beads.

Connecting Two Lengths of Beading Thread

Woven bracelets use a half hitch knot technique to end bracelets, and also to finish with one length of thread and start another. The technique calls for passing the needle through beads, making a knot, and passing back through the beads again. This is done several times with several sets of beads to prevent the tail end from becoming unravelled over time.

When you have about 6 inches of thread remaining on your needle, you should tie off your work so you can add another yard and continue your bracelet. You will not be tying the two threads together.

To tie off your work, first make note of the last bead on the string. It’s important to recognize this bead as this is where you will resume beading on the new length of thread.

Create a half hitch knot between the last bead of your work and one next to it. Knots should be hidden between two beads. Once you’ve made the knot, go back through two beads and create another knot. Do this several times working in the direction of the stop bead for at least 1 1/2”. When finished, don’t cut off the excess. Remove the needle and attach the new yard of thread.

Insert your needle in roughly the same spot. Go through two beads. Leave about a three inch tail. Make a half hitch knot and continue working to the point where you added your last bead to the bracelet. Pass the thread through that bead and continue beading.

Finishing and Attaching The Clasp

Add one more crystal bead to the thread. Run the needle through one end of the clasp, then back through the crystal again, followed by two garnet beads. Tie a half hitch knot then return the needle through the beads it just came from, ending at the clasp. Go through the clasp again and up through the crystal, two garnet beads, and another half hitch knot. This will give the clasp a double secure connection to the bracelet.

Pass the needle through two more garnet beads moving away from the clasp. Make another knot. Continue passing through beads and knotting several times to guarantee the thread won’t unravel. Snip off all excess thread when you’re done. Finish the other end of the bracelet by removing the stop bead, attaching the clasp and repeating the Finishing steps.

Red arrows indicate the direction of the needle.

This is one seriously twisted bracelet... but in a good way! We’ve been hanging out at Auntie’s Beads again and found this wonderful bracelet to share. Although video instructor Karla Schafer, provides clear instruction on how to make it, we wanted to create instructions here in print for those who work better with written steps. You can view Karla’s video by clicking the following:

On the home page at Auntie’s Beads, search for “Spiral Rope Stitch video”. Like our Woven Crystal Bracelet, this one only requires beads, a clasp, and a needle and thread. The crystal beads twist around the bracelet to create the interesting spiral design.