Getting Started

Strung Bracelet

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Strung bracelets are fun and easy to create! The beading wire that you will use to string your beads is very flexible and has a soft, wearable drape to it. Beading wire cannot be knotted or tied, so you will use crimp beads and a crimping tool to finish off the ends of your bracelet. This stunning strung bracelet was made with Montana, Denim Blue and Indian Sapphire Swarovski Elements Crystal beads, antique silver plated pewter heishi spacer beads and a silver plated pewter toggle clasp. If you prefer to use different colors when you make this bracelet, feel free to customize the pattern as desired and truly make it your own! Our beginning beading designs are meant to be a springboard for your creativity, so let your imagination go wild!
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5328 5mm Indian Sapphire Swarovski Elements Crystal Bicone Bead

5000 6mm Denim Blue Swarovski Elements Crystal Round Bead

5328 8mm Montana Swarovski Elements Crystal Bicone Bead

1x5mm Antique Silver Plated Pewter Beaded Heishi Bead by TierraCast®

1x4mm Antique Silver Plated Pewter Beaded Heishi Spacer by TierraCast®

16x12mm Silver Plated Pewter Toggle Clasp by TierraCast®

2x2mm Sterling Silver Crimp Bead

3.5mm Sterling Silver Crimp Bead Cover

Clear Soft Flex Beading Wire .019 diameter

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Crimping Pliers

Crimping pliers are used for securing tubular crimp beads to the ends of flexible beading wire such as Soft Flex and Beadalon. Their two distinctive notches create smooth, rounded crimps in a simple two-step process. The back notch (closer to the handle) “crimps” the crimp bead. The front notch (further from the handle) “rounds” the crimp bead.

Wire Cutters

Wire cutters have sharp blades that will cut wire with a close, flush cut. The flat side of the cutters should be closest to where you want to cut. Using the tips of the cutters will help you make a more precise cut.

Beads

This bracelet was made with a colorful mix of Swarovski Elements beads and pewter spacers, but you can personalize the bracelet with different colors, shapes or materials of your choosing! When choosing alternate beads, be sure to check that the hole is drilled straight through the center of the bead. Beads with off-center holes will not sit uniformly on the stringing material.

Beading Wire

Beading wire is a stringing material made of multiple strands of stainless steel. The steel wires are covered with clear or colored nylon, which makes them strong and durable. The material of choice for most bead-stringing needs, beading wire has an attractive drape, doesn't kink, and is available in many diameters from .010" (very fine) to .024" (heavy). Use crimp beads to securely fasten it to a clasp.

Crimp Beads

Crimp beads are small tubular or round beads that are used to secure a clasp to flexible beading wire or other stringing material that cannot be knotted. When crimped with a crimping tool, a crimp bead will have smooth, rounded edges and will be most securely attached.

Crimp Covers (Optional)

Crimp bead covers conceal crimp beads, adding a polished, professional touch to your jewelry. Use pliers to gently squeeze the two sides of a cover together over a crimp bead.

Toggle Clasp

Toggle clasps are an easy-to-fasten, secure way to finish a necklace or bracelet. Attach the toggle bar to one end of your jewelry and the toggle ring to the other. To fasten, simply pivot the bar so that it can slip inside the ring, then pivot the bar again to secure it. The bar is longer than the diameter of the ring to keep the clasp secured.

Step 1

You will be building the bracelet from one side to the other. To begin the bracelet, string one 2x2mm crimp bead and the bar end of the toggle clasp onto 9 inches of beading wire. Pass 1-2 inches back through the crimp bead, creating a loop around the clasp.

Step 2

Make sure that the wires are lying parallel to each other in the crimp bead. Place the crimp bead into the back notch of the crimping pliers. Squeeze the pliers to crimp the crimp bead.

Step 3

Open the pliers, rotate the bead a quarter turn, and place the crimp bead in the front notch of the crimping pliers. Gently crimp the crimp bead by squeezing the pliers. This rounds the crimp bead and secures the wire in the crimp bead.

Step 4

Use wire cutters to trim the beading wire tail next to the crimp bead. To get the closest cut, the flat part of the wire cutters should be close to the crimp bead. Also, using the tips of the pliers will help make a more precise cut.

Step 5

Now you are ready to string your beads! String one 6mm Denim Blue round crystal, one 5mm beaded heishi spacer, one 8mm Montana Blue bicone, one 5mm beaded heishi spacer, one 6mm Denim blue round crystal, one 4mm beaded heishi spacer, one 5mm Indian Sapphire bicone, and one 4mm beaded heishi spacer.

Step 6

Repeat the same stringing sequence a total of five times. You're almost finished!

Step 7

String one 6mm Denim Blue round crystal, one 5mm beaded heishi, one 8mm Montana Blue bicone, one 5mm beaded heishi, one 6mm Denim Blue round crystal and a crimp bead onto the flexible beading wire. Check to see if the size is about 3/4 inch shorter than the desired length. To make a 7.5 inch bracelet, the measured length of the beads plus the toggle bar will be 6.75 inches long.

Step 8

String the loop half of the clasp onto the beading wire, and pass the wire back through the crimp bead. Pull the extra tension out of the wire, but leave a little wiggle room (about 2mm / 1/16 inch) next to the crimp bead so the finished bracelet remains flexible.

Step 9

Make sure that the wires are lying parallel to each other in the crimp bead. Place the crimp bead into the back notch of the crimping pliers. Squeeze the pliers to crimp the crimp bead.

Step 10

Open the pliers, rotate the bead a quarter turn and place the crimp bead in the front notch of the crimping pliers. Gently crimp the crimp bead by squeezing the pliers. This rounds the crimp bead and secures the wire in the crimp bead.

Step 11

Use wire cutters to trim any excess beading wire coming out of the crimp bead.

Step 12

Congratulations, you have completed a basic strung bracelet!

Step 13

You also have the option to disguise the crimp beads with a crimp bead cover when you're finished with your bracelet. Once covered, it will look like a small round bead. Adding a crimp bead cover will add a clean, finished look to your piece.

Step 14

Cover the crimp bead with a crimp bead cover. Place the crimp bead cover in the front notch of the crimping pliers with the opening facing out.

Step 15

Place the crimped bead inside the crimp bead cover. Gently squeeze the crimping pliers until the crimp bead cover is completely closed. Be careful to do this slowly and gently so you do not deform the crimp cover. Repeat on the opposite end, covering the crimp near the toggle bar.

Step 16

Congratulations, you have completed a basic strung bracelet!

Getting Started

Strung Bracelet

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Crimping Pliers

Wire Cutters

Beads

Beading Wire

Crimp Beads

Crimp Covers (Optional)

Toggle Clasp

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