(Which could also be called Necklace Making 101, as you use the same technique when making necklaces using wire. The only difference? More wire, and more beads!)
I’m going to show you how simple learning how to make a bracelet, or a necklace, using crimp beads really is.
Bracelet Making Using Tiger Wire
Crystal Bracelet Components
What I used:
Tiger Wire (It’s my favorite bracelet making wire! You can use any flexible wire or strong beading thread.)
The first thing you want to do in bracelet making, or any type of jewelry making, for that matter, is to figure out how you want your finished project to look. Predetermining your crystal or bead design is important in knowing the length of your finished design.
(This is where a bead board comes in handy. Not only can you see what your finished project will look like, it also has measurements so that the guesswork is taken out of how many beads you will need to get the desired bracelet length. Bead boards come in bracelet size, like the one pictured above, and in a larger version for necklaces.)
You can see in the picture that I have alternated the briolette and square crystals with spacer beads.
(Spacer beads are great! You can still get a nice look, without having to use all your really expensive beads!)
You can use a bead mat, or a piece of fabric, just as easily as a bead board. You’ll want something, though, otherwise your beads like to run away!
Cut your wire to length adding about 2” - 3” minimum, for crimping.
(The average wrist is 7 ½”. This bracelet’s finished dimensions is only about 5 ½”. My daughter has a tiny wrist, and since I made it for her, it's made to her wrist specifications. Make sure you plan your beads and wire length according to your desired finished design size.)
The shorter your excess wire, the harder it is to finish the project. There is less waste, but more headache!
Thread a crimp bead onto your wire, then your clasp end.
(You can start with your clasp if you want. I usually start with the clasp end because it is smaller, and doesn’t have any pokey-parts (technical term) to catch on anything, which could make me drop my entire project.)
Thread the wire back through the crimp bead.
Your clasp end should now be within the circle you just formed.
Pull the wire gently so that the remaining loop is the size you want it.You want to leave enough room so that your clasp end moves freely, but make the loop fairly small. Hold both pieces of wire flat, not crossed, or on top of each other. Using the round portion of your crimping pliers with the lump in it, crimp the bead onto the wire tightly.
Crimp the bead.
Note: You don’t have to have crimping pliers, for this bracelet making technique. You can use just a set of normal pliers and smash the bead flat onto the wire.
This process has to be done very carefully, though, and I don’t recommend doing it this way. It leaves sharp edges on all sides of the crimp bead, and doesn’t look as nice. If that is not a factor for you, go ahead and smash it. Just be really careful not to smash it too much, as the crimp bead may split and break apart. You could also pinch it together so tightly that you will cut your wire. It must be tight enough not to let the wire slip, but not so tight it weakens, or cuts, the wire.
Example of bead crimped once.
Your round bead will now be flat in the middle, with two loops, one on each side. Your wire should have moved to a loop on each side.
(If it didn’t, and both wires are on one side, it’s not that big of a deal. You just don’t want your wires crossed over each other within the crimp. If this happens, I would cut the entire part off and start over. Over a short period of time, the pressure on the wire can cause it to fail and break, if crimping didn’t already break the wire.)
Crimp the bead again.
Put your crimped bead back into your crimping pliers. This time, make sure the bead is in sideways and use the front round part of the pliers.
Carefully close the pliers around the bead and crimp it into a circle.
Be very careful during this step.
If you crimp too tightly, the bead could fail and release your wire. You want the two outside circles to fold together, tightening their hold on the wire, but not smash completely, as this can break or weaken your wire.
Example of bead crimped twice.
You can see that the bead has now taken on a more round shape. The ends have been folded over onto each other.
Cut excess wire.
At this point, I cut the excess tail of my wire. Some people leave a tail and thread the first few beads onto it. I have found, that most beads I use won’t fit over the double thickness of the wire, and if they do, they don’t seem to have the same movement as the other beads. I always cut my excess wire in any bracelet making project.
String your beads.
Thread your crystals, or beads, onto the wire in your predetermined order.
(Usually beads in a certain order to the center point, then some sort of collection or size change of crystals or beads, or a charm or pendant, then repeat the same order of beads out from the center point, in reverse.)
End your beads with a crimp bead.
Add your clasp
(or clasp end if you started with your clasp).
Thread the wire back through the crimp bead.
Your clasp should be caught within the circle you made, just as before.
Pull wire tight.
Pull your wire tail gently, until the wire loop is the desired size. Make sure to leave room for your clasp to move freely.
Crimp the bead once.
Holding your wire tail and your bracelet, use your crimping pliers to crimp your crimp bead flat. (Use the second hole with the lump.)
Crimp the bead again.
Turn your project, use your crimping pliers to crimp the bead round. (Use the round hole.)
Remember, do this step gently! It is such a pain to break your crimp bead at this point! You’re almost finished, you don’t want to have to start all over.
Trim off any excess wire.
Once again, some people will thread the wire back through the first couple of beads, and then trim the excess. I don’t, for the same reasons as before.
At this point, you are finished with basic bracelet making!
Finished Crystal Bracelet
There you have it! A finished project.
(Unless you wanted to add some crimp bead covers. They would be the last thing you add. The covers are nice, because they hide the ugly looking crimp beads, and just add that finishing touch to your project.
They are open on one side, kind of like a “C”. You press them over the crimp bead, and using the round hole in your crimping pliers, you crimp them closed.)
You have now completed Bracelet Making 101, and you have a great looking, new bracelet to wear!
Note: This bracelet making technique is the same even when making a necklace, just add more beads and use longer wire!
Design the bracelet (necklace).
Thread a crimp bead onto your wire, then your clasp end.
Thread the wire back through the crimp bead.
Crimp the bead.
Example of bead crimped once.
Crimp the bead again.
Example of bead crimped twice.
Cut excess wire.
String your beads.
Add your clasp
Thread the wire back through the crimp bead.
Pull wire tight.
Crimp the bead once.
Crimp the bead again.
Trim off any excess wire.
