Wide cuff beaded bracelet tutorial

My latest make...a wide cuff bracelet! I like all the different bracelets you can find in the shops, but most of the ones I have come across are really rigid and I prefer bracelets that have a little flexibility.

This bracelet took absolutely ages to make (I started this before Christmas and have only just managed to finish it). Then the tutorial diagram took ages to draw. Hopefully it all makes sense!

You will need:

Pliers

Fishing wire 

Scissors

Tweezers (this tutorial can be a bit fiddly, tweezers are handy when you need to thread the wire through the 1mm beads)

132  white 4mm white bicone beads (I used Swarovski crystal AB beads for this)

525 blue 2mm blue beads

Metal clasp and two metal loops

Step 1: Cut a piece of fishing wire, roughly 70 cm long. Thread three 4mm white bicone beads and two 1mm blue beads in an alternating pattern (as indicated on the diagram), position the beads so they are in the middle of the fishing wire. The thread both ends of the fishing wire through a 1mm blue bead to create a loop.

Step 2: Then thread one 4mm white bicone bead and one 1mm blue bead onto the end of wire, repeat with the other end of thread (please look at the diagram). Thread both ends through a 4mm white bicone bead to create another loop. 

Step 3: Repeat steps 1 and 2 again.

Step 4: Thread three 1mm blue beads onto both ends of wire, then thread both ends of wire through another 1mm blue bead. Repeat this until you have four loops of 1mm beads (as indicated in the diagram).

Step 5: Repeat until you have a strand of beads with four segments of 4mm white bicone beads (like the photo. Continue threading the wire through the beads until the strands are next to each other so you can tie a knot. Once you have secured the strand continue threading the wire through the beads (I like to do this so the bracelet feels a little more secure. You don’t need to go over the top and thread it through all your beads) Once you are satisfied cut the wire, this makes it nice and neat and makes step 7 much easier!

Step 6: Make two more strands, so you have three in total.

Step 7: Cut a fresh piece of wire, 50cm should be more than enough. Thread three 1mm blue beads onto the wire and position them at the middle of the wire. Then thread the end of the wire through the 1mm blue bead on one of the strands you made earlier, repeat for the other end of wire. Then thread both ends through one 1mm blue bead. Hopefully the diagram is clearer than this explanation! Thread both ends through the two of the white bicone beads you threaded earlier.

Step 8: Thread both ends through another 1mm blue bead. Then thread through two of the blue beads on the strand, repeat on the other strand.  Thread both ends through another 1mm blue bead, then thread both ends of wire through the white bicone beads on the strands. To complete this step thread both ends through another blue 1mm bead.

Step 9: Thread the wire through two of the 1mm blue beads on the strand and repeat on the other piece of wire. Then thread both ends through another 1mm blue bead. You should have a loop of 6 beads.

Step 10: Next thread the ends through one of the 1mm blue beads on the strands and repeat for the other end of wire. Then thread one 1mm blue bead on each end of wire then thread both ends through another 1mm blue bead. (This step should make another loop of six beads).

Step 11: Thread one 1mm blue bead on each end of wire, then thread the wire through one of the blue beads on the two strands. Next thread one blue bead on both ends of wire, then thread both ends through a blue bead. This should make a loop of eight beads.

Step 12: Repeat step 11 and create another loop of eight beads.

Step 13: Next add one blue bead onto each end of wire then thread through a blue bead on each strand. Then thread both ends of wire through a blue bead, creating a loop of six.

Step 14: Thread the wire through two of the blue beads on the beaded strands, repeat on the other side, then thread both ends through one blue 1mm bead.

Step 15: Repeat from step 7 until you have completely joined both strands of beads.

Step 16: Use the same process from step 7 to join the third strand.

Step 17: Using another piece of cut fishing wire (you will only need a small piece; 15cm is more than enough). Thread twelve blue 1mm beads onto the wire then thread the ends through the blue beads on the bracelet (as indicated on the diagram). Thread the ends of the wire through the beads in the bracelet until the wires are next to each other then tie a knot. Thread the ends through the beads in the bracelet to secure it then cut the ends, repeat to the other end of the bracelet.

Step 18: Attach a metal loop to the loop of blue beads on each end of the bracelet, then attach a metal clasp. You’ve finished!

Ta-dah! The finished bracelet!