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01/15/2015

Winterberry Woven Bracelet

Woven bracelets are one of my favorite things to make.  They’re easy, they’re inexpensive, and they have such an organic feel to them.  The mix of red seed beads and waxed linen in this piece reminds me of winterberries on a branch – which is one of the prettiest things about winter, in my opinion.  (And after all, I know winter, here in Michigan… sigh.)

Winterberry Woven Bead Bracelet at www.happyhourprojects.com

Anyway – you don’t need special skills or tools for this piece, you just have to be able to braid and glue!  I got these supplies from Consumer Crafts (and shared the project last month over on their blog, Crafts Unleashed) so if you’re looking to make a purchase, you can click these links to buy everything you need for under $10.

Winterberry Woven Bead Bracelet at www.happyhourprojects.com

  • Size 6/0 Toho Seed Beads (I used a high metallic burgundy and a silver-lined light gray)
  • 4mm Silver-plated Spacer Beads
  • Black Waxed Linen
  • Glue-on Hook and Eye Clasp – this one has a 4mm opening
  • Super New Glue (or jewelry glue of your choice)
  • Scissors

Now, this list is flexible.  For one, you can choose any color seed beads you like, but I do recommend a high-quality bead like the Toho beads over a cheaper Chinese bead… seed beads are already inexpensive, so a few pennies more will go a long way in keeping your piece looking high-quality.  The Toho beads have a nice, large hole and they’re quite uniform in size.  The spacer beads are just  to add an additional finish and texture – you could choose a third color of seed beads, or choose a bead that has a pattern to it.  The waxed linen also comes in 4 colors, so whatever color scheme you choose, one will surely match.  I prefer waxed linen because it doesn’t unravel while you work with it, and it’s very easy to string beads onto without needles.

Winterberry Woven Bead Bracelet at www.happyhourprojects.com

First things first – cut 12 lengths of waxed linen, about 12 inches each.  It’s more than you will need, but when you get to the end, you will be happy to have the extra ends to work with.  Add a few drops of glue to your end cap, and hold your twine in place until it “catches”.  It won’t have to be fully dried, but you do need to hold it for about a minute to get it to stick well enough to continue to the next step.

Winterberry Woven Bead Bracelet at www.happyhourprojects.com

Next, secure your work.  Typically, I clip mine to a clipboard.  You can pin it to a pillow, set something heavy on top of it – whatever you like, but you will be pulling gently throughout the woven bracelet project, so stabilizing it is a good idea.

Separate your strands, 6 and 6.  You will be using half to create a thick braid.  Separate your 6 strands (you’ll see below that I’m working on the left) into three parts of 2 strands each.  You’ll be using these parts to create a normal, 3-part braid.  Begin your braid, and after a couple of passes, add a bead to the outer-most cord.  Move it all the way up close to the braid, and then continue braiding as normal.  Every few passes, add another bead.  I prefer a more random look, but if you like for your beading to be totally uniform, you can braid a pattern.  I just added beads every so often, focusing heavily on the red beads, and the least on the spacer beads.

Winterberry Woven Bead Bracelet at www.happyhourprojects.com

When you’ve braided for 6 inches, stop adding beads, and braid down at least another inch.  Tie your braid off in a knot.  You will be cutting much of this non-beaded section off, but this will keep your work tight while you create your other strands.

Next, pull 3 more strands, and create another braid.  This one will be similar to the first in the way you add beads, but it’s different because it will be thinner.  That’s okay – in fact, it lends a more organic look to your woven bracelet.  Finish in the same way – stop adding beads after braiding for 6 inches.

Use the last 3 strands to create another braid similar to your second one.  When you finish it, you will have 3 beaded layers to your woven bracelet.

Winterberry Woven Bead Bracelet at www.happyhourprojects.com

Braid the 3 sections together VERY loosely.  Just enough to group them together, basically!  Measure from the hook end of your clasp down 7 inches, and cut all three braids off at that point.  The wax will help hold them together momentarily while you add a few drops to the other clasp end, and then glue it onto the finished end.

Winterberry Woven Bead Bracelet at www.happyhourprojects.com

Allow it about 30 minutes to fully dry, and your woven bracelet is ready for wear, or for gift-giving!  The waxed linen gives it a little bit of stiffness so that it holds its shape well, while still being flexible enough for comfort.

I’ve missed writing here lately, but in other news, I’m thrilled to say that my book is FINISHED so I’ll have a lot more time for what I love best – blogging!  I will still be playing catch-up in the next week (and, I’m embarrassed to say, taking down the rest of my Christmas decorations…) but I’ll be getting back in the swing of things really soon.  I’m looking forward to sharing with you on my regular schedule again!

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Filed Under: Bracelets, Fashion, Featured, Jewelry, Tutorials Tagged With: accessories, beads, bracelet, braided, easy, style, twine, winter, woven

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I love it when you love my work! All tutorials and photos published at Happy Hour Projects are copyrighted. If you would like to feature my tutorial on your website or share it on your social media you may use one photo to feature, as long as you provide a link back to the original post.

If you feature a photo, it may not be accompanied by the project tutorial or recipe, whether in my own words as it originally appears or paraphrased by you. This also includes personal sharing on social media and Pinterest. Publishing multiple photos from a project, or including instructions with an accompanying photo are not permitted and you will be asked to remove them.

I love to share my projects, and my tutorials, recipes, and e-books are ALL free for your personal use. However, photos and ideas that are published to this site are my protected intellectual property. You may print them at home, but please do not copy or distribute them. I also allow all designs to be made and sold at fundraisers, craft fairs, etc. If you are selling a piece made from one or more of my free tutorials in your online shop, I require that you use your own, original photography, and include a link back to my website to credit me as the designer.

I hope you enjoy what you read here, and please be fair when you share!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Caz says

    04/09/2016 at 8:32 am

    Hi,
    In the UK waxed linen seems to be a rarity (ironic, seeing it’s often called Irish linen), and only comes in ‘ply.’ Waxed cotton seems to be the norm here, do you think this is the same or an inferior product?

    ps. thanks for the design!

    Reply
  2. Charlotte says

    09/02/2015 at 12:00 pm

    The linen comes in different mm. What size did you use? Thanks

    Reply
    • Adrianne says

      09/02/2015 at 12:20 pm

      This is exactly what I used: http://www.consumercrafts.com/store/details/catalog/jewelry-making-and-stringing-cord/10867

      If I had to venture a guess, I’d estimate that it’s 1mm. It’s not listed on the packaging.

      Reply
  3. Dorothy Garner says

    01/28/2015 at 11:19 am

    i like to know the name of the glue and where to get it and also where to get those clasp
    thank you

    Dorothy

    Reply
    • Adrianne says

      01/28/2015 at 4:11 pm

      I got these supplies from Consumer Crafts – if you click the links in the supply list, it will open up the exact product I used. Hopefully that makes it easy!

      Reply
  4. Ann Waggett says

    01/27/2015 at 4:21 pm

    Hi Adrianne,
    I just found your website via interest and love the end caps and claps that you use in your tutorials. Is there a specific online company that you use to purchase these? I cannot find anything as cute at my local bead shop. Love your ideas!

    Thank you

    Ann

    Reply
  5. Laila says

    01/18/2015 at 1:21 pm

    How does the glue hold on to the loose ends? Do you make a knot before you stick the ends in the clasp?

    Reply
    • Adrianne says

      01/18/2015 at 4:47 pm

      You can knot it but I typically don’t. This kind of glue is like superglue, it’s liquid when you put it n the cap (so it soaks into those ends) but it hardens and bonds quickly.

      I’ve been finishing the ends of my woven bracelets this way for a couple years now and I’ve never had a problem with it coming apart – if it’s not secure enough, you’ll know right away as you’re putting it together (at which point, just add another drop of glue).

      Hope that helps? Adrianne

      Reply
      • Laila says

        01/18/2015 at 6:26 pm

        Thank you so much! I am going to make it this week!! It is adorable.

        Reply
  6. MPaula says

    01/15/2015 at 4:11 pm

    I have never seen the hook and eye clasp you’ve used here.. What a great concept! So easy to use especially for those with arthritis or fumble-fingers. Thanks. I will be on the look out for them.

    Reply
  7. Jeannie says

    01/15/2015 at 3:30 pm

    How does the waxed linen hold up over time? Does the wax wear off? Just wondering, have never made a bracelet with it, but would like to try after seeing yours!

    Reply
    • Adrianne says

      01/18/2015 at 4:44 pm

      Hi Jeannie, it may depend on how long you wear it and how often… I make a LOT of bracelets so I don’t wear the same one every day. I’ve been using waxed linen for a few years, though, and it has not worn off. If it does wear off, it’s still linen underneath, which will be softer than hemp. The wax mostly just makes it easy to assemble more than anything else.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Happy Hour Projects | Pearltrees says:
    05/17/2017 at 12:41 pm

    […] – Happy Hour Projects. One-Minute Interchangeable Beaded Frame Earrings – Happy Hour Projects. Winterberry Woven Bracelet – Happy Hour Projects. DIY Wire Wrapped Bead Bangle | Video Tutorial – Happy Hour Projects. Layered Leather Beaded […]

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  2. CraftCrave | DigiFree | CraftCrave says:
    01/15/2015 at 9:53 pm

    […] Winterberry Woven Bracelet – 1 freebie(s)? […]

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Hello, and welcome! I'm Adrianne, an artist, author, designer, and blogger in mid Michigan. I work from home, chase my two kids, and this once-city-girl is learning how to care for chickens and adjusting to life out in the country. I have a compulsion for daily creativity... sometimes it's jewelry-making, paper crafting, metal stamping, mixing and baking, or giving new life to recycled items. But with 2 young kids, time is short! My goal here at Happy Hour Projects is to share projects and tips that you can do in an hour or less. The ideas you find here are designed to add a little creativity in your day, no matter how much (or how little) time you have!

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