DIY: How to Make a Beaded Macrame Bracelet

Did you make jewelry crafts at summer camp?  I was reminiscing about my days of twisting lanyards into wearable art in 5th grade this week.  I thought I would present a quickie macrame bracelet DIY to refresh your memories.  This one is based on a basic square knot technique.  If you don't have the patience to read, you can also watch the tutorial video I made with About.com.

To make this project, you are going to need:

·         Scissors

·         A board and something to pin your project to

·         Some lengths of cord

·         Beads large enough to fit your chords through

·        A button

Anchor Cords to Begin Making Your Bracelet

To start, you are going to have two lengths of 48-inch cords, and you are going to fold the two lengths like the first photo. Then you are going to tie a knot to create a loop. Next, you are going to pin it to your board, and this is how you're going to anchor your project. You are going to stick your loop against the pin and separate your cords. You are going to have two center cords, and you can take this down. 

Start Knotting and Adding Beads

Next, you are going to begin a knotted technique for your macramé bracelet. You start with one under and one over and pull. You alternate your knots going over and then under the two center cords. Then you are going under and over and this is known as a square knot.

When you are ready for your first bead, you are going to take your center two cords and pull them through your first bead. You are going to continue your knotting around the bead. So you're going to grab  your cord again and go under and over right around the bead and keep knotting again.

Finish Your Beaded Macrame Bracelet

When you are ready to end your bracelet, take your cords and put them through the buttonholes. Take your cords and knot off the ends and pull the knot tight. Trim off the excess length. When you're ready to wear your DIY macrame bracelet, you put your button through the loop that you made, and there you have it!

If you want to create an entire arm party, you can add this set of bracelets to complete the look.

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DIY: How to Make an Easy Seed Bead Flowers for Jewelry

Need a pretty project for a lazy summer day?  Here is how to make easy seed bead flowers for jewelry projects that you can use anywhere.  I learned how to make these on a Native American cultural center way back in high school.

You will need: 

• Strong thread (poly or nylon core, do not use 100% cotton)
• Seed beads
• Needle (Make sure it is slim enough for the beads you are using)
• Scissors
• Lobster clasps, earring hooks, etc.

To start,  thread 5 beads to start with and pull them through almost the end and then tie them into a knot. You want a firm knot, but not too tight. 

Next,  Use your needle to pick up 3 beads that you want to add as a petal and then you are going to go through your first bead.  Repeat this again with another three beads through the second bead of your knot. This creates a little petal and you are going to repeat this for all 5 beads. 

After going through all 5 beads, pull your needle through the middle of your first petal (the second bead of the three bead petal) and string 5 beads through to the next second bead of the next petal.  It makes it much easier to keep your beads and petals organized if you use 2 different colors of beads for each level of petal.  

After you create 5 petals of 5 beads each, knot off the thread to finish the flower.

You can create several of these and knot them together for a bracelet or necklace.  To finish it, you can thread a few extra beads through the point of the end flower petal and then loop in a clasp on each end.   For earrings, do the same, but loop in the end of earring hooks.

For a more detailed and visual explanation, you can watch the video version of this How-to here.  

Have fun!

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