Crochet Beaded Bracelets
These bracelets require the materials listed in the next step, a bit of crochet know-how, and patience!
I can finish a bracelet over a weekend, but assuming you're busier than I am, it may take more like a week or two. If the instructions could use some tweaking for more clarity, please feel free to tell me so!
I can finish a bracelet over a weekend, but assuming you're busier than I am, it may take more like a week or two. If the instructions could use some tweaking for more clarity, please feel free to tell me so!
Materials Needed
As well as the materials in the list below, you will need to know how to crochet three stitches: slip stitch (sl), chain stitch (ch), and single crochet stitch (sc). Check out www.instructables.com/id/Beginning-crochet/ and www.instructables.com/id/How-to-crochet-a-ball-or-a-hackey-sack/step3/Join-with-a-slip-stitch-to-form-a-ring/ if you don't know how to do these three stitches. :-)
Materials:
- Thread
- Small crochet hook (I used size 10)
- Two sizes of beads
- "big" I used size 8/0
- "small" I used size 12/0
- Scissors
- A piece of wire bent in half
- Needle (Not in the picture)
Materials:
- Thread
- Small crochet hook (I used size 10)
- Two sizes of beads
- "big" I used size 8/0
- "small" I used size 12/0
- Scissors
- A piece of wire bent in half
- Needle (Not in the picture)
The Loop
Alright, here we go! First tightly ch 20. Then join the 20th stitch to the 1st stitch with a sl. Ch two and sc 20 stitches around, joining with another sl. There you go, this is the loop that will help hold the bracelet together.
Starting Base of Bracelet
Ch two and sc two stitches in each of the next two stitches (4 sc). Now this part gets pretty wacky, so hang with me here. I'll try and make it as clear as possible. Turn you work around. You are now going to crochet in the same stitches you just crocheted in, just on the opposite side. Follow the pictures, and sc two stitches in the each of the two stitches (4 sc) for a total of 8 stitches. Join the 8th stitch to the 1st with a sl, ch 2 and sc 8 stitches counterclockwise. Until now, you've been working clockwise, so you will be crocheting in the opposite direction. (This is the most unconventional step. If I'm not being clear enough, please feel free to tell me.)
Adding Beads
Taking a quick break to introduce how we will add beads:
Hopefully I don't make this too complicated, because it is rather simple. Basically you're pulling a loop through your bead that you will use as the first loop of a sc stitch. Take your piece of wire and put it on the thread. Thread a bead onto the wire and pull the wire through, leaving a substantial loop. Put your hook through the loop, and pull the loop tight. Draw a loop through the next sc, and then pull it through the two loops on your hook. Refer to the pictures for more clarity. This is the way you will add every bead.
Hopefully I don't make this too complicated, because it is rather simple. Basically you're pulling a loop through your bead that you will use as the first loop of a sc stitch. Take your piece of wire and put it on the thread. Thread a bead onto the wire and pull the wire through, leaving a substantial loop. Put your hook through the loop, and pull the loop tight. Draw a loop through the next sc, and then pull it through the two loops on your hook. Refer to the pictures for more clarity. This is the way you will add every bead.
Continuing the Bracelet
The basic pattern from here on: sc, bead, sc, bead, etc. From here onward, the bracelet will be worked in a spiral. Do not join, just keep crocheting.
The bead pattern that I'm using is orange, red, orange, red, for three rows, and then red, orange, red, orange for three rows, etc. You will notice that the beads begin to spiral around. They do not just stay on top of each other. Feel free to experiment with different "basic patterns" (e.g. sc, sc, bead, bead, etc.), as well as with different bead patterns. Different bead patterns, as well as different colored threads, produce different effects, as seen in the pictures in step 1 and 7.
Continue with the bracelet, using my pattern or your own, until it is at least long enough that the loop touches the other end of the bracelet when wrapped around your wrist. After that, the sky is the limit with how long you want to make it. You're certainly not limited to just bracelets, you could make necklaces, anklets, etc. I don't have the patience for a necklace, but then, I have yet to try.
The bead pattern that I'm using is orange, red, orange, red, for three rows, and then red, orange, red, orange for three rows, etc. You will notice that the beads begin to spiral around. They do not just stay on top of each other. Feel free to experiment with different "basic patterns" (e.g. sc, sc, bead, bead, etc.), as well as with different bead patterns. Different bead patterns, as well as different colored threads, produce different effects, as seen in the pictures in step 1 and 7.
Continue with the bracelet, using my pattern or your own, until it is at least long enough that the loop touches the other end of the bracelet when wrapped around your wrist. After that, the sky is the limit with how long you want to make it. You're certainly not limited to just bracelets, you could make necklaces, anklets, etc. I don't have the patience for a necklace, but then, I have yet to try.
Finishing
Once your bracelet has reached the desired length, you can start "finishing".
Sc for the next four rounds (stop adding beads), 32 stitches. Now add four "big" beads, sc, bead, sc, bead, etc. This is the "stopper" for the loop. That's it. Knot off, and using your needle sew in both loose ends. There you go!
Sc for the next four rounds (stop adding beads), 32 stitches. Now add four "big" beads, sc, bead, sc, bead, etc. This is the "stopper" for the loop. That's it. Knot off, and using your needle sew in both loose ends. There you go!
That's It!
There you go, there's your bracelet! As I said in step 5, this is just the basic recipe. Add to, take away, as you will. Feel free to get inspiration from the pictures of the other bracelets I've done posted below. Also feel free to post pictures of the bracelets you do, I'd love to see them!