How to Make a Hematite (Magnetic) Bead Bracelet/Necklace

I have become adventurous in my old age.  I was well over 50 the first time I drove across country (Utah to Virginia).  At one of the many rest stops I found a hematite bead bracelet. I bought one for a pattern and I have since made a few that I wear when the fashion fairy strikes.  A fun piece of jewelry and easy to do.  Finding the hematite beads may be a little tough, but I can help with that.  So here we go in making a “Hematite (Magnetic) Bead Bracelet/Necklace”.

Supplies:

Beading wire – nylon coated, 7 strand (+/- $3 for 40 yds.)
19 – 5x8 mm hematite (magnetic) beads- ($3 per 40 beads) at http://www.magneticjewelry.name/wholesale.htm
162 (+/-) 4 mm round beads (you choice, I’m using black obsidian, rose quartz, and fresh water pearls, leftovers from other projects.)
Crimp beads ($2 a pkg.)
Crimping tool (at craft store, +/- $10)

Needle nose pliers (use your Hubby’s, available cheap at Harbor Freight)
Wire cutters (same as pliers)

Cut a 40 inch length of wire.  Your completed string of beads will be somewhere around 36 inches long.

These are what the hematite beads look like.  They do not like to be alone.  This is one way that you can tell that they are hemetite magnets, they stick together.

On one end of the wire, string one crimp bead a one small bead. 

Wrap the end of the wire around the bead and back through the crimp bead.  xxx

Use the crimping tool to crimp the crimp bead. 

First you use the larger hole at the back for the first crimp, then, use the smaller hole toward the tip to finish the crimp.  It makes the crimp bead look nice.  If you don’t have a crimp tool, just use the pliers to smash the bead.  The crimped bead keeps the beads from falling off the wire.

Put a hematite bead on the wire and slide the end of the wire so that it is inside the bead.  Doing this keeps the wire from sticking out and poking/scratching you.

Decide on the pattern you want for the space between the hematite beads.  I make the pattern, Rose Quartz, Black Obsidian, RQ, Pearl, RQ, BO, RQ, Pearl, RQ, BO, RQ.  You can put 9-11 beads of all the same type if you wish. 

Add another hematite and then repeat your pattern. 

Turn on the TV, or an audio book, or something to keep your mind occupied because you will do this 18 times ending with a hematite bead.  As you do each set, check your pattern and correct as needed.  This will save a lot of hastle later.

When you put the last hematite bead on the string, add one crimp bead and then add one more, small bead, matching the one at the other end. 

Again, wrap the end of the wire around the bead and back through the crimp bead. 

Use the pliers to pull the wire as tight as possible.   Tuck the end of the wire into the hematite bead.

  use the crimp tool to crimp the crimp bead.

and use the wire cutter to cut off any excess wire.  You are done!

There are several different ways to wear this string of beads.  You can wear them wrapped round and round your wrist. The hematite beads will be spaced evenly apart so that they can hold on to each other and form a coil.  This is the bracelet.

You can wrap it around your neck 2 – 3 times and this is a necklace, or you can  wrap it around your neck once and have the hematite beads at the end stick together and  forming a loop around your neck for a second style of necklace.  

Experiment; see it there are other ways you can wear this versatile piece of jewelry. Enjoy!