Beadbug
2008-02-16, 8:22pm
I was at a show with a friend and realized there was a need for an easy to make bracelet that people can place the euro slider beads on and put together their own bracelet to wear home. Many people who go to shows sell these beads and could sell a lot more of them if they had a something that would work well with the beads. My answer to this is a simple idea that I hope you like and use.
105778
Here are the supplies you will need for just the bracelet
I used sterling silver but these could be fun out of copper or any other metal.
2-12mm lobster claws, you may want a swivel end on one of these it is up to you.
3.7 mm rolo chain or you can get 4mm and pull it though a draw plate to make it small enough to go through the threaded beads that the euro bracelets use. If you aren’t going to use the euro beads then you won’t need to do anything extra to the 4mm chain. You can also get oval rolo chain and I think this would work beautifully. Understand that you can pull most any good quality chain that has soldered links through a drawplate (often used for Viking Knit) and make it the size you need. You can purchase this chain by the foot many places I don’t know where the best place to purchase it is maybe you could help me out with this one. I will tell you that good old Hobby Lobby has sterling silver bracelets made out of the rolo chain for $10.00 and if you wait for a sale it is an easy way to get the chain although maybe not as cheap as by the foot. These bracelets are 7.5 inches long and this is a good size to start with.
This is easy!
If you have purchased chain that is bigger than your bead holes or you want this to fit any euro beads it will need to fit a bead with a 3.7 mm hole or bigger. The threaded euro beads fit this size. To sell I wouldn’t make the chain any bigger than this so your customer can purchase any other euro beads for different themes. If you purchased your chain by the foot pull all of it though a draw plate at one time then cut to size. Remember that your clasps will add almost an inch to your bracelet size so don't cut until you try it on or measure for length.
Simply take one of the lobster claws and place it at one end of the chain. Choose a swivel claw for this end if you like. Soldering these it makes the bracelet more secure. There are plenty of tutorials and books on this so I am not going to go into soldering here.
105776
Take the second lobster claw and make it into a charm by adding some bits n pieces onto the loop end. As a little added touch I used a heart shaped one for this but a regular one will work just fine. The bead, shells, crystal, charm needs to be either galley wrapped onto the soldered jump ring or as with a charm simply attach it with another jump ring and solder. You could just use the second lobster claw with nothing on it but it is a nice touch and it does have a loop that isn’t used for anything else.
Once you get this, all made you can thread your bracelet up with beads and goodies. Then simply clip one of your lobster claws onto the blank end of the chain to use as a fastener for the other end of the chain
Extra Charms
105777
If you want you can make charms on big jump rings that slide onto the chain or use the heart shaped clips so you can place them after the beads are on. Small lobster claws can be clip into the chain and keep the beads from shifting to one side if it’s not full.
You can patina the bracelet at this point if you like and then tumble it. I haven’t done this to my bracelet yet but I will soon, it gives the bracelets a nice look. You in no way have to do use patina to have a beautiful finished product. It can also be made without soldering but remember those of us who like to wear sweaters love to have the bracelets soldered so they don’t catch on our clothing. I do have a tutorial for basic chip soldering if anyone needs it sent to them just let me know.
This is just a start to this tut, tidbits to get you on your way. I want to take better photos , maybe we will actualy have some sunlight in Michigan tomorrow.
With more people and more ideas I can see these being amazing! I love this type of form because then we get to see what everyone else trys and the project only gets better and better so if you make one or have one already please show it off in here.
105778
Here are the supplies you will need for just the bracelet
I used sterling silver but these could be fun out of copper or any other metal.
2-12mm lobster claws, you may want a swivel end on one of these it is up to you.
3.7 mm rolo chain or you can get 4mm and pull it though a draw plate to make it small enough to go through the threaded beads that the euro bracelets use. If you aren’t going to use the euro beads then you won’t need to do anything extra to the 4mm chain. You can also get oval rolo chain and I think this would work beautifully. Understand that you can pull most any good quality chain that has soldered links through a drawplate (often used for Viking Knit) and make it the size you need. You can purchase this chain by the foot many places I don’t know where the best place to purchase it is maybe you could help me out with this one. I will tell you that good old Hobby Lobby has sterling silver bracelets made out of the rolo chain for $10.00 and if you wait for a sale it is an easy way to get the chain although maybe not as cheap as by the foot. These bracelets are 7.5 inches long and this is a good size to start with.
This is easy!
If you have purchased chain that is bigger than your bead holes or you want this to fit any euro beads it will need to fit a bead with a 3.7 mm hole or bigger. The threaded euro beads fit this size. To sell I wouldn’t make the chain any bigger than this so your customer can purchase any other euro beads for different themes. If you purchased your chain by the foot pull all of it though a draw plate at one time then cut to size. Remember that your clasps will add almost an inch to your bracelet size so don't cut until you try it on or measure for length.
Simply take one of the lobster claws and place it at one end of the chain. Choose a swivel claw for this end if you like. Soldering these it makes the bracelet more secure. There are plenty of tutorials and books on this so I am not going to go into soldering here.
105776
Take the second lobster claw and make it into a charm by adding some bits n pieces onto the loop end. As a little added touch I used a heart shaped one for this but a regular one will work just fine. The bead, shells, crystal, charm needs to be either galley wrapped onto the soldered jump ring or as with a charm simply attach it with another jump ring and solder. You could just use the second lobster claw with nothing on it but it is a nice touch and it does have a loop that isn’t used for anything else.
Once you get this, all made you can thread your bracelet up with beads and goodies. Then simply clip one of your lobster claws onto the blank end of the chain to use as a fastener for the other end of the chain
Extra Charms
105777
If you want you can make charms on big jump rings that slide onto the chain or use the heart shaped clips so you can place them after the beads are on. Small lobster claws can be clip into the chain and keep the beads from shifting to one side if it’s not full.
You can patina the bracelet at this point if you like and then tumble it. I haven’t done this to my bracelet yet but I will soon, it gives the bracelets a nice look. You in no way have to do use patina to have a beautiful finished product. It can also be made without soldering but remember those of us who like to wear sweaters love to have the bracelets soldered so they don’t catch on our clothing. I do have a tutorial for basic chip soldering if anyone needs it sent to them just let me know.
This is just a start to this tut, tidbits to get you on your way. I want to take better photos , maybe we will actualy have some sunlight in Michigan tomorrow.
With more people and more ideas I can see these being amazing! I love this type of form because then we get to see what everyone else trys and the project only gets better and better so if you make one or have one already please show it off in here.