What Is a Beaded Safety Pin Watch?

Beaded safety pins can form the wristband on a watch.

Safety pin watches replace the traditional leather or metal link watchband with rows of safety pins. The pins have small beads threaded onto them. Beaded safety pin watches are simple enough to make at home.

The Beads

The safety pin beads are usually tiny glass seed beads or slightly larger "E" beads or pony beads. The larger the beads on the pins, the fewer pins will be needed.

The Pins

The pins on a safety pin watch should not be more than an inch wide. The pins need to have coils on the end that do not open so that they can be connected to form the watchband.

Elastic

The crafter attaches the pins to each other by inserting elastic thread into the coiled end of each pin. She then runs another piece of elastic through the clasp ends of the pins.

Watch Face

Without the watch face, the beaded safety pins would merely form a bracelet. The watch face must have small loops on each side so the crafter may tie the ends of the safety pin band to the face.

Watch Band Patterns

The beads may one color or an assortment of colors. The crafter may choose to arrange the beads so that a pattern, such as a U.S. flag or a flower appears when the safety pins are lined up.

References

• Making Friends: Safety Pin Projects
• How to Make Jewelry: Beads on Safety Pin Watches