How to Make a Bead Flower Bracelet

Making jewelry is a fun activity for children of all ages. Making jewelry can be a calming activity, especially after a hard day at work. Many people create single-strand beaded jewelry while others create complex designs. Others usually envy those who create complex jewelry designs, but making complex jewelry designs is not as hard as it looks. With the right tools, anyone can create multi-strand jewelry designs or even chunky seed bead bracelets. In this simple tutorial, anyone can learn how to create a large multi-strand seed bead flower bracelet.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Beading loom
• Thread
• Beading needle
• Seed beads in your choice of colors
• Scissors
• Craft glue
• Jewelry clasps

1. 

   Set the beading loom down on the table. If you do not have a beading loom, it can easily purchase one from your local craft store or an online craft retailer. Beading looms are great for woven bead bracelets.

2. Cut 14 strands of 24-inch long pieces of thread. Tie all the thread pieces together at one end.

3. Place the thread on one end of the bead loom and tape it down. Stretch the thread across the loom until it reaches the other side. Wrap the loose thread around the thread roller and tape down.

4. 

   Move the thread strands into the grooves located at the top of the loom. Make sure all strands are evenly spaced and straight all the way across the loom.

5. Cut a 36-inch long piece of thread. Tie this thread to the left-most piece of thread on the loom and move it up to the top. Dab a little bit of craft glue on the knot and let dry.

6. Thread the unknotted end of the thread through the beading needle hole. You are ready to begin weaving the flower design.

7. Create three rows of black beads. Since there are 14 rows of thread, you will need 13 seed beads per row. Beginning with the first row, place 13 black seed beads on the beading needle and pull those beads down onto the thread. Take the needle and beads and move it underneath all strands of thread located on the loom. Pull the string tight. Make sure all the beads are between all the threads and take the needle and thread and restring the beads on top of the 14 rows of threads. Pull the needle and thread tight. That makes is the first row of woven beads. Repeat these steps for the next two rows of black beads.

8. Begin creating your flower petals. First, put 5 black seed beads on the needle and thread, then add 3 beads of the color of your choosing and then add 5 more black beads. Repeat Step 7. For the next 3 rows, add 4 black seed beads, 5 seed beads of your color choice, then four black seed beads. Repeat the weaving technique from Step 7.

9. Begin the second and third flower petals with the beads. For the first row, add 1 black bead, 3 beads of your color choice, 1 black bead, 3 beads the color of your choice to finish the top petal, 1 black bead, 3 beads the color of your choice, and 1 black bead. Weave the beads as you did in the previous steps.

10. Finish the second and third flower petals. In addition to this, you will add the center of the flower. For this step, there will not be any black beads used. Add 5 seed beads of your color choice, 3 yellow beads, and 5 more beads of your color choice to the needle and thread. Weave the beads as you did in the previous steps. Repeat this scheme for the next two rows.

11. Repeat Step 9 in order to complete the second and third petal and begin the fourth petal. Again, the pattern will be 1 black bead, 3 beads of your color choice, 1 black bead, 3 beads the color of your choice to finish the top petal, 1 black bead, 3 beads the color of your choice and 1 black bead. Weave your beads as you did in the previous steps.

12. Finish the last petal by using the 4 black seed beads, 5 seed beads of your color choice, then 4 black seed beads. Repeat the weaving technique from Step 7. Do this for 3 rows. Then put 5 black seed beads on the needle and thread, then add 3 beads of the color of your choosing and then add 5 more black beads. Weave your beads as you did in the previous steps.

13. Add three more rows of 13 black beads. Weave the beads as you did in the previous steps.

14. Repeat Steps 7 through 13 until you have reached the desired length of the bracelet. The average wrist size is 7 1/4 inches, so make sure to measure your wrist and bracelet in order to achieve the desired fit.

15. Add a dab of glue to the first and last row of beads in order to assure the bracelet will not fall apart. Let it dry.

16. Release the bottom end of thread from the loom's thread roller. Tie all the threads together two at a time until all rows of thread are knotted and secured close to the last row of beads. Repeat on the opposite side. Add a dab of glue to all the knots and let dry.

17. Add the jewelry clasps. There are several clasps available on the market, from lobster claw to magnetic. For this type of delicate bracelet, magnetic clasps are best because they instantly lock into place. To add the clasp, weave half of the thread through the clasp hole until the clasp is close to the last row of beads. Tie this half of the thread to the other remaining half. Add a dab of glue to make sure the knot does not slip. Repeat at the opposite end.

18. Cut the loose threads. Make sure not to cut too close to the knot because it may unravel. The glue should help keep the knot in place.

Tips & Warnings

• Since this is a time consuming project, make sure to set plenty of time aside to complete it. You will not finish this project in under an hour. Even with a lot of practice, beading is tedious work.
• Seed beads have a tendency to roll away. Keep a roll of masking tape nearby; this will help you pick up escapee seed beads.