Chloe Zhang
Making bracelets is a fun and creative project, and there are many ways to finish a bracelet on plastic. This could involve using glue, scissors, or an open flame to seal the bracelet, or adding a bead, clasp, or adjustable knot. It's important to measure the wrist and cut the plastic to size, allowing extra room for knotting, and to stretch the elastic to prevent overstretching or snapping. With so many options for finishing a bracelet on plastic, it's easy to get creative and make something unique.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Stretchy bracelets | Stretch bracelets are easy to make as they don't require any tools. Add beads, tie a tight knot, and glue the knot to secure it. |
| Hiding knots | Use crimp bead knot covers, clamshell bead tips, or a bead with a large enough opening to hide the knot. |
| Non-stretchy bracelets | Use a clasp, crimp beads, or an adjustable knot. |
| Elastic bracelets | Measure the desired wrist size, cut the elastic, and tie a basic overhand knot. Glue the knot and trim the excess elastic. |
| Gimp bracelets | Cut the strings, burn the ending with an open flame to seal, and tighten the final stitch. |
| Multi-strand bracelets | Use jump rings and bead tips to create a multi-strand effect. |
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What You'll Learn
- Stretchy bracelets: Measure your wrist, cut elastic, add beads, tie a tight double knot, and glue the knot
- Clasps: Use crimp beads to tie off a wire bracelet with a clasp
- Adjustable bracelets: Tie a series of square knots with extra cord
- Clamshell bead tips: Cover knotted ends and attach clasps, jump rings, or chains
- Burn or glue: Seal the bracelet by burning the ends with an open flame or gluing them together
Stretchy bracelets: Measure your wrist, cut elastic, add beads, tie a tight double knot, and glue the knot
Making stretchy bracelets is a fun and simple craft project. You can make elastic bracelets with almost any type of beads, from small to large beads, and even add charms. Firstly, you need to measure your wrist. Wrap the elastic cord around your wrist one and a half times and then cut the elastic about 2 inches (5.1 cm) away from your wrist. If you want a looser fit, add some extra slack. If you want a tighter bracelet, pull the elastic against your skin. The average bracelet length is around 7 inches (18 cm) for adult women and 8 inches (20 cm) for adult men.
Next, you need to cut your elastic cord. The most popular sizes of elastic cording for bracelets are 0.7 mm and 1 mm, but this depends on the weight and size of the beads and their holes. For seed bead bracelets, 0.5 mm elastic cord is a good option. Thinner elastic cord tends to stretch more quickly when using heavier beads. You can also choose the colour of your elastic cord, although clear cord is a popular choice, it may be more noticeable if you are using dark-coloured beads, so you may want to opt for a darker colour.
Now, you can add your beads. It is recommended to stretch your cord before stringing any beads, to prevent overstretching or snapping. Hold the elastic between your fingers and give it a few gentle tugs. You can also try a surgeon's knot, which is a square knot with an extra loop to keep the knot from slipping.
Finally, tie a tight double knot and glue the knot. Pull the elastic so it's taut and a little stretched when adding the second half of the knot. After cutting the elastic cord, add a dab of glue to the knot. Super glue can be used, but it may erode the elastic over time, so E6000 jewelry glue is a better option as it stays flexible. If the bead holes are large enough, you can glue the knot to the inside of a bead to hide and protect it.
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Clasps: Use crimp beads to tie off a wire bracelet with a clasp
To finish a bracelet with a clasp, you can use crimp beads. Crimp beads are tiny tube beads that are flattened tightly around your string to keep it from loosening, resulting in a more polished finish than a knot.
Firstly, purchase good-quality crimp beads and a crimping tool, also known as crimp-forming pliers. Beadalon wire, Soft Flex wire, and Acculon wire are all suitable wires to use with crimp beads. Crimps work better when the wire fills the crimps as much as possible, so ensure you are using the largest diameter of wire that will pass comfortably through the beads.
Next, pass the wire end through the crimp tube, string a few beads, and pass the other wire end through the opposite side of the crimp tube and bead section. After you have attached the crimp bead or tube, you can slide a crimp cover over the crimp. This will hide the crimp and give your bracelet a more refined look. Crimp covers are C-shaped metal beads that can be pressed together using a crimping tool.
Finally, use the crimping tool to tightly close the crimp bead around the string. Hold the crimper with one hand and slowly move the wire with the crimp bead around with the other hand. When you have gone all the way around the crimp bead, it should be properly crimped. Alternatively, you can hold the wire with the crimp bead still and move the crimper around it.
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Adjustable bracelets: Tie a series of square knots with extra cord
To finish a bracelet on plastic, you can use an extra piece of cord to tie a series of square knots. This method allows you to make a simple, adjustable bracelet without any additional jewellery findings. Here is a step-by-step guide:
First, cut a cord that is about 1 meter (37.4 inches) long. You can use paracord or satin nylon cord for this project. Wrap the cord around your finger to create a loop, and then wrap the longer side of the cord around your finger at least three more times to create three loops. Slide the loops off your finger and pull the end of the cord through them tightly, creating a barrel knot.
Next, you will create the square knots. To do this, cross the left side of the cord over the bracelet and under the right side to create a loop. Pull the right end of the cord under the bracelet and through the loop. Pull both ends tightly. Then, cross the right side of the cord over the bracelet and under the left side to create another loop. Pull the right end under the bracelet and through the loop. Repeat this step to create a total of four square knots.
Once you have created your desired number of square knots, finish the closure by tying an overhand knot. You can also use a lighter to singe the ends of the cord to prevent fraying. Cut off any excess cord, and your adjustable bracelet is now complete!
You can decorate your bracelet by adding beads before you start tying the knots. Simply slide colourful beads onto the middle of the bracelet, positioning them where you want them before you begin knotting.
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Clamshell bead tips: Cover knotted ends and attach clasps, jump rings, or chains
Clamshell bead tips are an excellent way to finish non-stretchy bracelets. They are small metal findings that cover the knotted ends of your bracelet, providing a loop to attach clasps, jump rings, or chains. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use clamshell bead tips:
First, tie a knot in your stringing material. Pull the string through the hole in the clamshell bead tip so that the knot rests inside. Ensure that the knot is large enough that it cannot slip through the hole. You may need to tie multiple knots to achieve this. The loops on the bead tip should be pointing towards the ends of your bracelet, where you will attach your desired findings.
Next, trim the excess stringing material. Apply a small amount of GS-Hypo cement or beading glue to the knot to secure it in place. Using chain nose pliers, gently press both sides of the clamshell bead tip together until they close around the knot. Then, use the pliers to gently pinch the hinge on the back of the bead tip to create a tight closure.
Finally, you can attach your desired findings. Add a jump ring and a toggle or clasp of your choice. You can also attach chains or other connectors to create more complex designs.
Clamshell bead tips come in various materials, including sterling silver, gold-filled, gold-plated, and bronze, allowing you to choose the best option for your bracelet design. They are a great way to elevate the look of your bracelet by hiding the knot and providing a secure closure.
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Burn or glue: Seal the bracelet by burning the ends with an open flame or gluing them together
Sealing a plastic bracelet with an open flame involves using a knife blade to apply heat to the plastic ends. Light the torch as per the manufacturer's instructions, then carefully move the knife blade through the flame, ensuring the entire blade is heated. Touch the heated blade to the plastic where you want to create a seal, holding it in place for a few seconds. If the plastic doesn't seal, reheat the blade and try again. This method requires caution and should only be attempted by adults who are confident in handling an open flame safely.
An alternative to using an open flame is to apply heat with a hair straightener or flat iron to create the seal.
Gluing the ends of a plastic bracelet together requires selecting the appropriate adhesive for the specific type of plastic. Different plastics require different types of glue, and some plastics may not bond well with adhesives. To glue the ends of the bracelet, follow these steps:
- Cut the elastic, leaving at least 1.5 inches on either end for knotting.
- Tie a basic overhand knot, pulling it tightly, then follow with a double knot.
- Apply glue to the knot by placing a drop of adhesive, such as GS Hypo cement, on the knot.
- With the glue still wet, gently tug on the strand to pull the glued knot inside a bead.
- Allow the bracelet to dry for at least 20 minutes.
- Use nippers or scissors to trim the excess elastic on both sides of the bead containing the knot.
It is important to note that gluing plastic can be challenging due to the low surface energy and non-porous nature of plastic, which makes it difficult for the glue to bond effectively. Some types of plastic may not be suitable for gluing and may require alternative methods, such as plastic welding.
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Frequently asked questions
After tying a knot, apply glue to the knot and gently tug on the strand to pull the glued knot inside of a bead. Allow the bracelet to dry for 20 minutes, then trim the excess string or elastic.
Use crimp beads to "tie off" the bracelet and replicate store-bought bracelets. You can also use a clamshell bead tip to cover the knotted ends and provide a loop to attach a clasp.
If you've used a gimp bracelet, you can burn the ending with an open flame to melt the plastic and seal it. Make sure to do this under adult supervision.
Use an extra piece of cord to tie a series of square knots around your bracelet to make it adjustable.
