Make a Flat Rainbow Bracelet!
This is easier to make than you would think! Basically it's three strands of ladder stitched beads which are then ladder stitched together.
Supplies
You will need:
Strong thread. I used thread specially made for beading projects. What's important is that it's strong, flexible, and thin enough to fit through your beads several times.
Beads: I used rectangular shaped beads, but any bead that can lay flat against each other could work, including short cylinders for the sides and long cylinders for the middle! I used black for the edges because it's a nice contrast, but you can use white, gold, or whatever you like! For the middle I found a rainbow set of beads which is what gave me the idea for this project!
Beading needle: They're super thin and flexible
Snips: Seriously, just keep them next to you. Nail clippers work too!
Findings: Two crimp beads and a fastener to make it into a bracelet!
Strong thread. I used thread specially made for beading projects. What's important is that it's strong, flexible, and thin enough to fit through your beads several times.
Beads: I used rectangular shaped beads, but any bead that can lay flat against each other could work, including short cylinders for the sides and long cylinders for the middle! I used black for the edges because it's a nice contrast, but you can use white, gold, or whatever you like! For the middle I found a rainbow set of beads which is what gave me the idea for this project!
Beading needle: They're super thin and flexible
Snips: Seriously, just keep them next to you. Nail clippers work too!
Findings: Two crimp beads and a fastener to make it into a bracelet!
1. Make the Border
How to start: Make two simple ladder strands out of the beads you chose for a border.
First, thread two beads, leaving about 6" of tail. Then come back and go through the first bead again, pulling the thread snug and fiddling with the beads until they lay flat side by side.
Right now you should have a strand coming out of the top and bottom of the first bead. take the long side and go back through the second bead, so now the threads are on the same side, but coming out of two different beads. Pull it snug.
Add on a third bead, stitching back onto the second bead, and coming back up through the third bead to lock it into place after making sure it's flat to the second bead.
Repeat this until you have a strand that will fit around your wrist, then make another one the same length.
First, thread two beads, leaving about 6" of tail. Then come back and go through the first bead again, pulling the thread snug and fiddling with the beads until they lay flat side by side.
Right now you should have a strand coming out of the top and bottom of the first bead. take the long side and go back through the second bead, so now the threads are on the same side, but coming out of two different beads. Pull it snug.
Add on a third bead, stitching back onto the second bead, and coming back up through the third bead to lock it into place after making sure it's flat to the second bead.
Repeat this until you have a strand that will fit around your wrist, then make another one the same length.
2. Make the Center
Basically you will repeat what you did with the border, but instead of laying one bead against each other, there will be three at a time. (or if you prefer, change the number of beads! I liked how three looks, but if you want, try out different amounts!)
Since this is for a rainbow bracelet, start with three red beads and three orange. Loop through the red and orange again, making sure they're side by side. This is where using squareish beads comes in handy, they really lock on to each other.
Add on three yellow and repeat the stitch, continuing on until you have gone through all your colors, and repeat it until you get to the same length as the borders.
Since this is for a rainbow bracelet, start with three red beads and three orange. Loop through the red and orange again, making sure they're side by side. This is where using squareish beads comes in handy, they really lock on to each other.
Add on three yellow and repeat the stitch, continuing on until you have gone through all your colors, and repeat it until you get to the same length as the borders.
3. Stitch Them Together!
You might need to adjust your strand lengths, but I recommend waiting until you get to the end since things will shift around a bit.
Cut a good length of thread since you will be doing a lot of back and forth on this. Starting at one end on the side that doesn't have thread poking out of it, make all the first row of beads flush with one another and stitch through them, then go back through the second row. I wanted to lock everything in place, so I looped through the first two rows again.
This is where it gets a bit individual. For me, I went back and forth in a zig zag rather than a proper ladder stitch since everything was holding together pretty well, but your mileage may vary. In my case, the borders weren't exactly the same width as the center, so every now and again I skipped a side bead. Do what makes sense for your situation!
Once you finish stitching everything together, arrange the tails so you have at least one coming out of each corner. In my case I had three threads total on either end. String your threads through a crimp bead and whatever kind of fastener works for you, then back through the crimp bead and fix those suckers in place. Trim the ends (carefully!) and admire your sweet new bracelet! Also, I like using magnetic clasps for bracelets since it makes it way easier to fasten!
Cut a good length of thread since you will be doing a lot of back and forth on this. Starting at one end on the side that doesn't have thread poking out of it, make all the first row of beads flush with one another and stitch through them, then go back through the second row. I wanted to lock everything in place, so I looped through the first two rows again.
This is where it gets a bit individual. For me, I went back and forth in a zig zag rather than a proper ladder stitch since everything was holding together pretty well, but your mileage may vary. In my case, the borders weren't exactly the same width as the center, so every now and again I skipped a side bead. Do what makes sense for your situation!
Once you finish stitching everything together, arrange the tails so you have at least one coming out of each corner. In my case I had three threads total on either end. String your threads through a crimp bead and whatever kind of fastener works for you, then back through the crimp bead and fix those suckers in place. Trim the ends (carefully!) and admire your sweet new bracelet! Also, I like using magnetic clasps for bracelets since it makes it way easier to fasten!