Stretchy Beaded Bracelet

This stretchy beaded bracelet is so easy to create and customize- start to finish it takes less than 10 minutes. This bracelet could be easily made with a birthstone bead to create a birthday gift, Father's or Mother's Day gift, and on and on. The options are only limited by your creativity :)

Beads (ideally the main beads have very small openings that only the elastic could fit through and one with larger opening so tied end can be hidden)

Ruler (flexible if possible)

Thin elastic (I used CraftMedley 0.8mm black)

Optional- necklace/jewelry planning board

This may be easier with another person but it's possible to do it yourself with a little patience. Measure around your wrist at the most narrow part (either with flexible ruler or string/elastic) then add half an inch. This length will be the length of beads you need to string on the elastic to give a little drape and not have elastic gaps showing through from a bracelet that's too tight. Cut your elastic at least a few inches longer than this measurement to give you some wiggle room.

Next lay out your beads and play around with the pattern until you find something you like. Keep in mind this is when it is good to include a bead with a larger hole in the design so you can see where it would look best in the bracelet. To make tying it easier, it's best if this bead is at the beginning or end of the beads you lay out. If you have a necklace planning board it may come in handy here to keep all the beads together and lined up, but it's not essential.

Once all the beads are laid out how you want them, start with one end and string them along the elastic. I don't like to tie an end of the elastic so that I can play around with the tension a bit when tying, so this is why it's really helpful to cut the elastic much longer than you want so the beads don't fall off. Once all the beads are on, double check the size before tying off (just pull the two untied ends together to form a bracelet without tying it off and slide it on your wrist if it's for you, measure with a ruler if it's for someone else). When you know you've got the size correct, knot the two free elastic ends together in a double knot with a slight amount of tension on the beads so that there won't be any gaps between the beads. Trim the elastic and hide the ends of the knot in the bead with the larger opening. Voila!