5Jul | 2011
Joyful braided bracelet tutorial
Posted under Sewing . Tutorials . Upcycle | 45 Comments
So I wrote this post 2 weeks ago but I’ve been trying to think of a way to make tutorials easier for me and for you, that’s why I had it on hold. And this weekend the idea came to me! I made a techniques and parts-of-tutorials-I-use-often page, so that way I can refer to them instead of making that part of the tutorial each time. YAY!
I love bracelets and I am always looking for bright colors and unique looking bracelets, so last time I visited Joann’s I bought 6/8″ ribbon ends and lobster clasps to make fabric bracelets. Actually those were the only things I purchased because I used scrap fabrics and recycle materials for all the rest =]
MATERIALS
- Fabric scraps
- Ribbon ends
- Lobster clasp
- Cord (in case your fabric is not thick enough)
- Scissors or Mat and rotary cutter
- Sewing machine or hand stitching
MAKE IT
I also wanted to share that this tutorial is for very light-weight fabrics, since I didn’t have much of it, I could not just roll 4 big pieces and make the braid, instead I made little straps and run pieces of cord on the inside to give them volume. I also made others with old T-shirts and for those you will just need to jump to the braid step once you have your 4 strands.
First I cut 2″ wide of my fabric. To determine the length you will need I always measure my wrist kind of loose, then add 1/2 of that measurement.
After that I folded the traps with the wrong side of the fabric facing out and sewed them, you can see the details of how to turn the straps inside out here
Then I added attached a clothespin to the end of my cord and carefully run it trough the inside of the trap. I decided to make one very long strap and then divide it in 4 to braid my bracelet.
To learn how to braid with 4 strands you can see the details here. After you have your piece braided you will just need to add the ribbon ends very carefully, since I folded my 2 strands in the top I had a clean end in one side and I just worried about the other end.
I secured one side first pushed the rest of the braid to the center of the ribbon end and then close the other side. I also add the lobster clasp and my bracelet was ready to be rocked!!
What is really cool is that you can pretty much make this out of any kind of fabric, rope, leather, anything! and using different colors strands it gives it a very cool look too =] Have a wonderful day!
* This tutorial and pattern is provided for personal, non-commercial use only.
Check the Site policy at the bottom for further information, Thank you!
Joy Kelley is a Chilean Designer. Wife. Crafter. IMac dependent. Pattern lover. Color obsessed. The girl behind the HowJoyful Design Studio. Mrs Poodle at Weddingbee.
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Burda Style
I love this! But I don’t totally understand how you secured the loose ends?
Hi Sarah
To secure the loose ends I just hold them and then add the ribbon ends (that you can buy at any craft store) they come open, so you have to close them in order to hold the ends – I used a flat nose pliers and that was it =] if you have troubles you can always give a few stitches at the end so they stay in place while you close the metal ribbon end. I hope that helps, Have a great day!
I absolutely love this! I just have to go buy ribbon ends now. Thanks Joy, you always have the best tutorials!
So want to try this now, a brilliant tutorial!
Oh man… now I need ribbon ends…
Love this! Been looking at tutorials on bracelets since I’m launching a jewelry line soon. Glad that I checked out your blog!
This is SO pretty!! I’ve been looking for a nice bracelet for ages, but I just couldn’t find any that I like. Now I can make my own! I can even make some for my friends! Thank you Joy~~ I love your tutorials!
You are very Welcome!! =]
You are so incredibly talented, Joy! Can you please move to DC and teach me to use my sewing machine? PRETTY PLEASE
precious labor. congratuletions!
I love this! Thank you for sharing, you always have the cutest tutorials Joy!
Georgeous!!! and very easy to do it….. thanks in advance to sharing….greeting from Chile
Hey Amiga! Que alegria que te guste!
Congratulation!!! Thank you.
GRACIAS POR LOS CONSEJOS TAN FUNCIONABLES, YO REQUERIA DE UN REGALO ´PARA MI JEFE EN LA EMPRESA Y NO SABIA QUE DARLE Y CLARO OPTE POR ESTA HERMOSA PULSERA Y …. SABES QUEDO IMPRESIONADA. GRACIAS DE NUEVO ES EXCELENTE MANUALIDAD…..HAAA MIS DOS HIJAS ELLIAN Y ALEJANDRA QUE LAS AMO TAMBIEN ESTAN ELABORANDO TU PULSERA EN DIFERENTE TESTURA Y LES ENCANTO AL HIGUAL QUE AMI,.,,… GRACIASSSSSSSSSS BAAAAAYYYYY..
Que alegria que tu jefa quedo impresionada con la pulsera! =] Me encantaria ver fotos de las pulseras que has hecho! un beso XO
Joy,
This project caught my eye for grandchildren for gifts. However, in shopping for the jewelry parts, I could only find the 5/16mm Ribbon Ends. Seems way too small. Could you please tell me how wide your Ribbon Ends were?
Keep up your creations, they are awesome & gives me something to putter around with… LOL
JMJ,
Pat
The width of the ribbon ends I use was 6/8 of an inch. But I actually got a package with a bunch of different sizes . I am not sure if they sell bigger than that. I’m glad you are attempting this =] you should show pics when you finish! Have a good day!
XO
PS) I thought I’d stitch the ends to hold together for ease of working with the Ribbon Edges, however; I broke my needle. No problem I had extra, but a heads up if thinking about it…ended up, using moving wheel by hand & pushing through. lol
Thank you for sharing your experience Pat and sorry for your needle, it happens to me more than pretty often too – LOL
I cannot find the metal clasp! I have checked online & at several stores. What size? A student in my advanced apparel class found bracelet tutorial online and other students want to make bracelet! I teach apparel in high school…great ideas! Thanks for sharing.
I bought mines at Joann’s and I’ve seen them at Michaels too. I recently bought tons of them in Chile at a store that sold jewelry supplies. mine where 6/8 inch and the ones I just got are 1 inch wide. Hope that helps =] have a lovely day!!
You bought them on Chile? You mean the country? Cause i’m chilean and honestly I don’t know where to buy them, what’svthe name of the store? I’m dying to make this in every color!
So how do you make the ones with T-shirts? Do you not use the cording? LOVE the fabric one! Thanks!
Hi Rachel, with old t-shirts you would just need to cut and stretch so it rolls in itself. There is no need for cording if you have a thick enough piece. Hope that helps =]
very pretty
What thickness is the cording? It appears my cording is too thin. How much seam allowance did you use? My cording is swimming in the cloth tube..
I think my cord is about 1/4 inch, but if your cord is thin, you just have to adjust how far you are sewing from the fold of your fabric, what matters is the space in between the edge and the seam, not the seam allowance. I added 1/8″ to the width of my cord to measure how far from the edge I needed to sew, if you have a thicker cord you should have a thicker stripe of fabric and if it’s thiner you can have a smaller. My cord did not fit tight in there, that is what I liked, so if you want it very tight you can sew closer to the exact width of your cord =] I hope that helps!
Hi Joy, may I know what is the size of the lobster clasps & the locking rings you used for this bracelet?
To tell you the truth I have no idea of the sizes, I bought the only ones they had, but if it helps you figure for an idea of the size the clasp measures 3/4 inch in length by about 3/8″ wide, I made the ring holding the clasp with wire =] I hope that helps!
Hi Joy!
Your blog is so lovely!
I added a link from my blog´s post to your tutorial.
Check it
Maider
Thank you for the link Maider! and I hope you have a lovely day! =]
This is really nice .so easy!
I can’t wait to make this. The fact that it’s got green, fabric and I can wear it, I’m in heaven.
So happy you like it! and I will love to see a pic when you make it!
I like this a lot! What size lobster clasp do you use? I’m always confused about what size lobster clasp is best to use in a bracelet.
Thanks
Michael
(Broncati Jewelry)
Hello Michael,
I actually added a link on the material list to where you can see the full description of the lobster clasp =]
Wonderful tutorial! But how long were your finished cords before you started braiding?
Mine were about 15 inches before I braided, but I could have made 3 for my wrist size with that, it depends on how tight you braid and how thick is the wrist is, so I would do 10″ to be sure and then you can trim the excess. Hope that helps! =]
pörfeckt
Hi Joy,
Thanks for the tutorial, i made one for a friend as birthday gift and she loves it!
I posted in in my blog, come and have a look!
have a wonderful day!
Alexandra
Hey Alexandra, it looks beautiful! you did an awesome job! =]
Thanks for sharing! Between my craft room and cake kitchen I need all the organization help I can get!
Thank you for giving your time, expertise ,you are a generous person. I have been trying to come up with a clasp that I want to make and you just showed me the way for the entire bracelet . Thanks Eleanor
Love this!! Thanks for posting…going try and use this as straps for a strapless maxi dress!!!