Friday 11 November 2011

A beaded bridal bangle for Rosie

I made my friend Rosie a beaded tiara for her wedding a couple of weeks ago (photos of that soon - she's on her honeymoon and I didn't get a pic of it DOH!) and she requested a bracelet.. 'something plain, maybe a stretchy pearly elastic bracelet'. I blinged  a stretchy bracelet up as best as I could, but I realised that a wedding dress REALLY needs far more beady bling than you would imagine(!)


So, without telling her - I beaded up a looped bangle, in a very similar design to the tiara, and gave her the elasticated bracelet she'd requested (which was nice - but a bit plain!) and the sparkly blinged bangle  below - and said she could decide, and I wouldn't mind which she chose. (I was prepared to *really* try not to mind that she prefered the plain one!)




I didn't need to pretend - because the bangle won her over and she looked gorgeous. It *looks* quite complex, and I'll admit, does require a bit of 'wiggling' when you start up, but once you have the hang of the twisty groups of 3 beads, it's ok :-)


A beginner can manage it,  but it's probably better for a 2nd or 3rd go at a wired project. 


If you'd like to have a go - here's the materials list and instructions. I'd love to see your versions too!


Materials - these are the absolute most you need, for a 6" bangle - exact quantities depend slightly on your spacing, and preference:


30 6mm Czech fire polish beads (we used aqua) 
30 6mm Jolie Vache pearls (we used white)
20 6mm silver stardust beads
24 ga non tarnish silver craft wire 
1 looped bangle

Tools
Wire cutters
Chain nose pliers
Flat nose pliers (not essential, but handy)


Method



  • Start off - hold the wire against the bangle between 2 beading loops. Ideally, you use the beading loops to secure most of the 'triple groups' of beads (see pic) as this stops the beads twisting on the bangle - so bear this in mind when you position the first wire and bead.
  • Wrap the wire tightly around the bangle 2 or 3 times and squash it flat with your flat nose pliers to secure against the band
  • Slide on one stardust bead and position it on the band.
  • Pull the wire tight and then wrap the wire around the band twice - as tightly as you can
  • You should be close to a beading loop. Thread on 3 firepolish beads and curve them into the triple group pattern (see pic) bringing them into a tight loop as close to the band as possible and then twist the wire together at the base of the group to hold.
  • Position the triple group flat against the band and if you are on top of a loop, wiggle into position covering the loop and then thread the wire through the loop before winding round the band twice. (if you're not near a loop, then lie the group flat and then wrap the wire round the band twice
  • Slide on one stardust bead as above method
  • Slide on 3 pearls and repeat the triple group.
  • Continue this pattern - stardust - triple group czech - triple group pearl  around the bangle
  • As you get nearer to the end, adjust your spacing so that the pattern is correct. It fits on almost exactly, but this will depend slightly on how you space the beads.
  • Once the bangle is beaded, wrap the wire around the band 3 or 4 times and squash the wire flat with pliers to secure. Check there are no sharp ends to snag dresses(!) If there are, squash the wire again. 

Enjoy :-)

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

love the bracelet must have a go at this one.

Unknown said...

Lovely bangle. I'd much rather have this than a stretchy bangle any day.

blufizz said...

Hiya mad one(s) :-)
I love the look of this bangle and the instructions seem pretty straightforward so I cant wait to gather all the ingredients and try it out, I agree with your comment about diffo colours for winter/xmas etc and already have a sparkly red/black themed one in mind so thanks!

izzy said...

Love this & can't wait to have a go!

anaisnais said...

Pretty bangle, not many so quick and easy to do that would give such a nice effect for the little time it would take to complete the project. Thanks for sharing with us.