Saturday 14 July 2012

Festival Bracelets


Hi guys

As you might of guessed I'm going to V-festival this year and at any festival its always about the accessories.

I've also recently become addicted to Pinterest and have a board for things I want to make and this was on there. It originally came from Honestly WTF blog/website which is by two lovely american women called Erica and Lauren. I have to say they are amazing, have great style and there are loads of things to do and make that you would never guess of doing.

Now my decision to make my own bracelets was defiantly cost driven and I made these lovelies for the amazing cost of £1. Ok it may have cost a little more if I'd hadn't already had some things but even if you needed to buy everything you can still do it for under £5 for all four.

You can make these bracelets with any colours but I choose to use silver beads and black, pale pink, cream and pale blue embroidery cotton.

Festival bracelets, Friendship bracelets



Friendship bracelet, Festival bracelets

These next pictures are taken from the Honestly WTF website as their photography skills are much better then mine but I choice to re-write the instructions as I did struggle with a few parts.


 What you need is simple embroidery cotton a small button of a similar colour and beads in your chosen colour. The original instructions stated that you needed to use waxed linen cord but to keep costs down I used embroidery cotton even though I think that waxen linen would last longer.


 To start you need to cut two lengths of cotton, one at 26 inches and the other at 19 inches. You then need to line the two ends together fold in half so you are left with one short strand.



Next you need to knot the cotton creating a loop that will go over your button to fasten so make sure it is the right size for your chosen button. Then trim off the short strand so you are left with three.  


The next step is to start plaiting the three strands in the usual way and do this for about half an inch. The first bracelet I made I did the wrong length so consider the size of your wrist when doing this.


Now we can start to add the beads, the easiest way to describe this to you is similar to doing a French plait picking up the beads on the out side strands. You need make sure you keep the beads tight to the top before you fold over the stand and add the next bead. The best way to do this quickly is to thread on several beads onto each thread and moving them up when they are needed.


You need to continue doing this until you are happy you have done enough for you wrist size but not to much that you will end up with a loose bracelet.



Now you have measured the bracelet against your wrist and are happy with that length you need to finish it off by simply carrying on with the plait without the beads for another inch. Making sure you keep this tight all the way down or some of your last beads will become loose.



Now its time to add the button. Find the middle of the three stands splitting one of them in half I choose to thread the cotton through the button and back through opposite holes and then tie in a tight knot

And trim the left over cotton and your done. If you have made the bracelet slightly to long I tied an extra knot near the loop to make it fit better for my wrist.



For my first attempt to make these it must of taken me about 3 hours as I was threading the beads individually and I kept loosing my place. But now I can make one in about half an hour and will probably make a few for Christmas presents this year. I've seen a few other home made bracelets I like so if you have enjoyed this ill do more posts on future projects.

Thanks for reading and please share your home made bracelet projects.  


22 comments:

  1. These are pretty, I love the pastel colours you chose!
    Mel x

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    Replies
    1. Thanks I need to make some more but Ive run out of beads I find myself doing them watching tv xx

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  2. I'm definitely trying this diy project!
    There's nothing better than having unique arm candy.
    Thanks for sharing this!

    Xo
    MixandMatchtheFword.com

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    Replies
    1. ooo youll have to share I love telling people I made them ive had some good feed back :) xxx

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  3. Wish I had the skill for this-my sister does so I will continue to bum off her talents.

    xx Veronica

    http://frowardfashion.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. haha its defiantly practice makes perfect couldn't believe how long the first one took me now I can wizz them out :) xxx

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  4. Oooh these are so pretty! xx

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  5. Lovely bracelets, going to try and make some for myself! Thank you for sharing.

    Emma x
    http://beautyandrags.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks!! Let us know when you do would love to see xxx

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  6. Wow, this is amazing! You make it look so simple! I love little thread bracelets and recently ordered one from etsy, and this would go so well with it! Thanks for sharing :)

    www.ciderwithrosiebee.blogspot.com

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  7. how clever are you! love love love the look of these
    liloo/@tsunimee xx

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    Replies
    1. Thanks go and have a look at Honestly wtf they have loads of amazing g ideas! I may now be hooked xxx

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  8. Hi, I hope you don't mind but I tagged you in this blog post
    http://talulahs-attic.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/liebster-blog-award.html
    just a bit of fun really :) xx

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    Replies
    1. Hay I don't mind I'll have a look when I get some time xxx

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  9. I have seen so many things I want to make on Honestly WTF, they have such pretty items and loads of friendship typey bracelets; perfect for the festival season! :) xx

    The Style Diagnostic

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    Replies
    1. I know I'm already looking at other stuff to do xxx

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  10. I've tagged you for the Liebster Blog Award :)

    Please come and check it out & do the same for others

    http://www.katielewla.co.uk/2012/07/liebster-blog-award.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks I've not heard of this but I'll check it out :) xxx

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  11. These look amazing and shop brought! I would love to be able to make something like these but i'm not very creative at the best of times. Have you considered selling these on ebay? I'd defintely buy one if you did :)

    Please check out my blog, any advice would be much appreciated as I love your blog layout and look.
    http://prettywithapunch.blogspot.co.uk/

    Claire

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Clare! The boy keeps saying that but I would end up loosing the fun in it doing them all the time xxx

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