Why Your Elastic Bracelet Breaks and How to Prevent it From Happening Again

Why Your Elastic Bracelet Breaks and How to Prevent it From Happening Again 

by Jessica B. Hensley, Author of The Sketchwriterjess Blog and owner of the shop newsletter for her business JBHensleySWJ

You’ve Finished your bracelet, you’ve given them to friends and sold them to more friends and then one day, one of your friends writes to tell you that the elastic bracelet you made for her broke and beads flew everywhere, at her favorite restaurant!

Embarrassing for her and for you as a maker, it can be tough to get over the fear of this happening again and again.

Here are a few reasons this happens:

- The Knots Are not tied tight enough, the wrong knots are used, and there is no glue to hold them together.

- The elastic cord size is not correct and the beads are too heavy, so the bracelet breaks apart.

- One large knot is used to tie the bracelet ends together. This puts so much weight on the strand that with wear, the strand will rub against the beads too many times and it will break.

So, what is the solution to this problem?

This blog post you are reading will not only tell you the solution to the problem, it will guide you through how to make the beaded elastic part of a bracelet I have just created recently.

The secret is in how the bracelet is put together. There is a balance to it that allows it to be worn multiple times without stress on the elastic strand, so it will glide over your hand and once snapped in place by your fingers against your wrist, it will stay in place, strong and sturdy without worry of it falling apart.

Lets get started with the materials needed to make the elastic bracelet I am demonstrating in this post.

Materials:

9” of 1 mm Elastic Cord, White, cloth covered.
2 Facetted Oval Crystals, 5mm in width from hole to hole on the bead. (A)
2 Colors of Size 6/0 Seed Beads: (B) 9 Beads, (C) 40 Beads
1 Square Jump Ring, 7mm

Tools and Adhesive:

Scissors
Purple Glue Color Change Glue Stick
Small Paint Brush
Tap Water

Other Tools to have on hand (Optional):

Bead Mat

Paper Palette

Here are the steps to making an elastic bracelet that won’t break:

1.Take the elastic cord you’ve cut and run glue over one end of the strand. The brush the glued end with water. Glue to a half inch down the strand from the end. Set aside to dry until lightly damp and sticky.

2.On a flat surface, such as a velor bead mat, Lay out beads A, B, and C in the following pattern:

ABCCCCCBCCCCCBCCCCCBCCCCCBCCCCCBCCCCCBCCCCCBCCCCCBA

3.Take the end of the Cord that does not have glue and tie it to one corner of the square jumpring. First, tie a figure 8 knot, then tie an overhand knot. Do not cut the tail yet. Leave about an inch tail.

4. String the Beads in the order listed on the pattern. Pick up the bead with your non-dominant hand and hold the cord in your other hand. Push the bead onto the cord, then slide the bead down the cord with your hand that is holding the cord. Continue beading the pattern on to the string. Be sure that all the elastic is covered under the beads, until you are finished with the bead pattern. There should be about 2” left of Cord for tying the knots onto the jumpring.

5.Tie one figure 8 knot onto the opposite corner of the squre jumpring across from the other knots tied. Push the knot towards the beads. Then tie an overhand knot inward towards the beads.

6. Cut off the tails.

7. Run glue stick over all the knots and brush with water. Do not move the bracelet, put charms on the Jumpring, or Wear the bracelet for 24 hours. After 24 hours, it is safe to finish the bracelet with charms if desired. Also nudge the knots off the corners so the bracelet is more flexable when wearing. It will still be stable to wear and will not break.

There are a few notes worth mentioning:

I use a glue stick and water because not only is it non-toxic, it breathes. It’s flexible. Jewelry cement is not. I like the idea of the beads being able to move on the cord and it makes the bracelet more comfortable.

I use a square jumpring because I think it adds balance to the bracelet. The knots have a place to sit on instead of moving around so much with wear.

And one last thing about this method of making an elastic bracelet, not only can you use a square jumpring, you can use a link that has corner edges with a stone in the middle of it, You could make a piece of wirework design as long as it has corner edges. I will show you options for what I have mentioned here in future updates on this blog.

Share away, yay! Or Nay! Wa wah.

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Thank you for reading. Consider this presentation practice. In December I will have an e-book for purchase with the techniques discussed in this presentation if you would like to continue your study.

Come on back next Wednesday!

You know you’d like too. 

Jess

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