Beaded Bracelet Basics: Easy Knotting Techniques for Beginners
Many people enjoy making their own bracelets by hand, but at the final stage of bracelet making, how to tie the knots is often the first challenge beginners encounter. So today I'm introducing a super simple knotting method to finish off your beaded bracelet and ensure that it stays secure and doesn’t come undone easily.
Step 1:
Take your bracelet string, fold it in half, and start threading your beads onto the string one by one. You can choose a variety of beads to create a unique bracelet that’s just for you.
Since we folded the string in half beforehand, once you’ve finished stringing the beads, you’ll notice that the bracelet has two ends: one with a loop and the other with two loose ends.
Step 2:
Separate the two loose ends and thread one of them through the loop at the other end, then pull the string tight. Once you’ve tightened the string, you’ll have the final length of your bracelet. At this point, check whether the bracelet fits your wrist. If you find that the bracelet is too long or too short because you’ve added too many or too few beads, you can adjust the length by adding or removing beads, as we haven’t tied any knots yet.
Below is a recommended bracelet-to-wrist size chart, which you can use to measure and find the perfect bracelet length for your wrist. If you’re unsure how to measure your wrist size, check out our previous tutorial: How to Choose the Right Bracelet Size for You.
| Wrist Size (cm) | Wrist Size (inches) | Bracelet Size |
|---|---|---|
| 13-13.9 | 5.1-5.4 | 15 |
| 14-14.9 | 5.5-5.8 | 16 |
| 15-15.9 | 5.9-6.2 | 17 |
| 16-16.9 | 6.3-6.6 | 18 |
| 17-17.9 | 6.7-7.0 | 19 |
| 18-18.9 | 7.1-7.4 | 20 |
| 19-19.9 | 7.5-7.8 | 21 |
Step 3:
Hold the two loose ends of the string, one in each hand, and gently pull them tight. Be careful not to pull too hard, as this could cause the beads to press against each other too tightly, which would make the bracelet lose its elasticity and result in a poor final shape. However, don’t leave the string too loose either, or there will be large gaps between the beads. Use moderate force to keep it just right.
Step 4:
Tie two knots. A simple knot like the one shown in the picture will do. To ensure the bracelet is secure, make sure to tie two of these knots. Remember, it must be two.
Step 5:
Take one of the loose ends and thread it through the middle of the loop on the bracelet, then tie two more knots. Finally, trim off the excess string, and your handmade beaded bracelet is complete! Now go ahead and give it a try!
