It's been a while since I've posted here in the Little Hula Girl. Its been a super busy summer but you always have to make time for a craft right??
Anyhow, I'm sure a lot of you have seen the "interchangeable beaded watch band" craze that has hit Utah. I am always for entrepreneurship and using your talents to pay some bills. But honestly, some of these women are charging outrageous prices just on beads, 4 clasps, and cording. Last November at GNO, I taught my girl friends how to make these "beaded" delights. I love that each band is unique to the maker. And your personality shows through. Some bands were sophisticated, or spunky, colorful, eclectic, modern and earthy. All depends on you. So today I'm giving instructions on the beaded watch band. I should warn you, this can be addicting. So consider yourself warned!
Supplies:
- Beads
- 4 lobster clasp
- 2 spacers/links
- Watch face
- Stretch beading cord
- Scissors
- Bead board/Felt square.
- Super glue
2-Using a soft measuring tape measure your wrist. Add 1/2 inch to your measurement for a little extra room on your band and room for the beads. Minus 1 1/2 inches from your above measurement for the watch face, if that's the size you are using. Now you know what your measurement is for the watch band.
Here's an equation that might make it easier
(wr=wrist measurement, wa=watch measurement)
wr + .5 - wa = your watch band size (WBS)
Take the watch band size and
wbs x 2 = how much stretch elastic cord required for the watch band.
3-Cut the elastic cord the measurement figured out in step 2. You might want to add a few extra inches so that you have room to tie knots in the end
4-On a piece of felt or bead board, place your beads in the order that you would like them to be stranded. Make sure to place 1 lobster clasp at each of the 4 corners *tip*make sure when beading the lobster clasp that if you bead them facing up, all 4 have to face up. If you bead them facing down, all 4 have to face down Also do NOT forget the spacers!!
5-Place tape at one end of your elastic stretch cord. This helps so when you are beading it they will not fall off.
6-Start somewhere in the middle of the beads that are placed on your felt piece. Preferably by a big bead, that way you can hide your knot in that bead. Never start on a bead that is next to a lobster clasp. String all the beads onto your stretch elastic cord.
After the beads are strung on, then place another piece of tape at the other end of the cord.
Measure it on your wrist with your watch attached. If it does not fit right then remove or add beads to make it the right size.
7-Now that the band is the right size, tie it as tight as possible in a square knot. *Square knot* right over left (strings) then left over right. Put on a dab of super glue or some other glue that is equivalent. Then do one more tie (right over left) for good luck.
Hold the knots tight for a minute or two to allow the glue to dry. You can always add another drop of glue to seal the deal.
Trim the ends of the string and pull the knot into the big bead.
And you are done!! Now pat yourself on the back! Hooray!
