Making Friendship Bracelets
THINGS YOU WILL NEED: • Beading cord, jewelry wire, thin ribbon or leather cord
• Assorted beads from a local bead shop
• Small clasps and bead tips (optional)
1. Measure a length of cord for each child that easily wraps around his or her wrist. Then add about six inches to ease the stringing process. (Note: Some beading cord is elastic enough to slip over a child’s hand easily, and both ribbon and leather cord can be easily knotted. This is easier than using clasps, although clasps will make the bracelet more secure.)
2. Have your child choose and lay out a pattern of beads before stringing them. This helps prevent mistakes and frustration.
3. To begin stringing, tie a firm knot at one end of the cord. (See below for directions on attaching clasps, if you’re using them.) After your child has strung beads along a length of cord that is roughly equivalent to his wrist measurement, knot the two ends of the cord together and cut off the extra cord. If you cut off the excess cord before tying it, it’s harder to make the knot. Paint the knot with glue or nail polish to set it.
CLASPS If you’re going to put clasps on the bracelet, string one bead tip on first and then slide it down the cord until the knot is nestled inside. (A bead tip secures the thread to the clasp). Add the rest of the beads, adding the second bead tip last. Tie a knot at this second end and push it down so it too nestles inside the bead tip. Paint super-glue or clear nail polish on the two knots to set them. When that’s dry, join the clasp loops to the bead tips, and close the loops using pliers.