Having lived in a tropical region all my life, I have often dreamt of playing with snow and celebrating a white Christmas. Though I have seen snow on mountains during my travels, I have never been fortunate enough to touch it. For people like me who live in hot and humid places, snowflake DIY jewelry, charms, patterns, and prints act as surrogates to the real thing, bringing in joyful memories.
This Christmas, I have created a very simple, snowflake-inspired faux pearl DIY bracelet that could be made by anyone in a jiffy. To make this beaded bracelet more fun and colorful, I have added an asymmetrical component using large bicones beads and embroidery floss. I have used teal blue as my accent color as I wanted to make a cooling and soothing bracelet, but you can use any color you like even giving them away as gifts.
Finished size – 7″; Time Required: 20 minutes
Materials
4mm snow white pearl beads – 43
Pearl white acrylic fluted bicones -2
Teal Embroidery floss
24g silver artistic wire
Tools – Nose pliers, wire cutters, scissors, fabric glue
Method:
Cut 24″ of artistic wire and fold in the center. Leaving about an inch from the end, twist twice to make a loop.
Pull the wires away from one another and add 3 pearls on each side. Twist the wires to lock the beads.
3. Add 6 more beads – 3 on either side and twist to create another snowflake.
4. Repeat 3 more times, until you get 5 snowflakes.
5. Combine both wires and string 2 bicones beads.
6. Splitting the wire once again, repeat step 3 to create 2 more snowflakes. Twist once again in the end.
7. Add a pearl to one of the wires and create a wrapped loop. Cut excess wire and tuck in the end.
8. Fold the second wire at 90 degrees blow the pearl and create a nest by wire wrapping. Cut excess wire and tuck in the end.
9. Pinch the loop (step 1) using pliers and fold in half to create a hook. Together with the loop at the other end, it will form the clasp of the bracelet.
10. Apply fabric glue on the bicones (at the juncture where they meet) and wrap embroidery floss on it. It might be a bit difficult in the beginning as the beads will roll, but hold the beads between the thumb and forefinger on your less dominant hand while you wrap the thread with your dominant hand. After 3-4 wraps and the beads will stop moving. I have made around 12 wraps, but you can make more or less as per your wish. Your bracelet is now complete.
This bracelet pattern has been inspired by basic beadweaving stitches and made easier with the use of wire instead of thread. Using wire also means that the bracelet can be shaped to fit your wrist exactly and hence will not move around. This particular pattern can be made even by a beginner and can be adapted to create a symmetrical bracelet too.
Each snowflake is said to be as different as human fingerprints, even though they all have six sides to them. How will you make your own, unique snowflake this Christmas?
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