Introduction and Supplies
Memory wire works great for making bracelets because you don't have to worry about fit since the wire, once adorned with beads, is meant to be worn wrapped around your wrist. There is no clasp needed either. This design incorporates some Southwest style gemstones including chunky turquoise nuggets.
You will need the following tools and supplies:
6 - 6mm Malachite beads
8 - Turquoise nugget beads (10-12mm)
5 - 8mm Yellow jade beads
14 - 4mm Turquoise beads
2 - 2 inch Surgical steel head pins
Bracelet size memory wire
Memory wire shears
Chain-nosed pliers
Round-nosed pliers
Note: If you don't have memory wire shears, then some very heavy duty wire cutters will work, but be careful to use wire cutters that can cut thick gauge wire. Otherwise, you will damage your wire cutters when attempting to cut the memory wire.
Cut Memory Wire
1. Using memory wire shears, cut 1 1/2 loops of the memory wire. (You can cut more and make your bracelet longer, but you will need more beads.)
Bend Memory Wire
2. With chain-nosed pliers, bend about a half inch of the memory wire on one end at a 90 degree angle.
Memory Wire Loop
3. Use round-nose pliers to curl the bent part of the memory wire and form a loop.
Add Beads
4. String beads on the memory wire using the following pattern: 3 4mm turquoise beads, 1 malachite bead, 1 yellow jade bead, 1 malachite bead, 1 nugget bead, 2 4mm turquoise beads, 1 nugget bead, 1 yellow jade bead, 1 nugget bead, 2 4mm turquoise beads, 1 nugget bead, 1 yellow jade bead, 1 nugget bead, 2 4mm turquoise beads, 1 nugget bead, 1 yellow jade bead, 1 nugget bead, 2 4mm turquoise beads, 1 nugget bead, 1 malachite bead, 1 yellow jade bead, 1 malachite beads, and 3 4mm turquoise beads.
5.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 to make another loop at the end of the memory wire. If you have a lot more than a half inch of memory wire left at the end, just trim off any excess with memory wire shears.
Malachite Dangles
6. Thread a malachite bead onto a head pin, make a simple loop aka unwrapped loop, and trim off an excess head pin.
7. Repeat step 6 so that you have two dangles.
8. Slip the unwrapped loop of one malachite dangle onto one of the loops on the end of the bracelet, and use chain-nose pliers to close the unwrapped loop of the dangle.
9. Repeat step 8 for the other dangle and other side of the bracelet.
The finished memory wire bracelet will wrap around an average size wrist about one time with a few inches of overlap. If you want your bracelet longer or shorter, simply adjust the amount of memory wire and beads used.
Memory wire works great for making bracelets because you don't have to worry about fit since the wire, once adorned with beads, is meant to be worn wrapped around your wrist. There is no clasp needed either. This design incorporates some Southwest style gemstones including chunky turquoise nuggets.
You will need the following tools and supplies:
6 - 6mm Malachite beads
8 - Turquoise nugget beads (10-12mm)
5 - 8mm Yellow jade beads
14 - 4mm Turquoise beads
2 - 2 inch Surgical steel head pins
Bracelet size memory wire
Memory wire shears
Chain-nosed pliers
Round-nosed pliers
Note: If you don't have memory wire shears, then some very heavy duty wire cutters will work, but be careful to use wire cutters that can cut thick gauge wire. Otherwise, you will damage your wire cutters when attempting to cut the memory wire.
Cut Memory Wire
1. Using memory wire shears, cut 1 1/2 loops of the memory wire. (You can cut more and make your bracelet longer, but you will need more beads.)
Bend Memory Wire
2. With chain-nosed pliers, bend about a half inch of the memory wire on one end at a 90 degree angle.
Memory Wire Loop
3. Use round-nose pliers to curl the bent part of the memory wire and form a loop.
Add Beads
4. String beads on the memory wire using the following pattern: 3 4mm turquoise beads, 1 malachite bead, 1 yellow jade bead, 1 malachite bead, 1 nugget bead, 2 4mm turquoise beads, 1 nugget bead, 1 yellow jade bead, 1 nugget bead, 2 4mm turquoise beads, 1 nugget bead, 1 yellow jade bead, 1 nugget bead, 2 4mm turquoise beads, 1 nugget bead, 1 yellow jade bead, 1 nugget bead, 2 4mm turquoise beads, 1 nugget bead, 1 malachite bead, 1 yellow jade bead, 1 malachite beads, and 3 4mm turquoise beads.
5.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 to make another loop at the end of the memory wire. If you have a lot more than a half inch of memory wire left at the end, just trim off any excess with memory wire shears.
Malachite Dangles
6. Thread a malachite bead onto a head pin, make a simple loop aka unwrapped loop, and trim off an excess head pin.
7. Repeat step 6 so that you have two dangles.
8. Slip the unwrapped loop of one malachite dangle onto one of the loops on the end of the bracelet, and use chain-nose pliers to close the unwrapped loop of the dangle.
9. Repeat step 8 for the other dangle and other side of the bracelet.
The finished memory wire bracelet will wrap around an average size wrist about one time with a few inches of overlap. If you want your bracelet longer or shorter, simply adjust the amount of memory wire and beads used.
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