After last week’s bracelet DIY, I thought it would be fun to do another summery bracelet. (If your curious, next week’s DIY will be another summer bracelet, too – the reason for this is that I’ve had several busy weeks topped off with weekend travel plans, and materials for bracelets travel incredibly well!) Last summer, the brilliant ladies of Honestly WTF slayed me with this fabulous wrap bracelet. Ball chain – what a brilliant idea! This bracelet uses three pieces of ball chain. While starting it is a bit tricky (I had to redo a few of mine,) perseverance pays off. If you wrap the waxed linen properly, the result is absolutely beautiful – and once you get the swing of it, they become very easy. (I made two of mine during our road trip up from LA to Santa Barbara!)
What you’ll need:
- Colorful Waxed Linen (about 2.5 yards.)
- Ball Chain (about 15 inches, cut into three five inch pieces.)
- Scissors
Begin the bracelet by cutting the waxed linen into six pieces. You’ll want four pieces that are approximately 24 inches long, and two pieces that are approximately 40 inches long. Take all 6 pieces and knot firmly together.
Take your six strands and divide them into three bundles of two. Braid for about three inches.
When you finish braiding, separate the strands. Put the four shorter strands together in the middle, and pull the longer strands out to the sides.
Take two of your pieces of ball chain, and pinch them together with the four bottom strands.
Wrap each of the two longer strands of linen around the ball chain, securing it to the bottom four strands.
Once you have the first two pieces of ball chain secure, add in your third piece – wrapping firmly. You’ll want to wrap each strand diagonally, from opposite directions. (This will ensure that you get a really nice criss-cross pattern.)
Wrap slowly and tightly. I found that it works best to wrap in one direction for a bit, stop, and then wrap over that in the opposite direction with the other piece of thread.
Continue wrapping in both directions until you get to the very end.
When you get to the end, gather all of the stands together and knot firmly. Braid for another three inches, knot, and you are done!
And pair with last week’s bracelet. Don’t they look pretty together?
Make them for everyone you know… preferably, poolside!
Impressive, as usual! Love all the colors together and with the bracelets from last week!
Love this one just as much as last week’s – really need to get myself to the craft store soon! 🙂
So cute!! I have a ton of threading at home, and some ball chain I think…if not must get some for a fun look!
I wish I lived in NYC, a DIY party would be so much fun!
these are amazing! i am definitely going to be trying this out! xx
Love these!! I need a crafts night at my house, STAT! Think your new biz venture? Organizing crafts nights for girls. 🙂
I love thee too! So much fun!
love these! I’ll definitely be making these for my girlfriends this summer!
I just ordered supplies to try a DIY bracelet I saw on Honestly WTF and thankfully this bracelet uses the same exact supplies that I ordered. Looks like I’ll be attempting two DIY bracelets this week! Absolutely love this one!!
These are seriously amazing!
Very pretty. Looks quite professionally made.
Nora
http://notenora.blogspot.com
Muy bonito. En tonos flúor tienen que quedar genial.
Besos
http://amarilloneon.blogspot.com.es/
so so cute, I just found some friendship bracelet materials while cleaning out my room at my parents house and may need to dive into it!
wow, this is awesome!
These look a little trickier but I am up for the challenge. I think I like these even better…but together it’s tons of fabulosity!
Love this one! Totally pinned to my DIY to do list. It’s getting quite long, I really need to get on completing them 🙂
Grace these are absolutely stunning, I love all the colours together 🙂
Laura xo
These are so darling! What a great little addition to an arm party 🙂
So cute! Love it!
Another knock-out project that I’ll have to try! Love the soft colors too, they look great with last week’s DIY!
Oh my gosh!!! This is such. a super simple project. I can do this. So Excited to try it this week.
whoa… amazing!
OMG I love this! I was just looking at jewelry supplies and saw this ball chain and was wondering what I could do with it. I have to try it!
OK now I want to make like 10 of these. Or 20. I know exactly where I want to go to get all these supplies, too 🙂
You are seriously inspiring me to make these! I love them!
this is amazing!!! I have to try it!! :-DDD
thank you….
xoxo
http://invitationtoinspiration.blogspot.com/
Grace, I am loving these! Beautifuly done! Thanks for sharing your DIY brilliance:)
Anna
It is very nice , I love it, whoa… amazing!
I’ve looked everywhere for waxed linen. Where did you buy it??!!
I bought mine at Ornamentea… but I also linked to where to buy in the tutorial!!
i dont get it haha, it seems very confusing to me babes! x
Sorry to hear! Which part confuses you?
I made a set using your pictures for a DIY contest on Polyvore. I linked this page to give you full credit. 🙂
http://www.polyvore.com/looks_to_diy_for_with/set?id=51501274
thanks for sharing the link!
Love it very much!
p.s. where did you get your watch?!
Thanks Kaitlin… my watch is a Rolex – it was a very special gift. 🙂
if you start out with a loop on one end and make these longer then secure a button on the other end, it will be a nice wrap bracelet
Yes, Honestly WTF did a great job doing that! I wanted to close mine off a bit differently.
Hey just a note, your measurements don’t add up, was trying to do this, thought I had enough string and I don’t 🙁 2.5 yards doesn’t equal 24×4 pieces + 40×2 pieces… That equals over 4 yards
just wondering, where can you buy a ball chain or rhinestone links? i’ve been seeing them in tons of tutorials and I have no idea where to get them 🙁
Thank you so much for this tutorial I saw the bracelet in a shop at £145 way too expensive. I have made 4 since I found you site. Only change I made was to use 4 threads and a different style of finish like the actual bracelet. Planning to make some for Christmas………my husband says thank you as you have saved him a fortune :o)
Aw, thank you so much for your comment, Kathryn! I’m so happy that you benefitted from the tutorial. And wow – that is just wayyyy too much money to charge. Happy crafting 🙂
Hello. I really love your design and your sharing. But, it seems that you do not show how to wear the bracelet, I mean, tie 2 ends of bracelets. Thanx:)
Hi there – it’s very easy – I just tied it in a knot, like a friendship bracelet. You could finish it off in a fancier way, but I went for the tried + true here 😉
LOVE THESE !!