Design Inspiration Supplies

Design Instructions

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Supplies needed

  • 1    Cowrie Shell Bead    (94-5840-12)
  • 1    Beaded Bail    (94-5509-12)
  • 8    Shell 7mm Bead Cap    (94-5841-12)
  • 1    Head Pin 2” 21ga    (01-0028-01)
  • 18    8mm Round wooden beads
  • 4    Coral beads
  • 4    3x8mm glass or bone rondelle beads
  • .75mm stretch cord

Tools

  • scissors
  • round nose pliers
  • wire cutters
  • chain and/or flat nose pliers 
  • clear nail polish or jeweler's cement

Skill Level: Beginning

Finished Size: Approx. 7"

Designer: Tracy Gonzales

Download the Cowrie Shell Stretch Bracelet PDF

Watch our technique videos on the TierraCast Blog (look for Simple Loops).

Tip: To increase or decrease bracelet size, add or subtract one or more beads on each side of bracelet. To use a charm instead of the cowrie bead, replace head pin with one small jump ring. 

 

Steps

  1. String cowrie shell bead onto head pin. At top of bead bend wire over at right angle. Use wire cutters to trim wire to 3/8". Use round nose pliers to form simple loop. Set aside.
  2. Cut one 14” piece of stretch cord. 
  3. Pre-stretch cord by pulling from both ends several times. 
  4. String bail onto cord and move to center.
  5. String *one coral bead, one bead cap, one rondelle, and one bead cap* onto cord on one side of bail. Repeat * through *, followed by 9 wooden beads. 
  6. Repeat Step 5 on other side of bail.
  7. Check for size: wrap ends of cords around wrist. Add or subtract beads as necessary so that the beads meet when the strand is not too loose and not too tight on wrist.
  8. Secure cord ends with surgeon’s knot. (Fig.1) Tighten securely, pulling cords from all directions to make sure knot does not come loose.
  9. Apply small amount of nail polish or adhesive to knot. Allow to dry.
  10. Trim cord ends.
  11. Open loop on bead dangle. Attach dangle to bail and close loop.

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