Beaded Watch Band

I don’t know about you, but I LOVE LOVE new jewelry! Even better than new jewelry is finding that piece that matches my outfit completely. {Yes, I’m one of those matchy matchy people that wants everything to coordinate perfectly! =) } So, a little over a year ago I decided to start making my own jewelry…beaded watch bands in particular. I think I’m up to about 15 different watches in my collection….love them!!!!
Here’s what you’ll need to make your own beaded watch…they are super fun and easy to make!

• Stretch Magic 1 mm beading cord
  
• Bead reamer
  
• scissors
  
• super glue
  
• LOTS of beads (I have quite the collection, but these watch bands are MUCH easier to make with a bigger selection to choose from.

I probably have more beads than I know what to do with, but I always have plenty to choose from…at least that is what I tell my hubby every time I order more! =) Here are some great places to get a wide selection of beads….Hidden Hollow Beads and Fire Mountain Gems. I am seriously addicted to both of these websites!

To get started:
Begin by laying out your beads on some sort of soft cloth. The cloth will help keep your beads from rolling away.

Your length from the clasp on the left to the clasp on the right will depend on your wrist size. Here are the measurements I use:
Small: 5: – Medium: 5 1/2” – Large: 6” – Extra Large: 6 1/2”
I have a smaller wrist, so I usually make myself a medium band. Sometimes it just takes some playing with to determine your perfect size.
Continue to lay out your beads, spacers, and clasps until you have filled out the entire length. In the middle I usually just use the same beads in an opposite direction on each side. This makes it easy and insures that you don’t have the same beads directly across from each other.

VERY IMPORTANT: Make sure that the beads between your clasps and your spacer (in the middle) are the same length. This is where having lots of beads makes it a lot easier because sometimes it takes some playing around to find the right combination of beads to line up.

Once all of your beads laid out, you can start to use your bead cord to put it together. Start on the right front between two beads and start stringing the beads through the cord in a clockwise direction.

Continue in a circle, remembering to to add your spacers in the right spot as you go.

When you add your clasps, make sure they are all facing the same direction. I always hold them so that the back is facing up. If you do that same method for each clasp you’ll get it right EVERY time!

Once you’re back to the beginning of your circle, it’s time to tie your knot.

Leave about 1 – 2” on each side of your band so you’ll be able to tie it easily. As you tie a double knot, make sure you pull it tight so you don’t have any slack in your cord. After you tie your knot, add a tiny dot of super glue to the top of the knot. Hold it for about 30 seconds so that they glue has some time to dry before it touches any of the neighboring beads.

Let it dry for several minutes before you snip the ends of the bead cord right next to the knot. Now you’re ready to add your watch face. These “solid bar ribbon watch faces” are available at many places on the web, but I like eWatch Wholesale because it seems to have the biggest selection.

These watch bands are seriously addicting to make….happy crafting!