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Before you
get started... These lampwork beads require that you add about a half
inch to your vertical length to compensate for the taller beads.
This bead measures 7" vertically, but it fits a 6.5" wrist.
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STEP 1a I usually don't cut the length of Beadalon until further along in this project, so start by stringing one crimp bead, an accent bead and one end of your toggle clasp (in that order) on the Beadalon. STEP
1bPass the end of the Beadalon back through the accent bead and the crimp bead, leaving a 1-2" tail. Note: By
putting a bead between the clasp and the crimp, you ease the wear and
tear on the crimp, which is a common cause of breakage. |
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You will now
have a flat crimp bead |
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STEP
3Grip the flattened bead on the wide edges as shown at left, and using the outer ridge of the crimper, smash the bead again.
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Now you are
ready to start stringing the bracelet!
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STEP
5When you get to the end of your bracelet, add the second crimp bead, a spacer bead and the other end of the clasp. STEP 5bPass the Beadalon back through the spacer bead, crimp, and about another inch worth of beads. |
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STEP
6This is the part where you have to hold your mouth right or it doesn't work... :-) Pull the end of the Beadalon until your beads all fit together - but make sure to leave a nice loop for movement of the toggle clasp. (I usually wait to trim my excess Beadalon until after crimping.) Shari Telman of Silvermoon Creations suggests forming your bracelet in an "O" shape before making the final crimp. She says, "If you use a lot of big beads, and they are fit tightly together, the bracelet doesn't bend." (Thanks, Shari!" Smush your crimp bead with the inner ridges of the crimper... |
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STEP
7Then smush the wide edges with the outer ridge of the crimper, just as we did in Step 3.
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| Now, you could stop here... but let's put a dangle on the clasp! | |
| <<< Back to Tools & Supplies | On to Making a Dangle >>> |
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