How to Make Beaded Watch Bands Using Beads as Spacers

Hi there!  I’ve got a non-sewing tutorial for you today.  I needed a bit of a breather, and since beads were my first crafty endeavor, here we go again.

I’m going to show you how I made this watch band. (They were super popular a couple years ago, and still are…I just never made them.  I was given one from my student teaching cooperating teacher, and now I’m hooked!) 

If you’ve noticed most watch bands, they have silver pieces divide each section of the watch band.  They are called spacers.

And I couldn’t find any in my area…or 400 miles away from my home either (although I didn’t look very hard because I was spending over $100 on just fabric…more on that later).

So I decided to improvise.

I used other beads to act as the spacers, and I came up with this fun look.

You’ll need: 

Claw Clasps (I have used small, but I got bigger this time)

Stretchy Cord- I use 1.0 mm, but I think I’d like to go a tad smaller next time I buy it for using smaller holed beads.  I’ve heard that .8mm works well, but I couldn’t find it when I was hastily looking.

Super Glue

Scissors, beads, a brain

Ready, Set, Go!

Cut a piece of string.  I can’t tell you how long, because you’ll have to figure it out according to your wrist size.  And because we’ll be using beads as our spacers, add on several inches to that for safety’s sake.  The first band I made was barely long enough for my husband to tie.

Take two of your clasps, and form a bead sandwich like so.  You’ll want to you either 2-3 small beads, or one kind of short/long one.  Trial and error baby.

This is important.  See how both of the hooky things where you open them are facing the same way?  I didn’t think about this the first time I made a band, and ALL FOUR clasps were set differently…may need to chop that one up and fix it.  So pay attention.

String beads any way you like. 

Big, small, chunky, matchy-matchy, pattern, or spontaneous. 

It’s up to you.

When you’re about 1/3 done with your band, slip on one of the beads you’ll be using for your spacers.  (Pre-test the beads to make sure you can slip 2 pieces of the string through your beads.  Some beads may not have a big enough hole.)

Now take the other string, and slip it through the bead to make a loop.  Confused?  Have no fear, I took more pictures of the process on the 2nd spacer of this band.  Stay tuned.

Pull tight, and you’re 1/3 of the way!

Add more beads until you’re 2/3 of the way.  This middle section should be your longest section by the way.  The other two are kinda short.

 

Slip on that ‘spacer’ bead. 

Then take the other string and put it through the other end of the bead.  Does that picture help?  Thought it might!

Pull those two strings, and you’re 2/3 done with this thing!

Put on more beads until you’ve got it to the size you want.  Then make another clasp sandwich, making sure the hooky things are facing the same side as the OTHER clasps on the other end. (Sorry, forgot a picture of this part!  Oops!)

Then tie a square knot (right over left, left over right).  Then I tied one more right over left, just for fun.  Then I spaced the beads out like this, super glued it, and kept my hands there to take a pic for you. (I was terrified of getting super glue on me by the way!  But I made it.)

Let the super glue dry, cut the ends of your string close to the knot, and wear it out to walk to the mailbox (that’s where I’m headed!)

~Lynette~