How to Finish a Beaded Cuff Bracelet
A Tutorial
Copyrighted
Copyrighted
Beth E. Rudy, Bouncing Wolf Creations 2011
Beth E. Rudy, Bouncing Wolf Creations, 2011
brudylI20@yahoo.com
Distributed by: bouncingwolfcreations.biz
Distributed by: www.beadpattemsboutique.come & www.thebeadcoop.com
Beadwork strip can be used in many ways. They can be attached to leashes or collars for our furbabies. They can be used to decorate Regalia or other articles of clothing. And they can be used
make bracelets.
My favorite style of bracelet is a cuff bracelet which uses a metal band as a base. I prefer to use the
aluminum cuffs because they are the most flexible. They are easy to customize for fit.
The photo on the right shows an example of one of the cuff bases that I use. It is important to match the size of your base
with the width of your beadwork strip. (By the way, your strip can be worked in any stitch. The one in this example is
done in 2-drop Peyote, but I also like to back my loom-work strip this way too!)
I purchase my cuffs from http://www.beadwork-supplies.com/index.htmL
They have a great selection of sizes and metals. You can order your bases with rounded or squared comers. And they will also perform them for you, or you can order them flat and form them as you choose.
(Supply list on page 4)
Hint:
Most cl{ffs bases are 6 inches long. 1
make my strip just a little bit longer than
the metal base to allow it to curve nicely.
So, let's get started with your cuff. After you have completed your beadwork
strip and chosen a metal base to match the width of your strip, cut a piece of
heavy interfacing about 1 inch wider than your beadwork strip and 1 inch longer
You will also need to choose a backing material for the inside of the cuff. My favorite backing
material is deer hide. I am blessed to have an abundant supply of scrap from family projects.
Ultra Suede is another good backing material, as it is available in many colors and does not
fray on the edges.
Cut your backing material about 1/2 inch wider than your cuff base and about 1/2 inch longer.
•
One of my favorite products that I have discovered recently is Peel n Stick
for attaching ribbons and trims to fabric without sewing.
Fabric Fuse from Therm-o-web. It is a pt:;rmanent2-sided adhesive designed
Peel Stick
I cut pieces of the Peel N Stick to about the size shown in the photo on the
right and stick them to the wrong side of my finished beadwork strip as shown
in the photo below.
If your beadwork band has a "right"
and a "wrong" side, be sure to put the
adhesive on the wrong side!!
Hint:
Don't try to trim your thread tail close to
your beadwork. You can never get close
enough to hide them completely. Instead,
leave the tails long, and tuck them under
the beadwork strip between the Peel n
Stick and the intet:facing. It will give you
a more finished look.
.
.
Remove the backing from the pieces of Peel n Stick.
Tuck in any loose threads or thread tails that you may have on your beadwork
strip. They will stick to the Peel n Stick and be hidden in the finished piece.
Center your beadwork strip on the heavy weight interfacing and press down to secure.
I like to stitch my beadwork band to the interfacing. I choose a thread that will
blend well with the beadwork and stitch between the 2 and 3rd beads the whole
way around the band.
Secure your backing material (leather or Ultra Suede recommended) to the inside of the
cuff using pieces of the Peel n Stick in the same way you attached the beadwork band to
the interfacing.
Be careful to keep this piece smooth and flush. Remember, this adhesive is permanent. It
can be loosened, but it won't always re-stick.
Trim your backing material so that it extends just beyond all sides of your cuff base. I
usually leave about 1/8th of an inch on all sides.
Trim the interfacing away from the back of the beadwork band. Trim close to the stitching,
being careful not to cut any of the warp threads.
Your strip should look like the photo on the left.
Use your Peel n Stick one more time (in the same manner as before) to attach your beadwork band to the outside of the cuff base. The adhesive should be place on the interfacing
side of the beadwork band.
Center the bam} on the cuff blank, smooth it out and press it firmly to attach.
Using a thread that will not show easily, whip stitch the leather
and the beadwork together the whole way around the cuff.
I use my regular beading needle to do the whip
stitching. I pass the needle from the inside,
through the leather (catching just a little bit) then
through the weft thread between the row of
beads. (see the close-up on the right)
When you have stitched the entire cuff together, weave your thread into the beadwork to
secure and trim close!!
Enjoy you new cuff bracelet!
SUl!)lly List
Inspiration Gallery!
*
*
Beadwork strip
(done in the stitch of your choice)
Heavy interfacing
*
Backing Material
(Leather or Ultra Suede recommended)
*
Metal cuff base to match the width of your
beadwork strip
*
Peel n' Stick Fabric Fuse
*
*
Needle
Coordinating thread