How to make a beaded bracelet with clasp
Learn how to make a beaded bracelet with clasp closure! When you’re done check out this big list of DIY bracelets. This post contains affiliate links.
Let me guess: you were walking through the bead aisle in Michaels, a beautiful mistake, and you happened upon gorgeous beads that you figured you’d wear on your wrist every day.
But you want to string it up with a clasp, and you don’t want to lose it.
I’m happy to share with you how to make a beaded bracelet with a clasp – in a way that is so durable, I’ve worn it through dozens of showers and it’s still holding strong!
Yes, that is possible and I’m going to share with you my best techniques and tips for how to make a beaded bracelet with a clasp!
I do recommend that you read through the “intro” to this post – it’s not a nostalgic take (though I can go there if you want…) it’s really full of tips and advice, consider it the introductory paragraphs if you were taking a “course” on the matter.
Tips for How to Make a Beaded Bracelet with a Clasp
Choosing your beads
Back in that bead aisle in Michaels, your possibilities are endless. The best way to choose your beads is to figure what’ll be most comfortable. What do you want on your wrist all day?
If you’re going for round beads, choose something on the smaller end. I used 8mm gemstone beads and they are a great size for weak-hand wearing. They are a bit bulky for wearing on my writing hand.
They are a gorgeous matte finish gemstone in a color palette that operates as a neutral, and has just the right amount of color. And if you follow me on social media, or on YouTube, you’ll see it presenting in many of my videos.
If you do want to go larger, choose a flat bead. Faceted beads can be used as well, but they’re not my favorite for bracelets.
Types of strings and string ends
Your stringing materials make a huge difference, and if you’ll be making a lot of these to sell, I recommend experimenting with a few types of strings and finishes when learning how to make a beaded bracelet with clasp.
My favorite stringing material that I find absolutely strongest, especially when attaching a clasp is tigertail wire. It’s made of metal wires, that are twisted together in fiber-style, making it flexible like a string but strong as a wire.
There are so many different ways you can finish off the ends. I’ve played with a lot of styles. I do love using crimp beads and crimp covers, however, they do often come off.
For these, I chose instead to use crimp cord ends. I glued the wire in for added durability, and then also crimped it very well.
You can play with different methods and do what works best for you. I made these in sterling silver so that they can last me a while.
When making mostly beaded bracelets, it’s worth using better metal like sterling. It uses minimal metal – so it’s not crazy expensive – but it makes it much more durable. And if you’re selling it, your profit margin for your labor can be higher, since you can mark it up more.
Choosing your clasp
The cool thing about bracelets is that you can really make a statement with your clasp! On this one, I chose a sterling silver toggle clasp. Since the clasp tends to move around your wrist, it helps if it’s pretty!
The biggest disadvantage of the toggle is that it can open. Make sure to look for a toggle clasp that doesn’t have too narrow a bar. You should need to pull it all the way through and then let it loose to close it.
How to make a beaded bracelet with a clasp – step by step
While there are so many techniques for how to make a beaded bracelet with a clasp- and I’ve shared my tips above, this tutorial will focus specifically on how I did it.
Feel free to switch out supplies and techniques as it suits your needs.
Watch the video
Watch the full-length video on YouTube if you prefer to learn that way! Or scroll down for written instructions with photos.
Supplies
- 8mm gemstone beads – smooth round (about 5 inches strung). Mine are Fancy Jasper
- 3mm sterling silver spacer beads
- Tigertail beading wire
- Weld Bond glue
- Sterling silver end crimps – narrow ones with loops
- Sterling silver toggle clasp
- Chain nose pliers and wire cutters
- Sterling silver wire (18-20 gauge, 18 preferred. Pricey but you’re only using a teensy bit for each bracelet)
- Wire looping pliers
- A surface to work on that’ll stop your beads from rolling (a beading mat works, I pulled out a ceramic tile and flipped it upside down because I couldn’t find mine!)
Process
1. Stick the end of your wire into the bottle of glue so that the tip (about the length of your cord end) is covered.
2. Place the crimp end over the glue.
3. Squeeze it shut as tight as you can using the chain nose pliers.
4. Start beading! I let the gorgeous beads speak for themselves and interspersed them with the spacers.
5. A standard sized adult bracelet is about seven inches long. Keep in mind the size of the end crimps and clasp combined and bead as much as you need to.
6. Spread some glue in the area right past the last bead on the wire. Just a thin coating works, and it should be about the length of the crimp end.
7. Grip the wire in that spot tightly using the thinnest part of the pliers that’ll still hold it securely. Use the wire cutters to trim your wire.
8. Holding it carefully so that the wire doesn’t slide out, slide on your crimp end. I found that holding my bracelet by the beads, pushing back on the beads, and holding it on a table surface worked best.
9. Crimp it well.
10. Because I don’t solder, and I want my bracelet to be really secure, I like to make split rings using sterling wire, instead of jumprings. To do this, simply wrap your wire from the very tip around your wire looping pliers 2-3 times.
11. Snip it off.
12. Attach the split ring to one side of yoru bracelet. You may want to open it slightly with your pliers.
13. Attach your clasp to the other end.
14. Squish the split ring shut using your pliers.
15. Repeat with the other half of the clasp.
You’ve successfully learned how to make a beaded bracelet with a clasp. Which types of clasp is your favorite to use for this? Comment below!
DIY Beaded Bracelet with a Clasp
Materials
- 8mm gemstone beads - smooth round (about 5 inches strung). Mine are Fancy Jasper
- 3mm sterling silver spacer beads
- Tigertail beading wire
- Weld Bond glue
- Sterling silver end crimps - narrow ones with loops
- Sterling silver toggle clasp
- Chain nose pliers
- Wire cutters
- Sterling silver wire (18-20 gauge, 18 preferred)
- Wire looping pliers
- A surface to work on that'll stop your beads from rolling (a beading mat works, I pulled out a ceramic tile and flipped it upside down because I couldn't find mine!)
Instructions
1. Stick the end of your wire into the bottle of glue so that the tip (about the length of your cord end) is covered.
2. Place the crimp end over the glue.
3. Squeeze it shut as tight as you can using the chain nose pliers.
4. Start beading! I let the gorgeous beads speak for themselves and interspersed them with the spacers.
5. A standard sized adult bracelet is about seven inches long. Keep in mind the size of the end crimps and clasp combined and bead as much as you need to.
6. Spread some glue in the area right past the last bead on the wire. Just a thin coating works, and it should be about the length of the crimp end.
7. Grip the wire in that spot tightly using the thinnest part of the pliers that'll still hold it securely. Use the wire cutters to trim your wire.
8. Holding it carefully so that the wire doesn't slide out, slide on your crimp end. I found that holding my bracelet by the beads, pushing back on the beads, and holding it on a table surface worked best.
9. Crimp it well.
10. Because I don't solder, and I want my bracelet to be really secure, I like to make split rings using sterling wire, instead of jumprings. To do this, simply wrap your wire from the very tip around your wire looping pliers 2-3 times.
11. Snip it off.
12. Attach the split ring to one side of yoru bracelet. You may want to open it slightly with your pliers.
13. Attach your clasp to the other end.
14. Squish the split ring shut using your pliers.
15. Repeat with the other half of the clasp.
You've successfully learned how to make a beaded bracelet with a clasp. Which types of clasp is your favorite to use for this? Comment below!
