How do you tie bracelets on elastic?
That's a question we're often asked at trade shows and online. Beginning jewelry makers quickly discover that when they tie a bracelet, the knot comes undone quickly. And that doesn't have to happen! In this article, we'll show you the best way to finish and tie bracelets on elastic. In our experience, this method prevents the bracelets from untying easily!
What do you need?
- Approximately 25 to 30cm of elastic (thickness of your choice: 0.5mm, 0.7mm or 1mm)
-The beads you want to use
- Jewelry glue or clear nail polish
- A pair of scissors or cutting pliers
Cut a piece of elastic from the roll. (You can also string the beads onto the wire while the elastic is still attached to the roll. This will save you some elastic because you can measure very precisely. But it just depends on what you find easier!) Then string the beads onto your piece of wire as desired. Make sure to leave about 8cm on each side of the beads for easy knotting.
Next, you'll start tying knots. For 0.5mm, it's best to tie four knots; for 0.7mm and 1mm, three knots are also sufficient. Tie the first two knots in the elastic. Now, grasp the four pieces of thread, two by two, between your thumbs and index fingers. So, hold one piece of elastic from the bracelet and one end in one hand, and the other two in the other. This allows you to apply sufficient pressure to the knots.
In this video I show you how I do it!
Gradually but firmly (even very firmly!) tighten the knots until you see they're properly connected: if you apply less pressure to the elastic, the knots will no longer slowly slide apart. Once this is done, tie a third (and possibly a fourth) knot to seal the previous knots. Pull these knots tight again, using the four pieces of thread.
To secure everything securely, you can add another drop of jewelry glue or clear nail polish. This creates a thin protective layer over the knot, preventing it from coming loose easily. While the glue or nail polish isn't completely dry, you can slide a bead over the knot. This will conceal it within the bead and prevent it from coming loose easily.
This is one of the best ways to tie your bracelets securely! It takes a little practice, but give it a try! If you have any questions, feel free to send us a message. We're happy to help! Good luck!
