A Little Bit of Shopping

I went into town today and did a little bit of shopping. I wasn't particularly looking for anything so I just picked up little bits and a few magazines! I got the new issues of Making Jewellery Magazine and Bead Design Studio. I'm looking forward to try a few of the new tutorials in the magazines.

I also picked up some 100% cotton crochet wool for making a few bracelets. I loved the neutral colours and could imagine a bracelet set as soon as I saw them so thats something I think I will be working on over the coming bank holiday weekend!

I bought some metal tubes in different sizes and colours for the same bracelets and also more fold over style cord ends because as you have seen I tend to use a lot of these in my bracelets! I love getting mystery scoops and today's was various sizes of glass round beads in different colours with a few random shaped beads thrown in! You never know what your going to get and you never know what your going to use them in but they always get used! 

I also picked up some oval silver metal shapes, a few multi-strand clasps and some chain that has the links wrapped in cotton thread. Again I have no use for this right now but its going in the box and I'm sure it wot be there for very long!

More Kumihimo

I had been wanting to try a twisted style of a Kumihimo bracelet I had seen in a magazine a while ago but as I am still very new to this technique the written instructions had be a little confused so today I found a tutorial video on youtube which really helped!



And this is how it turned out. I'm really happy with it. Again I have used the fold over cord ends to finish this bracelet. Its just something I have and am comfortable using at the moment but will be hopefully getting a whole lot of new Kumihimo supplies soon now that I have grasped the basics and like it so much!








I can't wait to try even more colour styles and soon I'm going to even try a beaded Kumihimo bracelet! But for now I have added this onto the same clasp with a few of my other bracelets to wear together!








I have loved trying this new technique and can see myself continuing to use it in my jewellery making. If its something you haven't tried before I would recommend a try at it and see how you get on. There are plenty of youtube videos and instructions online to help you and once you grasp the basics your away! Let me know below if you have tried Kumihimo and weather its a technique you like or not!

Diamond Knotted Cord Bracelet Tutorial

So here is my tutorial to make this bracelet. 

What You Need:

12mm Lobster Clasp

10mm Jump Ring

2 x 6mm Fold Over Cord Ends

2 x 4mm Jump Rings

1 inch Square Metal Pendant 

1 mm Cotton Cord:

2 x 15 inches

2 x 35 inches

1: Using one of the 15 inch strands of cotton cord loop it through a corner of the square and pull tight. 

2: Taking one of the 35 inch strands, find the middle and place behind the strand already connected.

3: Taking the left strand bring it over the middle strand and over the right strand.

4:  Take the right strand and bring it under the middle strand and out over the front on the left hand loop. Pull the knot all the way to the top of the connected strands. This is the first half of a square knot.

5: Now to do the second half of the square knot. take the left hand strand and place under the middle strands and right strand. 

6: Now take the right side strand and bring it over the middle strands, behind the left strand and pull the knot up. You now have one full square knot. 

7: Continue making square knots for about 3 inches.

8: You now need to do exactly the same on the opposite corner of the square.

9: When you are sure you have the length you want you will be left with four strands on either side like this. 

10: Take the fold over cord end and making sure all four strands and inside bend down the sides until secure using a flat nose pliers. You can now trim off the excess cord. 

11: Using a 4mm jump ring attach the cord end and the lobster clasp. 

12: Finally attach the 10mm jump ring with the other 4mm jump ring to the cord end. 

And Your Done!

Colour Variations:

Use different coloured cotton cord and findings to make this bracelet different every time! Below are a few I made using chain instead of a Square.

Thank you for stopping by to see my tutorial. Let me know in the comments below if you have tried to make this bracelet!