Hugs and Kisses Bracelet Tutorial - using beading wire instead of fireline

I have made several hugs and kisses bracelets, using different colours and sizes of beads, with embellishment, without... and I enjoy wearing them but find that they are quite delicate. 

Having used fireline to make them (it's like fishing line), they are prone to break easily. One little tug on the edge, breaking the fireline, and the whole piece falls apart. 


My friend made one of these hugs and kisses bracelets during our beading nights and she loves wearing them but has already broken it and re-made it twice, she is not willing to make it again.


I came up with the idea to make them using beading wire instead of fireline but there are a few modifications so here is a tutorial on making them with beading wire. 

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If required, please refer to the hugs and kisses bracelet tutorial for instructions on the pattern and supplies on making the bracelet at:


http://www.yesimadeitmyself.com/diy-jewellery-tutorial/category/gold-hugs-and-kisses-bracelet


For this project, I used the 21 strand beading wire (photo above), 6mm blue rondelle beads, 8.0 silver round beads (czech glass, from a tube).


NO NEEDLES are required with beading wire... a time saver... as trying to thread the needles with fireline can be quite tedious!! 


TO ASSEMBLE:

Start with a "wingspan" of beading wire, the same length that you would use as with fireline. 


I had to find a way to attach the clasp and loop onto the beading wire but for the construction of the bracelet, followed the same hugs and kisses pattern. 

Basically, you are making the bracelet using the beading wire first and THEN adding the clasp and loop AFTER and using the wire wrap technique to add the clasp and loop.  



I went about halfway of the construction of the bracelet before attaching the clasp, as in the photo above. 


I use 22 guage silver wire for my wire wrapping. 

To attach the lobster claw:

1. make a loop for and attach the lobster claw clasp 
   
2. wire wrap closed
   
3. add a silver bead in the middle of the segment
   
4. make a loop for and attach the blue bead 
5. wire wrap closed 
   

Note: The first bead in the pattern will now have both the beading wire AND the silver wire loop going through it. 

TO FINISH THE BRACELET -  you will see from the photo above, that on each side of the last blue bead, there are two crimp beads. 


As you would in the normal pattern using fireline and needles, you would secure the loop to the last set of beads of the bracelet by going around the last set of 4 bigger beads twice. 


Go around twice at the end of the bracelet with the beading wire in this project also. 


With the beading wire, before adding the loop, add the crimp beads on each side of the last blue bead in the first row, then go around the set of 4 blue beads with a  second row of beading wire.


For the second round of beading wire, go through the crimp beads and then using a crimp plier, secure both the first round and the second round of beading wire. Cut the beading wire. It is now secured.


Note: The last blue bead will have two rotations of beading wire AND the silver wire wrap going through it. 

To attach the loop segment, as with the other end of the bracelet, using the silver wire:

• make a loop and attach to the last blue bead
• wire wrap it closed
• add a silver bead in the middle of the segment
• make a loop for and attach a section of pre-made chain  
• wire wrap it closed
  

This segment consists of the blue bead, middle silver bead and loop to attach pre-made chain (approx 1 inch). 


To the other end of the section of chain, I added a blue bead charm with wire wrapping (as shown in the photo below).


The piece is complete and I gave it to my friend as a christmas gift! She loved it and I know she can wear it without worry that it will easily break.

I had enough beads left over to make her daughter a matching necklace (photo below).


For this project, I added butterfly charms and sparkly clear beads, used the same pre-made chain in the bracelet project and added all the segments using the wire wrap technique.


It's a pretty matching set for mother and daughter and both pieces are durable enough to wear without worry of breakage! 


Tutorial for wire wrapped necklace can be found at:


http://www.yesimadeitmyself.com/diy-jewellery-tutorial/category/silver-headpin-wrap-with-bead-necklace

A lovely matching set!!

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Whatever you choose to make...
make it unique and have fun!