DIY | Summer bracelets with tassels or gemstones

This year, small delicate bracelets are – again – a huge summer success, and they come in numerous variations and colours.

Here we show you a few examples of what you can do, braid or knot with beads and cord.

If you are interested in more ideas for colourful and summerly do-it-yourself jewellery, please browse our earlier blog articles and DIY guides:

• Delica jewellery with locking bead
• Mini bracelets with Delica beads
• Delica jewellery with memory wire
• Delica hoop earrings
• Delica jewellery

Bracelet with Delica beads and silk thread

We used the following materials to assemble this bracelet:

• Delica pale grey, matte, DB1528V
• Delica cool gold 24kt, DB0334V
• Delica golden tan  DB0208V
• Delica black, matte DB0310V
• Delica dark red DB0723V
• Delica melon, matte DB1523V
• 30cm silk thread, grey, 0.60mm
• 1 locking bead with eyelet, 4mm, gilded sterling silver
• 1 jumpring, 5mm, gilded sterling silver
• 1 tassel, red
• wide-eye needle
• jewellery glue

You will find a step-by-step instruction on how to make this bracelet in our earlier blog article Delica jewellery with locking bead.  Once you are done, you can apply a drop of glue on the knots on the ends of the silk thread so they will not open up again. Silk thread has got a smooth surface and cannot be melted like nylon or polyester.

Bracelet with Delica beads and silk thread

We used the following materials to assemble this bracelet: 

• Delica sea green DB1454V
• Delica dark red DB0723V
• Delica grey DB0731V
• Delica cool gold 24kt DB0334V
• Delica black, matte DB0310V
• Delica golden tan DB0208V
• 30cm silk thread, grey, 0.60mm
• 1 locking bead with eyelet, 4mm, gilded sterling silver
• 1 jumpring, 5mm, gilded sterling silver
• 2 crimp beads, gilded sterling silver
• 1 tassel, sand
• wide-eye needle
• jewellery glue

You will find a step-by-step instruction on how to make this bracelet in our earlier blog article Delica jewellery with locking bead.  Once you are done, you can apply a drop of glue on the knots on the ends of the silk thread so they will not open up again. Silk thread has got a smooth surface and cannot be melted like nylon or polyester.

Macramé bracelets with gemstones

We used the following materials to assemble these bracelets:

 Green bracelet:

• 2.5m nylon cord, seaweed green, 0.5mm
• 1 faceted emerald, 8mm
• 2 crimp beads, gilded sterling silver

Blue bracelet:

• 2.5m nylon cord, baby blue
• 1 faceted sapphire, 6mm
• 10 Swarovski crystals, bicones, light blue, 3mm
• 1 locking bead with eyelet, 4mm, sterling silver
• 1 jumpring, 3mm, sterling silver
• 1 pendant, cross, silver-plated brass

Fuchsia bracelet:

• 2.5m nylon cord, fuchsia, 0.5mm
• 1 faceted ruby, 6mm
• 2 faceted beads, 4mm, gilded sterling silver
• 2 crimp beads, gilded sterling silver

These bracelets were made by using the classic marcamé technique.

Braided bracelet with tassels

We used the following materials to assemble this bracelet:

• nylon cord, 0.9mm, salmon
• nylon cord, 0.9mm, seaweed green
• nylon cord, 0.9mm, light grey
• various crystals
• 2 closed jumprings, 5mm, gilded sterling silver
• 2 jumprings, 6mm, gilded sterling silver
• 2 tassels, army green

First, knot the cords to one of the closed rings. Then, you string the chosen crystals. For our bracelet we took a random amount of crystals in random colours. Stringing the crystals becomes more easy if you melt the ends of the polyester cords carefully with a lighter. They harden when they cool down and can be used like a needle afterwards.

Now you braid the cords, weaving the crystals into the plait. Once the bracelet has got the right length, you knot the cord ends to the second closed ring. After that, you fasten one tassel on each closed ring with a jumpring

We do not want the knots to open up again that is why we burn the polyester carefully in order to melt it. Alternatively, you can apply a bit of adhesive on the knots. Finally, you cut the excess cord.

You close the bracelet by tying a knot.

Braided bracelet with charms and tassels

ou need the following materials to assemble this bracelet:

• silk cord, striped green-brown-grey
• several small gilded charms
• jumprings, 4mm, gilded sterling silver
• 2 closed jumprings, 5mm, gilded sterling silver
• 2 jumprings, 6mm, gilded sterling silver
• 2 tassels, dark grey

First, you knot three cords to one of the closed rings. Then, you fasten a jumpring to each of the pendants and slide them on the cords.

Now you braid the cords, weaving the pendants into the plait. Once the bracelet has got the right length, you knot the cord ends to the second closed ring. After that, you fasten one tassel on each closed ring with a jumpring.  Apply a drop of glue on each of the knots to prevent them from opening up again.

Finally, you cut the excess cord. You close the bracelet by tying a knot.

Have fun making your own jewellery!

Have you got any comments, questions or suggestions? Please write in the commentary field below. Thank you!