Tutorial Tuesday: Double Strand Macrame Bracelet

DoubleMacrame-1

Tutorial Tuesday is a blog series where I share a do-it-yourself jewelry tutorial.

Materials:
Instructions
Cut the black beading wire into two 12 inch lengths. Fold one 12 inch piece in half, push the looped end through one side of the Swarovski twist link connector, fold it over the connector and pull the rest of the cord through the looped end. Repeat this  on the other side of the twist link connector. These strands will be anchored and remain stationary. Lay the design on your macrame board or table with the strands vertical and tuck the strands into the grooves.Cut the red beading wire into two 36 inch length. Center one 36 inch length of red beading wire under the two anchored black strands. Begin the 1st half of your square knot by fold the right wire over the middle strands and under the left wire. Pull the left wire under the right and middle strands and through the loop on the right side. Slide wire knot close to your connector and pull tightly.

Finish the 2nd half of the square knot by folding the left wire over the middle strands and under the right wire. Pull the right wire under the left and middle strands and through the loop on the left side. Pull tightly and repeat the steps – right, left, right, left, right.

Note: if you feel your bracelet start twisting you may have knotted two right sides or two left sides in a row – simply remove the knot from the wire and fix direction. 

Continue knotting until the desired length for one half of your bracelet is reached keeping your clasp size in mind. Pick up your second 36 inch length of red wire and repeat the square knot on the other of your bracelet.

 Once your strands are at the desired length, string a 3x3mm crimp tube to each of the strands ends and thread through the clasp. Before you crimp, check that the size length is correct and that the strands are straight.  Once your happy, crimp the 3x3mm crimp tubes using the mighty crimping pliers. Click here for standard crimping instructions.
Now, let’s make the second strand of this bracelet. Cut two 8″ strands of black beading wire. Thread one strand through one side of the black crystal connector. String a 2x2mm crimp tube onto both ends of the black beading wire and even out the tails. Crimp the wire in place using the magical crimper. Click here for magical crimping instructions.
String one red crystal on one wire and one red crystal on the second wire. String a second 2x2mm crimp tube onto both ends of the black beading wire and crimp about 1/2″ apart from the first crimp.
String one red crystal on one wire and one red crystal on the second wire. String a second 2x2mm crimp tube onto both ends of the black beading wire and crimp about 1/2″ apart from the first crimp.
String one red crystal on one wire and one red crystal on the second wire. String a second 2x2mm crimp tube onto both ends of the black beading wire, loop one strand of the black wire around the clasp and back through the last crimp tube, crimp and trim excess wire.
 Repeat all the steps on the other half of the bracelet. For added interest, I attached the second strand on opposite sides of the macrame square knot strand.