How To Create A Simple Stretch Bracelet With Elastic Cording

Have you ever wanted to make a bracelet?  If so, a stretch bracelet is a great place to start!  

It’s been a while since I made any jewelry, but I’ve recently found the desire again.  And I thought that some of you might be interested in learning some basic techniques.

I have my sister-in-law Kay to thank for getting me back to making jewelry.  She wanted to gift her granddaughters with stone hearts that her husband had fashioned.  She asked me if I could wrap them in wire

I love wirework, so of course, I said yes.  Wireworking is so much fun, but a bit advanced for beginners.  So for today, we are going to concentrate on a basic stretch bracelet made with elastic cording.

Watch my tutorial below to see how I make simple stretch bracelets using elastic cording.

For your convenience, I included affiliate links which means I may make a commission, but it won’t cost you any more.  Read my entire disclosure here.

Materials

• Elastic cording
• Primary bead
• Secondary and/or spacer beads
• Crimp bead or tubes
• Crimping pliers
• E6000 Adhesive
• Bead board (optional)
• Jewelry pliers (optional, but very helpful)

NOTE:  Make sure that the beads you use have an inner diameter that will accommodate your elastic cording.  

You can find a printable with step-by-step instructions and photos in my Maker Library.  All of my projects and patterns can be found there and they are all free!  Join here.  

Optional Tools (not really)

In the materials, I listed above, I included some ‘optional’ tools.  If you are serious about making your own jewelry, then I would suggest that you go ahead and invest in these tools.  They will make your jewelry-making a lot more enjoyable!

A beadboard is super helpful.  It can

• Corral and organize your beads
• Assist with measurement
• Aid in design

Jewelry pliers are not necessary for THIS project, although I did use mine at the end to tuck the knot inside of a bead.  Pliers are necessary for most jewelry projects, so I recommend getting a set as soon as possible.  

Don’t use the pliers you have in the toolbox in the garage!  These are typically too big and will mar many of the metals and wires you will use in your projects.

Size is important, too.  Properly sized jewelry pliers will be easier to manipulate and will be easier on your hands as well!

When I first started making jewelry, I did not have the right tools, and often my hands would be aching by the time I finished a piece!

Elastic vs Other Stretch Cording

Stretch bracelets are everywhere.  Most bracelets for little girls are made with a clear stretchy cord.  

But many bracelets for women are also made with stretch cording.  Some of them use clear cording.

I have to be honest – I don’t like the clear stretch cording.  

So many bracelets are made with it, but I just have not had any luck with it.  Instead, I prefer a thin elastic cord.  Elastic cording is much stronger in my opinion.

Stringing A Stretch Bracelet

So what exactly is stringing?  Stringing is the term that jewelry makers use to refer to placing beads on some type of string, cord, or wire.  For our project today, we are using elastic cording.

Starting the Stretch Bracelet

To begin, you need to know the finished size of the bracelet.  The easiest way to do determine this is to measure the wrist.  You will need to cut the elastic cording 2 to 3 inches longer than the wrist measurement.

In the video, I am making a bracelet for myself, and I typically like them to be 7 inches long.  I cut the elastic cording 9 or 10 inches.

The extra inches give you some grace when stringing the beads.

For example, I had to keep trimming the end of the elastic cording as it frayed a little bit with each bead that I strung.

NOTE:  “Exercise” your elastic cording by giving it 2 or 3 good stretches after cutting it to size.  This pre-stretches it and will keep the bracelet from stretching out of shape.

Adding the Beads

As I mentioned above, make sure that the bead hole is large enough for the elastic cording to pass through.  One of the reasons that my cord ends frayed was because the inner diameter of the beads was barely large enough for the elastic cord.

On the other hand, you do not want to use beads with super large holes either.  This will cause your stretch bracelet to have an unrefined (aka ‘loosey goosey’) look when it is finished.

Make sure to have a pattern in mind before you start stringing.  I like to lay my beads on the beadboard in the order that I plan to string them.

If you are using just two beads, then an alternating pattern works well.

Once you have established your pattern, add them to the elastic cord one at a time.

Finishing the Stretch Bracelet

When you have strung all your beads, check your pattern one more time.  It is so easy to make a mistake.

Once you are satisfied, tie a knot in the elastic cording.

Trim the ends of the cording and apply a few dots of E6000 adhesive.  This will keep the knot from unraveling.

Tuck the knot inside one of the beads.  And you are done!

Your Takeaway

Making your own jewelry is not too difficult, especially if you choose to make a stretch bracelet with elastic cording.

• Cut elastic cording to size
• String beads on the elastic
• Knot and glue the elastic cording

So now you know how to make your own stretch bracelets.  Another benefit of making a stretch bracelet is that you now know how to repair any of your stretch bracelets that may have broken or become too loose.  Just restring on elastic cording as I showed you above.

Remember, you can get step-by-step directions with photos in my Maker Library.  Check it out!

I hope you enjoyed this super simple project.  I would love to see the stretch bracelets that you make!

Additional Reading:

3 Reasons To Start Making Handmade Cards Now

What Supplies Do You Need To Crease A Basic Handmade Card?

Have You Ever Wanted To Etch A Glass Tile?