Sometimes the beads in your stash scream to be a bracelet. Right? This post will walk you through how to make a lovely bracelet with a clasp. You in?
In our previous post, How To Create A Simple Stretch Bracelet With Elastic Cording, I showed you a quick and simple way to string a bracelet on a stretchy cord. But sometimes, the look we want really means that we need to add a clasp.
Adding a basic hook or lobster claw clasp isn’t as difficult as it might seem at first glance. But you will need a few more materials and tools.
In the video below, I make one bracelet with a hook clasp and another with a lobster claw clasp.
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 And Tools For A Bracelet With A Clasp
- Beads, primary or secondary (or maybe these)
- Beading wire
- Hook clasp or lobster clasp
- Crimp tubes or beads
- Wire Guardians (optional)
- Wire cutters
- Crimping pliers
Note About The Tools
Please don’t try to use your scissors to cut the beading wire. I’m not sure scissors will cut it, but if they will, the beading wire will surely ruin them. You will need wire cutters and it is best to use wire cutters specifically made for jewelry.
Crimping pliers are essential to adding clasps. While you can mash the crimp tubes with regular pliers, to get a firm grip on the wire, you need the crimping pliers with multiple slots.
One slot will mash the sides of the crimp together and another slot will fold the crimp tube. With my crimping pliers, the inner slot will “crimp” the tube or bead flat. The outer slots are used to “fold” the crimp bead or tube which further holds the bracelet together. The size of the crimp tube or crimp bead will determine which of the outer slots you will use to finish the crimp.
Basic Steps For Creating A Bracelet With A Clasp
Add Clasp End
First, you will need to cut a piece of beading wire a few inches longer than the finished length. On one end of the beading wire, string a crimp bead or tube.
If you are using a wire guardian, run the beading wire through one side of the guardian and out the opposite side.
Otherwise, after stringing the crimp tube or bead, string one end of the clasp.
Next, thread the stringing wire back through the crimp tube or bead. Pull the wire tight.
Separate the wires coming from the crimp tube or bead. Place the crimp tube in the inner slot of the crimping pliers and press firmly. Move the crimp tube to the appropriate outer slot (depending on the size of the crimp tube or bead) and press.
Thread the end of the wire through a few beads and trim the end of the beading wire close to a bead.
String The Beads
As I showed you in How To Create A Simple Stretch Bracelet With Elastic Cording, you will need to plan your bead design. Keep in mind that your clasp will most likely add approximately an inch to your bracelet, so you will need fewer beads to make the correct length.
Let’s add your beads to the beading wire.
Add The Other Clasp End
After adding all the beads, you will finish the bracelet in the same way that you started it.
Add a crimp tube or crimp bead, the wire guardian, or the end of the clasp. Thread the wire back through the crimp tube. Check the beads and pull the wire tight if the beads are too loose.
Make sure the ends are on opposite sides of the crimp tube or crimp beads. Crimp following the two-step method.
Trim the end of the wire close to the crimp bead or tuck the end of the wire into the adjoining beads.
Practice Crimping To Make A Bracelet With A Clasp
I’m not going to lie. I sometimes find it difficult to put the second part of the clasp on. Trying to tighten the bracelet and make a clean crimp can be challenging!
When I first started making bracelets, I just kind of ‘winged’ it. In my defense, I had some low-quality crimping pliers, but I would also squeeze them so tightly.
Just a firm squeeze is enough pressure. I would also not always make sure that my wires were on different sides of the crimp bead or tube.
And I didn’t always use the right size crimp bead or crimp tube.
But, crimping does get easier with practice. So make lots of bracelets with clasps!
Easy Steps To Make A Bracelet With A Clasp
- Add crimp tube/bead and clasp end. Crimp.
- Add beads.
- Add crimp tube/bead and the other clasp end. Crimp.
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