If you’re newer to jewelry making, and you’ve already made stretchy cord bracelets, I’d suggest trying memory wire bracelets next.  They’re fairly simple to make.  All you do is cut the memory wire to the right size, make a loop on one end of the wire, add your beads, and make a loop on the other end of the wire.  The hardest part is making the loops because the wire is really strong, but if you put a little practice & muscle behind it, you can do it.

Here we go!

Materials: memory wire, a memory wire shear, beads, & round nose pliers 3 in 1 tool.

FYI: Regular craft wire will not work; memory wire is unique in that it will always maintain it’s circular shape even as you stretch it out slightly.  Do not use regular wire cutters to cut memory wire; it will put permanent dents in your wire cutters & they’ll no longer work on precise cuts for other beading projects.  Also, whatever round nose pliers you use, always use them only for memory wire.  The memory wire will slightly knock them out of joint, so they’ll not be as precise for other wire bending projects.  I wrote “memory wire” on mine with a sharpie.

Instructions:

1.  Measure & cut wire: Decide how many times you want your bracelet to wrap around your wrist (I typically wrap mine 3 times).  Wrap the memory wire around your wrist & add an extra 1/3 inch on each end for the loops.   Cut the wire with your memory wire shears.

2.  Make a loop: Grab the end of the wire with your round nose pliers; hold the rest of the wire still with your other hand.  (You’ll want to make your loop bend away from your arm, so when you’re wearing it, it doesn’t dig uncomfortably into your wrist.)  Now move your pliers to create as much of a loop as you can, then reposition your hand & pliers to get a more comfortable grip.  Then you can finish creating your loop.

To close the loop completely, use the groove in the pliers & place the loop in it; gently push the loop until it’s closed.

3.  Add beads:  Decide on a bead pattern & place them on the wire.  Keep beading until you have about 1/3″ of wire remaining.  Or if you need to end on a particular place because of your pattern, cut the wire shorter with your wire shears.

4.  Make the final loop: make this loop the same way you made the first loop.  This one’s a little more difficult because you have to be careful not to let your beads fall off, and it’s a little harder to hold the wire with all the beads on it.

You’re finished!