Randomly Floating Bracelet
Use the new Extreme 925 flex sterling silver wire from Softflex to create this lightweight, elegant bracelet. Make the Randomly Floating Necklace for a spectacular set!
Level: Medium
Materials
6mm x 8mm faceted Labradorite beads - 6 qty
Sterling silver "Smart Beads" (available at Rings 'N' Things) - 12 qty
Extreme 925 flex sterling silver wire
Sterling toggle clasp (10-12mm diameter across round end)
Sterling crimp covers - 2 qty
Sterling crimp beads - 2 qty
For a 7 ¼" bracelet, cut three 6 ½" pieces of wire from the spool (adjust length of wire if you need a longer or shorter bracelet to ensure good fit). When cutting the end, cut at a slight angle to help in threading the Smart Beads on the wire.
Smart Beads contain an inner lining that keeps the bead in place on the wire. They can be repositioned over and over, but in normal wear, will stay in place.
Carefully thread one Smart Bead on one wire. Position so that the bead is approximately ¾" from the end of the wire. Thread one Labradorite bead from the opposite end of the wire and snug up to the Smart Bead. From the same end of the wire as you threaded the Labradorite bead, thread another Smart Bead. Snug the Smart Bead up to the Labradorite bead, creating a three bead pattern: Smart Bead, Labradorite, Smart Bead. Repeat the pattern one more time on this wire, leaving approximately 2"of wire open between the last Smart Bead of one set and the first Smart Bead of the next set.
Repeat the same instructions with the other two sections of wire, but start the first set of beads at 1 ¾" from the end for one wire, and at 2 ½" for the other. This will allow your bead sets to be staggered on the wire and it will lay better when wearing. As you finish a wire, lay it on the table next to the others so that the "starting" ends are kept together for assembly.
When you have threaded all sets, pick up one end of all three wires together and thread one crimp cover and then one crimp bead on all three wires. Make sure that all ends of the wires are even with each other. Using a crimping pliers, gently grasp the crimp bead and move to the very end of the wire. If you have a tiny bit of wire sticking out, that's okay, but it needs to be less than 1mm. Crimp the wire, making sure that the crimp will stay put. Pull the crimp cover up (it has probably fallen down and is resting on the first Smart Bead in your set!), and place the loop from the round end of the toggle clasp in the hook end of the crimp cover. Using a Flat Nose Pliers, carefully close the hook, making sure it's not closed so tight that the clasp can't move. Use the pliers to close the cover over the crimp bead.
Before crimping the opposite end, loosely braid the three strands of the bracelet together. When you have finished braiding, repeat crimping instructions on the end of the bracelet, attaching the toggle bar to the crimp cover.
