Fall Flora Bracelet

Once you’ve mastered the S Clasp, S Link Bracelet and are ready to move on to something new, this variation on the Amy’s Gone Wild Bracelet is spectacular! While I’ve used fall colors in my bracelet, you can substitute any colors or styles of beads for your own look.

Level: Intermediate

Materials

18g dead soft wire
24g dead soft wire
Headpins
Stepped pliers or round nosed pliers
Flush cutters
64 mixed beads in coordinating colors, shapes and styles. I used glass amber teardrop Briolette, glass red/amber diamonds, pewter leaves, and round freshwater pearls, all available at Michael’s.

Step 1 Make 64 dangles using the beads, arrange in 8 groups of 4. For Briolette or top-drilled beads, use 24g wire to wrap the Briolette. For pearls and beads that are drilled top to bottom, use head pins and wrapped loop technique.

Step 2 Use the 18g wire to make 8 S clasps. Make a small loop using the smallest section of a stepped pliers or the middle section of a round-nosed pliers at the end of the wire.

Step 3 Move the pliers to the other side of the wire, and bend the wire around the largest section (or use the barrel of a ballpoint pen). Bring the unlooped end of the wire back around so that it is even with the bottom of the small (first) loop.

Step 4 Move the pliers (or pen barrel) to the opposite side of the wire again, even with the base of the smaller loop. Bring the wire back around the largest section of the pliers (or barrel) and straighten. Cut the wire even with the base of the first loop.

Step 5 For each link, string one group of four dangles on the link, and bring to the open section that already has the loop made. String four more dangles on the end before making the final loop.

Step 6 Make a last small loop using the smallest section of the stepped pliers on the straight end of the wire. The loop should curve back toward the outside of the second large loop — creating an S shape with small loops at the ends.

Step 7

Carefully bring the small loops to the center of the clasp to “close” the gap, making your clasps into links instead of open clasps. You will need to leave ONE end of ONE clasp open (this will be the clasp of your bracelet.)

Step 8

Using 18g wire, create 14 jump rings using the center section of the stepped pliers or the middle of your round-nosed pliers Open all jump rings using a twisting motion. NEVER open jump rings by pulling the ends apart from each other, this will distort your ring and make it useless.

Step 9

Using the 24g wire, create 7 tiny springs on the smallest section of the stepped pliers (should be about 2mm diameter if using round nosed pliers.). Each spring should have 3-4 rotations (rings) so that it’s about 3mm long.

Step 10

Join the S links using two jump rings and a spring. Before attaching, split the set of four dangles so there are two on one side of where you will put the jump rings, and two on the other side.

I’ve found the easiest way to do the connection is to slip the spring on one open jump ring, use the jump rings to connect the S links, and then close the first jump ring. Pick up a second jump ring with a pliers, slide the spring on it, then thread the jump ring through both of the S links, and close the second jump ring.

Continue joining the links until all links are on the bracelet. Be sure you use the link that was left open on one end — this will be the clasp of your bracelet! Bracelet can be clasped on the last link, or on any other links so that it fits comfortably. With an S clasp, you don’t want the bracelet too loose, or it may fall off. If you’d like, add additional jump rings on the last link to slip the clasp through.

The Finished Product
Click Image To Enlarge

–L. Kvigne