Project of the month: Triangles of Crystals

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Materials for a 5-strand bracelet:

• 150 - 170 x 4mm bicone Swarovski crystal beads in 2 - 5 colors (colors A, B, C, D & E: 30 each and 20 more for one of the colors) - 150 crystals to make a 7" bracelet; more for longer bracelets

• 11 x sterling silver daisy spacer bars 5-hole

• 20 - 30 x 2mm sterling silver round beads or size 11 seed beads in galvanized silver color

• 5 x 1 ft C-Flex beading wire (0.012 mm)

• 10 x crimp tube (2 x 1 mm preferred)

• 2 x silver color links (3 loops to 1 loop)

• 2 x 5mm heavy jump rings

• 1 set of Snap or other clasp

Tools: Chain nose pliers (for crimping) & wire cutter

Estimated cost: $88 (kit special $65.00)

Estimated time: 2 hours

Materials for a 3-strand bracelet (7"):

• 102 x 4mm bicone Swarovski crystal beads in 2 - 4 colors (colors A, B, C & D: 24 each and 6 more for one of the colors)

• 16 x sterling silver daisy spacer bars 3-hole

• 12 - 20 x 2mm sterling silver round beads or size 11 seed beads in galvanized silver color

• 3 x 1 ft C-Flex beading wire (0.012 mm)

• 6 x crimp tube (2 x 1 mm preferred)

• 1 set of box style 3-strand clasp

Tools: Chain nose pliers (for crimping) & wire cutter

Estimated cost: $68 (kit special $50.00)

Estimated time: 1.5 - 2 hours

Step 1.

Secure the beading wires using scotch tape or Bead Stoppers. This will keep the wires separated and make stringing easier.

Start by string the wires into the corresponding holes of a daisy spacer bar. Start with color A  crystals, string 1 bead onto wire #1, 2 beads onto wire #2, 3 beads onto wire #3, (for 5-strand, continue with 4 beads onto wire #4 and 5 beads onto wire #5.)

Step 2.

Keeping the wires separated, string a 2nd daisy spacer bar to line up the the first triangle crystal.

String color B crystals: For 5-strand, sting 5 beads onto wire #1, 4 beads onto wire #2, 3 beads onto wire #3, 2 beads onto wire #4 and 1 bead onto wire #5. (For 3-strand, start with 3 beads into wire #1, 2 beads in wire #2, etc.) Now you have created an "upside-down" crystal triangle.

Step 3.

Continue with the same pattern as described in Step 1. & 2 with crystal colors B, C, D. and E with 5-strand, and color B, C, and D for 3-strand.

If you are using only 2 colors, just alternate the colors for "up-side" triangle and "down-side" triangle in between spacer bars.

Step 4.

5- strand bracelet: for a 7" bracelet, you will begin and end with daisy spacer bars

3-strand bracelet: for a 7" bracelet, use extra crystals to string additional triangle sections at the begin and the end.

Step 5.

Use the silver beads to "fill" the the "missing angle" so the bracelet becomes straight. End each wire with a 2 x 1 crimp bead.

For 5-strand bracelet: string no beads onto wire#1, 1 silver bead onto wire #2, 2 silver beads onto wire #3, 3 silver beads onto wire #4 and 4 silver beads onto wire #5. Add 1 crimp bead to each of the wires.

For 3-strand bracelet: go to Step. 9

Step 6.

For 5-strand bracelet: String wire #1 through the 1st hole of the connector, loop back the wire through the crimp bead. Repeat with wire #2 into the same hole.

Repeat with wire #3 into the middle hole of the connector

Repeat with wire #4 & wire #5 into the last hole of the connector

Pull all the wires tight.

Step 7.

For 5-strand bracelet: use one jump ring to connect the 3-hole connector to one side of the clasp.

Step 8.

Remove the tape or bead stoppers on the other side of the bracelet and repeat Step. 5 - 7 to finish the bracelet.

While connecting the connector to the 2nd side of the clasp, take time to make sure the 2 sides of the clasp work together without twisting the bracelet.

Step 9:

For 3-strand bracelet: you may need to create additional crystal triangle sections outside the spacer bars on both end of the bracelet to make the length (7" & up).

After the additional crystal triangle section, string seed beads to "fill" up the "missing angle"

The "fill" formula we use for 3-strand bracelet is: string 3 silver beads onto wire #1, 2 silver beads onto wire #2, and 1 silver bead onto wire #3. Add 1 crimp bead to each of the wires.

Finished bracelet and notes:

1. Finished width is 18mm (3/4") for 5-strand bracelet and 11mm (7/16") for 3-strand bracelet. Look for clasps with the same width to use for this project.

2. Because the space between each strand is very tight, it is recommended to use 2 x 1 crimp beads. Use chain nose pliers to flatten the crimp beads instead of using the crimping pliers. The narrow space makes it very difficult to operate the crimping pliers.

3. Be sure to allow enough space for what ever size of clasp you use while creating the triangles.

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