Yes, I got many requests asking how to make this bracelet. It seems that the pattern is only available in my country. I don't know who is the original designer of this bracelet. But I got the pattern from Thai Crystal Magazine (December 2008) so all the credit will go to them.

Tutorial : Crystal Bracelet Donut Thai Style Part 1
Level : Advance





And yes, this is quite an advance project. You need many steps to complete it. Also, my photos may be not very clear. This project was very hard for me to take the good and clear photos at the right angle. If you don't understand my tutorial, feel free to ask me or follow the patterns.

Equipment :
- Swarovski Crystal 4 mm.
- Seed bead 11/o
- Watch Clasp
- Nylon thread no. 20 and 25
- Crimp beads

You need a lot of crystals and seed beads here. My bracelet length is 7 inches. I used 294 crystals.

I use Watch Clasp, the same clasp for this tutorial. If you can't find it locally, just use any clasp with two or three holes.

I use two sizes of nylon threads. But it's optional. I use No. 20 small thread to bead the seed bead base. Just to reduce the tension inside the beads and allow me to pass many threads into the same bead.

The first few step is somewhat similar to Netting stitch. You have to make the base first and add crystal later.

1.



First, we will make the base. Cut two No.20 nylon threads about your one arm span. String 11 seed beads.

2.



Cross the threads at a new seed bead (red arrow). Add three new seed beads to each thread.

3.



Join the threads of each side at the new seed beads (red arrows).

4.



Pick up the middle pair threads to add three new seed beads to each thread. Cross both threads at a new seed bead (red arrow).

5.



Pick up two left threads. Add new seven seed beads to the outer thread. And add three seed beads to the other. Cross both threads at a new seed bead (red arrow).

Do the same for the right side. And repeat step 4 and 5.

Note : For the length of the base, if it is for 6 inches wrist, make it 16 pairs of seed beads base. For 7 inches, 17 pairs will fit tightly. However, my clasp is 3 cm. If your clasp is smaller than 3 cm., you can make 17 pairs of base.

6.



When you're done, string back into the beads and knot the threads. Don't forget that the last pair should count 11 seed beads, the same number as we start.

Note : Don't worry if the base seems longer than your wrist. The finished project will be tight and shorter than the base you have now.

7.



Cut two No.25 nylon threads about your wingspan (your open arms). Put the two threads into the clasp. Add two seed beads and one crystal to each side.

8.



Pick up two threads - one for each side. Put the thread from the left crystal into the right crystal (red arrow) and from right to left crystal.

9.



I will do the left side first. Pick up a thread from the left crystal and put it into three seed beads of the base. Add one crystal to the right thread of the left crystal and put the thread into the same three seed beads.

10.



Now we do the same to the right crystal. Put the right thread from the right crystal into the three seed beads of the base. Put the left thread into the new crystal we added from the previous step (red arrow) and put the thread into the three seed beads.

11.



At the left pair, add one new crystal to left thread and cross both threads at the new crystal (red arrow).

12.



Add new crystal to the left thread (red arrow). Cross both threads at the three seed beads of the base.

13.



Repeat step 11 and 12 to the right side. Pull the threads tight to pin the crystals on the base.

14.



We first do the left side again. At the pair of the left threads, add one crystal to the right thread. Cross both threads at a new crystal (red arrow).

15.



Add one new crystal to the right thread (red arrow). Cross both threads at the three seed beads of the base.

16.



We do the right side. At the pair of the right threads, put the left thread to the crystal (red arrow). Cross both threads at a new crystal (blue arrow).

17.



Put the left thread to the crystal (red arrow). Cross both threads at the three seed beads of the base.

18.



Repeat step 11 - 17 to pin the crystals to the base. Don't worry if the bracelet is a little longer than your wrist. The very last step will tighten it up.

We will do the same as we start the bracelet. You have two last crystals. At the left crystal, put the right thread to the right crystal. Put the left thread of the right crystal to the left crystal (red arrow).

19.



Add two seed beads to each side. Then add the clasp and crimp bead. Make sure you pull the threads tight enough, then crush the crimp bead. Remove the rest of the threads.

Note : For me, I don't like to use the crimp bead because I often couldn't pull the threads tight. What I did was just string the threads back to the crystals and knot them tight.

20.



You have done the first part of the bracelet. If you love it, you can stop here.

The patterns of the whole bracelet are here. Sorry, there are all in Thai.
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4

Please continue with the second part of the tutorial HERE