How to make a beaded bracelet with a kit: a step-by-step guide

A bead bracelet kit comes with the beads and the elastic, but you still have to work out how many beads go round a wrist and how tight to pull the knot. Here's how to do it step by step, using the three kits we sell: the Christmas Bracelet Bead Kit, the Heart Bracelet Making Kit and the Citrus Fruit Bead Bracelet Making Kit. The steps work for adults and older children alike.

What's in each kit

• Christmas Bracelet Bead Kit: red, green and white beads, Christmas beads and charms (Santa, gift, tree, candy and more), clear elastic string and an instruction card with festive word ideas. There are enough beads for 3 to 4 or more bracelets. When you order, you can choose 6mm flat clay beads, 8mm flat clay beads or 6mm round beads.

• Heart Bracelet Making Kit: enough beads for 3 or more medium-sized bracelets, plenty of elastic string, 6 purple and pink heart beads and 3 glass heart beads.

• Citrus Fruit Bead Bracelet Making Kit: 6 silicone fruit beads, a mix of green-toned flat polymer clay beads and elastic string, with enough to make 2 full-sized bracelets.

The Christmas and Heart kits can include words you choose, added in the personalisation box when you order. The Heart kit takes up to 3 words of up to 6 letters each. Leave it blank and you'll get LOVED, CUTIE and XOXO in the Heart kit, or three festive words such as Joy or Merry in the Christmas kit.

Before you start

Lay a tea towel on the table so beads don't roll away. You'll need scissors, a tape measure (or string and a ruler) and a bulldog clip or a bit of masking tape to stop beads sliding off the elastic. Clear nail varnish or jewellery glue helps seal the knot, though you can manage without it.

Step 1: measure the wrist

Wrap a piece of string round the wrist where the bracelet will sit and mark where it meets. Measure the string against a ruler, then add about half an inch for comfort. That's how long the beaded part of your bracelet should be. For a sense of scale, most of the sized bracelets in our shop come in 6 to 8.5 inches, and a few also come in a toddler size of 5.5 to 6 inches. If you're making one for a child, measure their wrist rather than guessing from your own.

Step 2: cut and stretch the elastic

Cut a piece of elastic about 4 inches (10cm) longer than your bead length, which leaves room to tie the knot. Give it a few gentle pulls before you thread anything, because elastic that has been stretched first is less likely to sag later. Then clip or tape one end.

Step 3: lay out your design

Lay the beads out in a line next to the ruler before you thread them. It's easier to swap things round on the table than on the elastic.

• Flat clay beads are thin discs, so you need a lot of them to fill an inch. Round beads and silicone beads fill the length more quickly.

• Letter beads sit well in the middle. Check every letter faces the same way and reads correctly when the bracelet is on the wrist.

• Charms and feature beads, such as the glass hearts or the citrus fruit beads, can go either side of a word or be spaced evenly round the bracelet. Heavier charms tend to swing round to the underside of the wrist, so one or two is usually enough.

Step 4: thread the beads

Thread from the open end, keeping your layout in order, and check the length against the ruler as you go. Stop when it matches your measurement from step 1. Leave a bit of give between the beads so the elastic isn't under strain on the wrist.

Step 5: tie a knot that holds

If a stretch bracelet comes apart, it usually goes at the knot, so take your time here. A surgeon's knot is the usual choice:

1. Take off the clip and bring the two ends together so the beads close into a circle.

2. Cross the right end over the left and pass it through twice, then pull it tight.

3. Cross the left end over the right and pass it through twice again. Pull both ends firmly, one at a time.

4. If you have nail varnish or glue, put a small dab on the knot and let it dry.

5. Trim the ends, leaving a few millimetres. If a bead next to the knot has a larger hole, slide the knot inside it to hide it.

If you're making with a child, this is the step to help with.

Step 6: wearing and caring for it

Roll the bracelet over your hand to put it on and take it off, instead of stretching it wide. Take it off for showers, swimming and bed, and keep it away from perfume.

If you'd rather buy one finished

We also sell finished stretch bracelets. The Leopard Head Lava Bead Bracelet Set is two bracelets on elasticated cord, in sizes from 6 to 8.5 inches. The You Are Loved Bracelet is made on an adjustable nylon cord, so you don't need to measure at all. Still deciding? Read our post on choosing a finished bracelet or a DIY bead kit.

You'll find all three kits in bead bracelet making kits, and alongside our finished bracelets in the Christmas gift guide. UK delivery is free with Royal Mail, and you can choose express delivery at checkout.

Questions people ask

Are bracelet making kits suitable for adults?

Yes. The Christmas kit is described for kids and adults, and the Citrus kit for kids, teens and adults. For a grown-up look, keep the colour pattern simple and use one or two charms.

How many bracelets does one kit make?

The Christmas kit makes 3 to 4 or more, the Heart kit 3 or more medium-sized bracelets and the Citrus kit 2 full-sized bracelets. Larger wrists use more beads.

What knot should I use for a stretch bead bracelet?

A surgeon's knot: a normal knot with an extra pass through on each side, pulled tight and sealed with a dab of clear nail varnish or glue if you have some.

What age are the kits for?

The Christmas kit is for ages 5 and over with adult supervision recommended. Beads are small, so keep kits away from children who still put things in their mouths.