Bang on trend and steeped in history, Shamballa bracelets are hot, hot, hot! The Bead Doctor shows you how to make one of these gorgeous accessories.
Greetings from the Bead Doctor
Loving the new rhinestone beads!
Well the decorations are down, the last of the chocolates are gone and the New Year’s resolutions are broken. I’ve really been trying to be good by dragging myself to Boot camp at the crack of dawn but, in the grim dark mornings, it’s just so tempting to sit with a steamy cup of coffee and a good mag. Anyway, it’s good for research, at least that’s my excuse! As I’ve been trawling through the glossies, there’s one trend that keeps appearing and that’s Shamballa bracelets. We recently started stocking a range of pave rhinestone beads at Beads Unlimited. They are deliciously sparkly and perfect for the job, so I thought I’d give it a go. If you fancy making a Shamballa bracelet here’s my tutorial, complete with links to all the materials incase you’re missing any ingredients.
Giving it away – Congratulations!
We asked you what tutorials you’d like to see on Bead Barmy. The response was great and we have a lot to think about and work on. It was difficult to decide on a comment this time as all your points were so valid and inspiring! So this month, we will be sending all the materials needed for this project to Gill Colling, simply for being first off the mark to reply! Please keep a look out for more tutorials coming very soon.
Here we go!
Ok everyone, cord at the ready, and let’s go.
Materials
240cm x 1mm waxed cord (I have used 180cm of red WXC11 and 60cm of black WXC01)
7 x 10mm rhinestone beads black (MTKA1001)
2 x 8mm rhinestone beads black (MTKA0801)
Step 1
Step 1
Cut two 60cm lengths of cord and one 120cm. pin one end of one 60cm length to a bead mat by tying a small knot in the end of the cord (or you can pin the bracelet to the knee of your trousers).
Step 2
Step 2
Tie on your long length (this is the knotting cord) 20cm along the pinned cord. Make sure each side of the long length is equal. The centre cord is called the lazy cord.
Step 3
Step 3
Place the left-hand cord over the lazy cord and underneath the right hand cord. Take the right hand cord behind the lazy cord and through the left hand loop. Pull tight.
Step 4
Step 4
Now place the right-hand cord over the lazy cord and underneath the left-hand cord. Take the left hand cord behind the lazy cord and through the right hand loop. Pull tight. Repeat this knot, making sure you alternate between left and right, to make the desired length of knots. Add a bead and continue the knotting.
Step 5
Step 5
Add as many beads as you require with Macramé knots in between. To finish, add a dab of glue on each side where you have left over knotting cord. Trim the excess when the glue is dry. Leave the lazy cord.
Step 6
Step 6
To make the closure for the bracelet. Take your remaining 60cm length of cord. Overlap your ends of the lazy cord. Tie on the remaining cord in the same way as before and make around fourteen knots. Glue and trim the excess of this knotting cord. Be careful as the lazy cords need to slide to adjust the bracelet.
Step 7
Step 7
Thread a bead onto each end of the lazy cord. Knot to keep the bead in place, add a dab of glue and trim the excess when the glue is dry (PVA or any similar craft glue will do the job).
More ideas
Learn one simple technique to make many styles
Once you’ve learnt this basic technique why not try using different cord and bead colours for a whole range of styles.
Posted by: Gemma
Some bead weaving (maybe the basic stitches: square stitch, right angle weave, spiral, flat spiral etc). Maybe who each stitch + a simple project?
I should add all the above stitches I can do but it would be great to send people to BB when they ask how to!!!
Different techniques for a bead loom (as I got one recently and have been practising).
Easy guide to wire working as I’ve seen some amazing patterns on the internet that I’d love to try and reproduce.
Ooh and maybe some themed jewellery for things like St George’s, St David’s, St Andrew’s and St Patrick’s Day’s?
Oh and Hallowe’en ideas.
Thank you for this project.
Any crochet beaded jewellery project would be nice to see.
Actually agree with all the above! Would also like to see ideas for chain maille (think I have the name right!), as have seen some lovely examples of this recently and thinking of making it my next project.
Oh and Valentines ideas but to give to men would be great!
Jewellery Ideas for men, have I find most jewellery pieces are aim at women, and would love to make something for my boyfriend.
Also crochet jewellery, paper jewellery, odd bits and pieces to make charms out of.
Thanks for all your comments so far, we’ll be looking into them and seeing what we can do!
In the meantime, Rachael, have you seen this post from last year from the Bead Doctor on a chain maille technique? http://www.beadbarmy.com/2011/03/bead-doctor-box-chain-explained-special-offer/
Would be good to have a tutorial on making your own wire components (fastners,earwires etc) and on using a wire jig.
Would love to see tutorials on chainmaille. (loving the shamballa bracelets)
What a treat to find this in my in box! Are you guys telepathic? It was just what I was looking for. Thank you
Jane
That’s us Jane! We just new it!
would like to see basic stiches on different materials. Plus perhaps belts and animals.
I’d love to see how to make some mixed media jewellery using Patera findings
Very happy, been looking for instructions on how do these knots, but didn’t know what they were called. Thanks.
I can’t wait to try and make one of these – everybody seems to be wearing them at the moment!!
Great Shamballa bracelet pattern, I was wondering where to get one from. Am looking forward to trying it. Would like to see a bead weaving pattern to incorporate them
Ideas for Valentine projects -and wire wrapping, please!!
I’d love to see tutorials for wire wrapping, chainmaille and ideas for charm bracelets out of the ordinary!!
Hi Despina and Ioanna, Have you seen our wire wrapped ring tutorial at Beads Unlimited? It may be something you’d find of use. http://www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/projects/wire-wrapped-ring/172
It’d be great to see how to make some beaded charms and pendants using small beads and seed beads e.g. little flowers and animal trinkets (instead of using polymer clay).
They could then be used in future projects for brooches, charm bracelets, bag charms, etc.
I’d like to see crochet work with beading!
Since I haven’t been able to find this item already made in stores, I’d like to see how to make those eyeglasses strings…you know the kind ‘grannies” wear, the long ones, from which your eyeglasses hang.
We had a project for spec chains a long time ago. I’ll have a dig about for the project sheet and see if I can find one for you Ingemar.
Great tutorial. A tutorial on how to make beaded beads/ larger beads out of seed beads or crystals would be great. It would be nice to be able to make my own beads to weave into the Shamballa bracelet.
Thanks.
Really good instructions. Would like information on making bling rings.
Many thanks
Val Read
Hi I’m new to this craft and i’m attempting the shamballa bracelet, but not sure what type of glue to use? Other than that the tutorial was so easy to follow
many thanks
Kirsty
Hello Kirsty, Thanks for pointing this out to me. As you may have seen, I have now updates the post. I suggest you use a dab of PVA glue or a good craft glue available from any Art and Craft shop.
I’ve been looking for a tutorial on Shamballa bracelets for a while, so thank you for this. I’m just off to try it now
I would love to see some chainmaille and more choker designs
For all of you looking for chain maille tutorials, have you seen this post from a while back? http://www.beadbarmy.com/2011/03/bead-doctor-box-chain-explained-special-offer/
I would love to see a tutorial on bag charms, maybe with the new gorgeous steampunk style bits and bobs you have in stock? Or any tutorial involving the steampunk style
Here’s a simple steampunk necklace. http://www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/projects/steampunk-style/139
We have done bag charm projects in the past on Beads Unlimited. I’ll have a root round and see what I can find.
Oh and here’s a couple more chain maille projects for you all http://www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/projects/chain-maille-triangle-set/116
http://www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/projects/medieval-jewellery-set/80
Many thanks for the chain maille projects, very helpful.
Can’t wait to have a go at this! Would love to see some wire crochet tutorials.
Beginners wire working
I’d like to see some bead weaving techniques, if possible? With those little blighters that always seem to run away and land all over the floor….(seed beads, toho etc) Have recently saw some beautiful pieces of artwork using them, that amaze me
Thanks for this tutorial it was really easy to follow
Thanks Orla, Glad you found it useful.
Hi Joyce, please keep an eye on this site. We have a wire working project coming in the next couple of weeks.
We also have a video on YouTube that shows you all the different wires and what they are best for. Here’s the link, if you’d like to take a look. http://youtu.be/oqvUU6KVkao
We’ll have to sort out some bead weaving projects. We used to do a lot and then it went off trend but it seems to be making a comeback.
We love this shambala tutorial, anything to do with friendship (Knotted) bracelets would be great x
It would be nice to be shown something out of the ordinary which can be made with either silver plated wire or other colours of wire. Something which could be a pendant or a hair slide. In a simple design as I find most are too fussy.
Hi I’ve seen the Shamballa bracelets around and am looking forward to trying one myself. Ideas for bride and bridesmaid hair clips/combs would be useful as I’ve been volunteered to do them!!!
maybe a finger rings would be wonderful to see but i love Shamballa bracelet and can not wait to see it
Loved the tutorial and as well as making the bracelet with any beads I particularly like it will enable me to repair a Chinese jade bracelet I had, which has fallen apart and I was very fond of
What a great giveaway! and this is actually the tutorial that I have been looking for to try!…but I would also like to try to wire crochet! Thank you!
I love to see a tut’ on bead weaving with the seed beads, some of the things ive seen are beautiful,
Loving the fact that you always follow up on our comments and give us really useful links. Have mastered Shamballa style bracelets now, with your help, but now have the chain maille and wire wrapping tutorials to think about too!
Can’t wait to try this
Id like to see more ideas for ring making.
Great tutorial – I love making these.
I’d love more ideas for using my Kumihimo discs, especially better ways of finishing off the ends.
Would like to see how to make fimo beads from clay!
would like to see beads make from clay fimo!
would like to see bead-cap making tutorials so we can make longer earrings
I would be interested to see tutorials on weaving using leather cord, for chunkier bracelets (unisex)
I think atutorial on chain-maille (?) incorporating beads would be helpful…..
would love to know how to do the feathers you see in so many people’s hair nowadays.
Hi, I would like some inspiration for Olympic themed bracelets. Maybe, incorporating wire work? Many Thanks x
I’d luv 2 c some resin tutorials & making fimo beads…..some right angel weave & some chain mail designs.
Hi I would like to see some simple bead loom tutorials as I bought a bead loom from you years ago and still haven’t used it! I am determined to make sometihng using it though.
Hi Bead Barmy!
I would LOVE to see maybe more polymer clay tutorials like mini foods and sweets or beads.
That would be amazing and different to.
Thank’s
, Julie
Making flat braids on square Kumihimo disc!
Ooooh would be lovely to see some more charm bracelet tutorials, or bag charm/keyring ones.
Maybe some more macrame or beading for mens jewellery.
Another is wirework would love to get more into that xx
i would like to see simple and eazy wire soldering…or wire twist art jewelry