How to make a name bracelet with alphabet beads

A name bracelet is the quickest way to put your own stamp on an outfit — and the perfect first project with alphabet beads. You pick the word, you pick the colors, you press it onto a cord. Twenty minutes later it is on your wrist. Here is how we do it, start to finish.

Jewelry Making

Just My Style ABC Beads Jewelry Kit

4.6 21,227 ratings

$10.97

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Just My Style My Very Own Jewelry Studio

4.4 1,074 ratings

$9.49$11.87

Jewelry Making

Just My Style Message Beads Jewelry Kit

4.6 1,036 ratings

$16.60

What you need

• Alphabet beads — round, cube or holographic letters all work.
• Accent beads for the spaces: pony beads, faceted rounds, E beads, stars or hearts.
• Stretchy elastic cord (it is in each of the kits above).
• Scissors, plus a piece of tape or a binder clip to stop beads sliding off.
• A tray, a plate or a folded towel to keep beads from rolling away.

Step by step

1. Choose your wordYour name is the classic, but initials, a nickname, a best friend's name or a short word like SHINE all look great. On a kid-size wrist, five to eight letters usually fit with room for accent beads. Longer names can still work — use smaller accent beads, or none.
2. Measure your wristWrap the elastic loosely around your wrist where you want the bracelet to sit, then add about 3 inches for tying. Cut there. It is always easier to trim extra cord than to wish you had more.
3. Pre-stretch the elasticHold each end and gently pull the cord a few times. This takes out the extra stretch now, so the bracelet doesn't go baggy after a week of wear.
4. Lay out the design firstBefore you string anything, arrange your letters in a row on your tray, then add accent beads on both sides. This is your sticker-sheet moment: move things around until it looks like you. Check every letter is facing the same way and the right side up.
5. Secure one endFold tape over one end of the cord, or clip it with a binder clip, so beads can't escape out the back.
6. String from left to rightThread the beads onto the free end in the same order you laid them out, reading left to right. When the bracelet is on and you look down at it, the word will read correctly.
7. Check the fitRemove the tape, hold the two ends together and wrap it around your wrist. Too tight? Add a bead or two to each end. Too loose? Take some off.
8. Tie it offTie a square knot: right over left, then left over right, pulling each one snug. Tie one more for safety. Trim the tails, leaving a little cord, then slide the knot inside a nearby bead to hide it if the hole is big enough.

Pattern ideas that look finished

Your accent beads decide whether the bracelet feels sporty, sweet or loud. A few of our favorite layouts:

Take it further

Once your first bracelet is done, the fun really starts. Make a stack: one with your name, one with a word, one with no letters at all. Make a matching pair for a best friend with each other's names. The Message Beads Jewelry Kit adds phrase beads like OMG, LOL and BFF for when a whole word on one bead is the point. If you want to move beyond elastic, ABC Beads includes wax and satin cords, illustrated steps for beaded macramé, and a carabiner to turn letters into a keychain.

Making bracelets for a whole sleepover? The My Very Own Jewelry Studio case has a sorting tray and a handle, so everyone can pick their letters from one place and everything packs back up at the end. Leftover letters? Keep them sorted by letter in a case — vowels, especially E and A, always run out first, so save them for the names that matter most.

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