How to Make a Focal Bead Memory Wire Bracelet

You probably already know that I love memory wire. Ever wanted to know how I design my memory wire bracelets?

Memory wire bracelets are one of my favourite things to make and to wear.  This time, I thought I’d share a little about how I design a memory wire bracelet with a focal bead.

Basically, you need to make sure your focal beads will stay in place and not move around, so you need to anchor them with other beads.

Let’s take a look at how to do that. 

Materials

Here’s what you’ll need to make this focal bead bracelet:

• ‍20x15x8mm Flat Oval Faceted Glass Bead x1 ‍
• 5.5cm Memory Wire x3.5 loops‍
• 10mm Purple Chinese Crystal Faceted Glass Beads x8‍
• 6mm Hematite Bicone x38‍
• 6mm Purple AB Acrylic Bicone x42 

Tools

• Round nose pliers
• Memory wire cutters
• Ruler
• 3 pieces of staging wire - 20 Gauge wire - 35cm long*

 *You could use anywire for this.  I chose 20 gauge because it’s firm enough to hold its shape and thin enough for most beads to thread onto it.

Instructions

Watch the video or read the instructions below.

Step 1

First, measure exactly how far around each loop is.  To do this, you will need to stretch out the memory wire and lay it across your ruler as follows.

Put your finger on the memory wire where end is and stretch it out along the ruler.

Put your end on 0mm and measure where your finger is marking the end of the first round. It should measure approximately 19cm. Remember this measurement, you’ll need it later.

Step 2

Put your focal bead in the centre of one of the pieces of the staging wire. Next add two of the 10mm beads on either side.

Step 3

On the two other pieces of staging wire thread two of the acrylic bicones, flanked on each side by one of the 10mm beads.

Step 4

On the outside wires, alternate the acrylic and hematite bicones on each side, starting with a hematite, until the string measures 19cm.

Step 5

Repeat the same process for the centre wire, starting with an acrylic bicone on either side of the focal beads. String alternatively until it measures 19cm.

The centre wire should end with an acrylic bicone and the outside wires should end with a hematite bicone.

Step 6

Using your round nose pliers, make a small loop one end of the memory wire. If you don’t know how to do this, I suggest you watch the video.

Step 7

Next, starting at the right hand side, string the beads from the bottom wire onto the memory wire. Ensure you keep the order the same. The best way to do this is to put your memory wire up close to the end of the staging wire and push the beads off the end and onto the memory wire.

Step 8

Starting at the left hand side, string the beads from the centre wire in the same manner.  Then, starting again at the right hand side, string the beads from the top wire onto the memory wire.

Step 9

When you have all the beads on, check to ensure there are no gaps and that the beads are against the loop at the beginning. Make a loop in the end of the wire.

You’re done!

Wasn’t that easy!

Now you know how to design a memory wire bracelet with a focal bead.

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