How to Create a Tri-Color Spiral Bracelet

This simple bracelet is colorful and elegant on its own, but several strands can also be combined to create a larger piece of jewelry. Beads can be added for a more formal bracelet, and charms can be used to turn it into a lovely decorative gift for young women.

You will need several skeins of embroidery thread or silk cord, at least one of each color, clear drying craft glue, clear tape, and one large bead to create a closure for the bracelet. In addition, you will need a way to affix one side of the bracelet temporarily while you are working on the piece. You can use a clipboard for this, or a large safety pin and a large heavy pillow.

Measure your wrist. You will need one strand of each color that is at least 7 times longer than this measurement. You will fold these strands so that one side is about 1½ times longer than the wrist measurement and the other side is about 5½ times longer. Slide the folds over the safety pin or under the clip. Tie this off with a length of any color thread, creating a loop that is just large enough to accept the closure bead.

Pull the longer strand of the first color to be used off to the left of the others. Holding it in place with your left hand, grasp the end of it with your right and pull it across the top of the grouped thread, to make a "4" shape. Pass the end back to the right under the threads and pull it up through the triangle of the 4 and let go with the left hand. Pull the thread tight, so that it creates a knot up against the loop that binds the strands. Repeat this until 1/3 of the wrist measurement has been tied with spiraling knots of this color. Repeat this process with each remaining color, until the full wrist measurement is covered in spiraled knots.

Trim the ends about 1 inch from the last knot. Place a small piece of tape over one end of the bead. Fill the inner chamber of the bead about 2/3 full with craft glue and slide the ends of the threads inside. Allow to dry.