How to String a Figure Eight Bead Bracelet

The pattern for threading this bracelet is rather simple. The size of beads chosen and the kinds of beads chosen will change the overall look of the bracelet.

The beads used in this project were actually purchased with another design in mind. Since they were ordered online, what arrived was a bit different than anticipated. More often than not, beading projects have beads purchased for a specific project. Not the other way around. The Figure Eight design was created from the amount and size of beads available.

I doubt this is a unique design and I imagine the pattern exists somewhere. I haven't been able to find it. I am not new to beading but stringing beads is not something I do on a regular basis.

Materials used for the bracelet are beading thread, a beading needle, three different sized beads and a magnetic clasp.

The three beads used in this design vary in color and kind as well. The small beads are metallic gold and are 2mm in size. The medium sized beads are color lined crystal beads sized 6/0. The largest beads are 4.5 to 5 mm in size and are potato pearls. This means they are not exactly the same shape or size from bead to bead but they are very similar. The colors work together rather well. The smallest are gold, medium are sand colored and the largest beads are a pastel mix.

The pattern is a basic figure eight shape or rather an infinity symbol since the "eight" lays on its side for this design. The design uses three different sizes of beads. The smallest of them all is the center of the Figure Eight. The largest beads are threaded between the Figure Eight stitching. And the left and the right side of the Figure Eight have a single medium sized bead.

To begin stringing, thread the needle and do not tie a knot at the end. I like to work with the end unfinished. To do so, I use a wooden clothespin to hold onto the open end of the thread. This way the beads don't fall off, it is secure and I can go back and rework or add to the end of the design if needed. Thread through one large bead. Next, thread through the small gold bead, this is the center of the figure eight and you will travel through it two more times. Thread on a medium bead next. Take the needle and thread back through the small bead in the same direction as your first time through the bead. This creates one side of the figure eight. Slip the beads so they lay as close to each other as possible. Thread through another medium sized bead. This is the other side of the Figure Eight. Finish off the Figure Eight by threading back through the small bead in the center of the Figure Eight. Do so again in the same direction of the other stitches. Tighten down all beads as close to each other as possible. That is the entire pattern; you continue it over and over again until you reach the desired length of the bracelet. To finish off, I added a magnetic clasp by stitching through the connector loop a few times; tying a knot and then traveling the thread back through a few beads before cutting it off.

I like the use of the magnetic clasp because it isn't hard to close. As a tip, I would suggest not using the bracelet as leverage to separate the magnet. They can be pretty strong and I have found that inserting your fingernail in-between the clasp gives enough leverage to separate the clasp without putting stress on the stringing of the beads.