 Step
14: Now we are ready to add the clasp. To connect your clasp
you can use a commercial clasp with a jump ring like the lobster claw
clasp shown above or you can use a magnetic clasp like the one shown at
right. When using a lobster claw clasp, just open the jump ring with
the clasp using your bent chain nose pliers and connect the clasp to that
side of the bracelet then close the jump ring with your pliers. In
the magnetic clasp shown at right, it required us to make two jump rings
out of 20 gauge wire to connect one of
 the
magnets to each end of the bracelet.
Instructions for making jump
rings can be found here. On either end, open the jump ring,
connect it to one of the magnets and to one end of the bracelet, then add
a 3" segment of commercial chain as a guard chain. (When using a
magnetic clasp, a guard chain is strongly recommended as the magnets
sometimes try to find a new home.) Connect a magnet and segment of
guard chain to both ends of the bracelet using the jump ring and then
close the jump ring. This completes your 3 Strand Beaded Bracelet.
 If you happen to have one of our round WigJigs, or have our WigJig Centaur, here is an alternative peg pattern. If you happen to have the Centaur, I would choose to use the 2-1 pattern shown at right along with the pattern for the 3 hole spacer bar that we showed previously on a square peg pattern jig. Alternative Designs: This basic design can be modified to use 8mm beads, but the spacer bars pattern and thus the 2-1 component pattern would need to be modified for wider spacing to allow the larger beads. The pattern could also be modified to make a four strand or five strand bracelet. Finally, this pattern would make an excellent choker style necklace and you would only need to add longer bead string wire, more spacer bars and more beads. Starting on the following page we will provide instructions for making a choker style 3 strand necklace. |