Pony bead bracelets are a good-looking and inexpensive way to make a fashion statement or compliment your outfit. Pony beads come in every color of the rainbow, some are sparkly, and some even glow in the dark. With the right tools and a little effort, it's easy to make yourself a one-of-a-kind bracelet.
Steps
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First you'll want to buy yourself some Pony beads. You can find these at just about any craft store, or in the craft section of stores like Walmart and Target. Pony beads are very inexpensive; expect to pay about 2 to 5 dollars for a bag of 500 to 1500 beads.
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Next you'll need some string. This usually isn't too far from the beads. The best kind of string to use is stretchy elastic cord, which comes in many different thicknesses. The best size for this project is around .7 mm. Any smaller is likely to break from stress and any bigger is a bit difficult to tie off effectively.
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So you have your materials. Now it's time to get to work! While it is entirely possible to just put random beads on a string and tie it off; your bracelets will look much better if you take a few minutes to plan out your design. Play around with different color combinations and patterns. Take as much time as you want to do this. Come up with a pattern that you really like before moving on.
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Once you've decided on a pattern, you need to lay out that pattern and repeat it for as long as you need to make it go all the way around your wrist. An average bracelet will have approximately 25 to 32 beads on it, depending on the size of your wrist. Small children will usually only need about 20 to 25.
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Time to make that bracelet! Take the loose end of the string and unwind about a foot or so of string from your spool. No, you won't be using all of it, but it's always good to have a little extra room to work with. Now start stringing your beads on. Leave about an inch and a half of string at the loose end.
- Now tie it together! Just make two good, tight square knots with your string. Try not to pull so tight that it breaks, but tight enough that it won't come undone. At this point the bracelet will still be attached to the rest of the string on the spool. Use some scissors to cut off the extra string near the knot. Now you've got a totally cool, unique bracelet.
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Finished.
Tips
- After tying your bracelet off, it really helps to paint some clear nail polish over knot to seal it. This will make your bracelet more durable. Nothing is more frustrating than finally trying on your new creation only to have it fall apart.
- While pony beads are a good kind of bead to start with, it's also fun to use other kinds of plastic beads. Try using hearts, stars, butterflies, and alphabet beads to add some variety to your jewelry. There are countless styles of beads you can use! Try checking out a local bead shop to find some truly unique ones.
- Don't limit yourself to just "singles". After you've gotten skilled at making these, try to move on to more advanced techniques, such as doubles, or even-count peyote stitch cuffs.
- It can be very helpful to have some plastic organizer boxes for your beads, especially if you own large quantities of them. These boxes are very cheap and usually aren't too far from the beading supplies in most stores.
- Try to make your "kandi" as colorful as possible. Be creative because that's what being a kandi kid is all about. Have fun with it!
Warnings
- Be careful when working with pony beads around small children. The bright colors can look like candy to them and they may try to eat the beads. Always keep an eye on your children and your beads.
- Many people also refer to these bracelets as "kandi". While you are more than welcome to call your bracelets "kandi" as well, just know that the term is strongly tied to rave culture, which is strongly tied to drug use. Some ravers (often called "kandi kids") will wear very large amounts of these bracelets, sometimes covering their arms entirely. Just know that using the term "kandi" and/or wearing many bracelets at once could give some people the impression that you are a drug user.
Things You'll Need
- 25 to 32 Pony beads
- .7 or .8 mm elastic cord
- Scissors
- Clear nail polish (optional, but recommended)
