New to beading...

So I'm new at this, and I'll apologize in advance if my questions seem simplistic.  I'm in the wedding biz - my mom and I own a party facility and we do a full-service wedding package, part of which is the use of various centerpieces for the banquet tables.  So we have this one centerpiece that is a nice, square wine carafe, and right now, I've glued little white pearl beads to the "neck" of the carafe as an accent.  You know - those cheap little pearls-on-a-string that come on a roll from Hobby Lobby.  What  I want to do is use a beaded bracelet that I've had for a long time as a "starter pattern" for a neck adornment for the carafes.  It's a stretchy bracelet (which would be perfect to go over the opening), but I don't know what some of the beads are called to try to track them down.  So let me start by showing a photo of the bracelet I want to copy...

So my first question is about the slightly bigger bead that connects to the "finish" bead.  That bead has three holes.  Is there a name for that bead so I can locate one like it?  Then the bead that is the "finish" bead (the one that looks like three beads melded together...) - what is that bead called?  I've looked and looked for something along those lines without success so far...

This will be a major project (I'll need to make at least 35 of them!) so any help you can give would be greatly appreciated!

Denise in Omaha

Hi Denise,

welcome to the forums and nice to meet you!

I own two of these prayer bracelets (that's how I called them, but that's just me), but I don't have a clue how the two beads are called. I have something similar like the finish bead, which I bought a s bead cap. It looks the same, but is made from metal, like most bead caps. Sorry, that I couldn't offer more help.

Denise, I knew what those are called but right now I can't remember....and I've seen them very rarely for sale here and there.  But honestly if I were going to make 35 of these types of stretchy bracelets and maybe more I wouldn't use either of those beads in them.  What I would do is crimp or tie the elastic between beads instead. 

Here are some links to instructions for elastic bracelets and ideas about tying or crimping the elastic: 

http://www.beadingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2009/01/02/using-elastic-in-jewelry-designs.aspx

http://www.beadingdaily.com/forums/p/1350/6680.aspx#6680

I hope it helps, be sure to ask again if you're not sure what anything in there means!

Pam

I have to agree with Pam on this one-using stretch cord only and knotting between the beads would give it a much neater appearance for your application, and it will make your choices of beads greater as well. Good luck-let us know how it goes and show some pics of what you make!

That bead is called the Terminator bead or a T bead if I remember correctly. I agree that I would just string on elastic cord and crimp. If you want the drop you can always bring the cords together and string through one bead. With the clear cord it would not be very visible. You could also string a larger tear drop then work your way around to the other side and crimp it there. Just a couple of thoughts!

 Or You could make a dangle with a bead on a head pin, string that into the body of the "bracelet" and have the dangle look that way.

Lois

 If you're stuck on wanting that look, I found both "power bracelets" and power beads at www.firemountaingems.com.  I searched for t bead and found them, tried searching for t-drilled bead which they have in the description and it didn't come up LOL.  I'm sure you can find them other places.  But, I agree with others here that you don't need that kind of bead if you're doing simple stretchy bracelets.   

 I am attempting some stretch bracelet sets right now...I worry about the knot...in your ladies opinions...do you prefer to use nail polish or glue??? And...when you knot it...how tight do you pull? I want all of the bracelets in each set to match in size as well...and I am either pulling too tight on some...or not tight enough...HELP!

Christine

http://BeadedIndulgences.etsy.com

 one thing that helps with the knots is to use a surgons knot, which starts out like a basic square knot, then the second cros-over, you loop the "thread" through 2 times instead of just one. I find that nailpolish and glues will eventually (like a year down the road) cause a weak point that will be where the elastic thread breaks later on. I also find that pulling both the ends AND the body of the bracelet at the same time will allow you to tighten the knot without causing the body of the bracelet to stretch tight.

Lois

I agree with Lois about the glue...and her way of knotting is about how I do it too.  One thing I have done instead of glue though is to melt the tiny ends of the elastic with a lighter...very carefully, just bring the flame up to the edge of the elastic, I like to pull it out a little bit and hold it in pliers so I don't burn my fingers.  Practice on scraps... I don't know if a thread burner would work on elastic or not but that might be an alternative to the lighter.  If you "miss" with the lighter what happens (provided you don't burn yourself or the beads) is that the elastic breaks.  Not fun. 

Pam

Thank you for the advice...I was trying both the glue and the nail polish...didn't thing that burning the ends would work...but I am going to do that now instead. I was just always told and have always read to do glue or nail polish...now I am kinda ticked...<sigh>  thinking I need to go and re-do a few things now... DANGIT!

More time lost....*#4%6*&@

Christine

http://BeadedIndulgences.etsy.com

http://BeadedIndulgences.blogspot.com

 Wow didn't know about burning the ends of elastic! Thanks!

Rose

http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWJUNEP090601ENDPIECE

Hi Denise,

here's the link to FMG if you're still searching for these beads.