How to make a stretch bracelet and knot your elastic

Welcome to the world of jewellery making! You are probably here because you've received one of our beautiful Luxe DIY Beading kits and are keen to get making. One of the best places to start is with a stretchy beaded bracelet and to help you on your way we have a few little handy hints and tips to share...

• Select the beads and charms you would like to use and lay them out on a soft cloth before starting to thread them. This means you can move things around and develop your design before you commit to making it.
• Lay out the elastic next to a ruler so you can measure how much you need and cut with scissors. As a guide, a stretch bracelet for an adult will need roughly 17-20cm of elastic, depending on the size of your wrist. I have small wrists so allow 17cm. Then add on a few extra centimeters to this length to allow for knotting and trimming. A stretch bracelet for a child will need roughly 14cm of elastic. Again, add on a few extra centimeters for knotting.
• Once you have cut the elastic, to prevent the beads from falling off while you are threading, wrap a small piece of sellotape around the end. This can be easily removed before knotting and securing the bracelet.
• Now for the fun part, start to thread your beads and charms! Stretchy elastic works well with all beads, but is particularly suited to beads with smaller holes.
• Once you have finished threading and are happy with your design it's time to finish up with a secure knot. Start by crossing the strands over and then fold one end of the elastic under the other to create a simple, loose overhand knot but don't pull tight just yet. Cross the strands again and repeat the same process to double up your overhand knot. Now pull the knots tightly together, holding both the ends and each side of the elastic so you can tighten really securely and so the knot doesn't slip open. When it is really secure, your knot shouldn't have any gaps between the stands. You can do as many overhand knots as you like, and if you are using heavy beads it may be worth doing a couple more for extra strength.
• For extra security, add a dab of clear nail varnish or glue if you have some to hand. Whilst the knots should not work loose, this extra step will ensure that after lots of wear they stay secure. Make sure you allow a few minutes for the nail varnish or glue to dry before moving on to the next step.
• Finally, use scissors, or if you have any jewellery side cutters, to trim off any excess elastic.
• Now it's time to try on your brand new bracelet, or wrap up your design and give it to someone special! We would love to see your creations so please share your designs and tag or mention us on Instagram @macaroon_jewellery or Facebook @macaroonjewellery