DIY Bracelet Kit – Rainbow Lava, Ivory Pearl & Yellow Heishi

DIY Bracelet Kit – Rainbow Lava, Ivory Pearl & Yellow Heishi

A ready-to-make bracelet kit with a cheerful summer look. Matte multi-coloured lava stone beads are set off by glossy ivory pearls and soft light yellow clay heishi discs. No clasp is needed — the bracelets slide on and off. Make them for yourself, for friends, or as gifts.

What’s included

• 2 × 6mm multi-coloured lava strands — 60 dyed natural lava stone beads per strand (120 beads in total), assorted colours, 37cm strands, hole about 1mm. Porous, so they work as an essential oil diffuser.
• 50 × 8mm ivory pearl beads — pearlised glass imitation pearls, round, hole about 1mm.
• About 380 × 8mm light yellow heishi discs — handmade polymer clay flat round disc beads, 8mm wide and 0.5–1mm thick, hole about 2mm, on one long strand.
• 1 × 10m clear stretch string — 0.8mm clear elastic crystal string. Cut about 25cm per bracelet, including extra for knotting.

How many bracelets?

An average adult wrist is about 18cm (7 inches). This kit makes 7 adult bracelets:

• 5 bracelets with 12 rainbow lava, 10 ivory pearls and about 36 heishi discs each (six little stacks of about 6), and
• 2 bracelets with about 30 rainbow lava beads each (add a few heishi discs if you like).

That uses all the lava beads and pearls and about 180 heishi discs, so you have around 200 heishi discs spare. Heishi discs vary from 0.5mm to 1mm thick, so add or remove a few discs to get the exact length. Bigger wrists need a few more beads per bracelet. Seven bracelets use under 2m of the 10m string.

How to make a stretch bracelet

1. Measure your wrist, or use 18cm (7 inches) for an average adult size. Cut about 25cm of stretch string (wrist size plus 6–7cm for knotting).
2. Gently stretch the string a few times before threading so the finished bracelet doesn’t loosen later. A little tape on one end stops beads sliding off.
3. Slide a few heishi discs off their strand at a time. Thread your beads: for example 2 rainbow lava, 1 pearl, a stack of heishi discs, 2 rainbow lava, 1 pearl, and repeat around the bracelet.
4. Check the fit around your wrist and add or remove heishi discs to fine-tune the length.
5. Tie a surgeon’s knot or a tight double knot, pull it snug, and trim the tails. A small drop of clear jewellery glue on the knot is optional.
6. Slide the knot into the 2mm hole of a heishi disc so it sits out of sight.

Aromatherapy diffuser tip

Lava stone is naturally porous. Put one drop of your favourite essential oil on two or three lava beads, let it soak in for a minute, then wear the bracelet. The scent is released slowly over a day or two. Keep oil off the pearls and clay discs, as oil can dull or mark them.

Specifications

• Lava beads: 6mm round, 60 beads per strand × 2 strands, 37cm strands, hole about 1mm, dyed natural lava stone in assorted colours
• Pearl beads: 8mm round, 50 beads, hole about 1mm, ivory pearlised glass
• Heishi discs: 8mm × 0.5–1mm flat round, about 380 discs, hole about 2mm, light yellow polymer clay
• String: 10 metres of 0.8mm clear stretch string
• Suitable for 18cm / 7 inch adult wrists (adjust the bead count for a smaller or larger size)