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Beaded Eye Bracelet

Description: The Beaded Eye Bracelet features the classic decorative knot called the Double Half Hitch.

The strap for this Micro-Macrame bracelet can be made with a number of knotting techniques. Visit the Learn Macrame section to find instructions for various knots to choose from.

Use a knot that can be tied to produce either a sennit, braid, or bar. Make sure it can be tied with 4 cords.

The eye design shown above needs to be finished so it's comfortable, since it's supposed to rest against the skin. So make sure you use fabric glue for this Macrame project.

In the example shown, I used cotton Crochet cord, since you need flexible material for this design. Glass E-beads are part of the pattern, but you can choose any style, as long as they are small.

The closure is a simple bead clasp, which can be changed to a Sliding Clasp.

Supplies Needed:

2 mm flexible cord material

18 small beads

Project Board and pins (small size that can be rotated easily)

One bead for clasp

Knots Used in Pattern:

Double Half Hitch

Reverse Larks Head

Interlaced Plaits (or other knot for strap)

Overhand knot

Square knot

Preparation

Cut four cords, each at least 36 inches long. Secure them vertically to your board at one end.

Increase this length if you choose to use a decorative knot other than a simple braid for the strap of the Beaded Eye Bracelet.

In the example shown, color A is blue, color B is purple and color C is wine.

First Half of Strap

Begin the strap by tying a Square knot at least 8 to 12 inches from the secured ends of the cords. The portion behind it (without knots) is for the clasp.

A simple 4-cord braid was tied for the Beaded Eye Bracelet shown. See Interlaced Plaits for braiding instructions.

Determine your wrist size with a tape measure. The bracelet fits against the skin, so measure as if you were wearing it.

Subtract 2.5 inches for the eye. Divide the result by two, and tie the first half of the strap to that size.

Tie a Square knot to complete the strap.

Secure the strap to your board. Separate the four cords as shown, and secure them so they have tension.

These long cords form the upper and lower edge of the eye. (Look at the image at the top of the page, where you can see the edges, which are blue).

From this point on I will call these long cords the upper or lower edge.

I'll be describing the cords attached to them as holding cords.

The working cords and beads will later be attached to the holding cords.

First Half of Eye Design

While working on the Beaded Eye Bracelet, you should try to tie all the Double Half Hitches horizontally or diagonally.

You do this by rotating the board rather than the bracelet. This is especially important when you attach a new holding cord to the long cords for the upper and lower edge.

Cut 17 cords of Color A, each at least 8 inches long (holding cords). Prepare the tips with glue and/or beeswax.

Before it dries, roll the end between your fingers to make the tip as small as possible (for beading).

Another option for threading beads is to use a wire threader:

Fold a piece of wire in half and slide both ends through the bead. Place the end of the cord through the wire near the fold. Pull the ends of the wire, along with the cord, through the bead.

Step 1: Rotate the board as shown, with the strap on your left. Secure the 1st holding cord to your board. Slide it under the two for the top edge.

Tie a Half Hitch by making a loop over - under - over, using the unsecured portion.

As you tighten it, move it as close to the strap as possible (left).

Important Tips:

Always start by moving the short holding cords under those for the top edge. When you attach the cords to the lower edge, do the same thing.

Slide the knots close to the others just before tightening.

When you tighten the first Half Hitch in each pair, pull it firmly. The second knot will be tighter if you do this. The knots for the Beaded Eye Bracelet need to be neat and this will help.

The arrangement of the beads can be changed. In this example, they were added every other row.

Tie another Half Hitch, placing it to the right of the first.

Two knots = 1 Double Half Hitch (DHH)

Add one bead to holding cord 1.

Move cord 1 under the long cords for the lower edge, and then attach it to them with a Double Half Hitch.

Remember, you can turn the board so the knots for the Beaded Eye Bracelet are horizontal (optional).

Step 2: You will now be adding the working cords, by attaching them to the 8-inch holding cords with a reverse Larks Head knot.

Cut 1 color B cord, 38 inches long (purple)

Cut 2 color C cords, 35 inches long (wine)

Attach the 2nd holding cord to the top edge, placing it to the right of the first one.

Fold the color B cord in half and place it on top of holding cord 2.

The folded area should be on the right, with the ends on the left.

To complete the reverse Larks Head knot, bring the ends of the color B cord under holding cord 2. Pass them over the folded area.

Before tightening the knot, move it between the cords for the top and lower edges, next to the bead.

Step 3: Move holding cord 2 under the long cords for the lower edge, then attach it to them with a Double Half Hitch.

Attach the 3rd holding cord, as you did the others, to the top edge of the Beaded Eye Bracelet.

Turn the board, so the working cord is vertical.

Attach the right half of the working cord to the 3rd holding cord with a DHH.

Add a bead to the holding cord, then attach the left half.

Important: The holding cord is on an angle in this image to show the details more clearly. It should be horizontal as you tighten the knots.

Designer's Tip: You do not need to secure each holding cord as you tie the knots for this area of the Beaded Eye Bracelet.

You can simply hold them with your left hand, while tying the DHH with your right. This way you can control the tension.

Step 3, continued: Turn the board to it's original position, and attach the 3rd holding cord to the lower edge with a DHH.

Step 4: Attach the 4th holding cord to the top edge with a DHH.

Turn the board and attach the right color B cord to the holding cord with a DHH.

Add one color C cord with a reverse Larks Head knot.

Attach the left color B cord with a DHH.

Step 4, continued: Slide the holding cord under the two for the lower edge.

Pull firmly on holding cord 4 so it's straight. In the image above, it's on an angle only to show the details.

Turn the board and attach cord 4 to the lower edge with DHH.

Step 5: Attach the 5th holding cord to the top edge of the Beaded Eye Bracelet.

Turn the board, attach the right color B cord, followed by a bead. Next are the 2 Color C, followed by a bead, then the left color B cord.

Turn the board and attach the holding cord to the lower edge.

Step 6: Attach the 6th holding cord to the top edge.

Attach the right color B cord and the right color C cord. Add a new color C cord as you did in step 2 (reverse Larks Head).

Attach the left color C cord, followed by color B. Attach the holding cord to the lower edge.

Step 7: Attach the 7th holding cord to the top edge of the Beaded Eye Bracelet.

Attach the right color B cord, followed by a bead. Next are the 4 Color C, followed by a bead, then the left color B cord.

Attach the holding cord to the lower edge.

Step 8: Attach the 8th holding cord to the top edge.

Attach the first 3 working cords to the holding cord.

Add a bead, and then attach the other 3 working cords.

Attach the holding cord to the lower edge.

Step 9: Attach the 9th holding cord to the top edge.

Attach the cords and beads as follows:

Color B -- bead -- color C -- bead -- 2 color C -- bead -- color C -- bead -- color B.

Attach holding cord 9 to the lower edge.

This completes the first half of the Beaded Eye Bracelet. You will be dropping cords to make the second half, so it resembles the first half.

The best way to drop cords is to cut each one shorter. Push it under the knotted portion of the eye. The rest of the cords are used to tie the knots.

Second Half of Bracelet

Step 10: Attach the 10th holding cord as you did the others, to the top edge of the Beaded Eye Bracelet.

Repeat step 8, which is 3 cords, followed by a bead, and then the other three cords.

Important: Remove the pins from the long cords for the top and lower edge of the Beaded Eye Bracelet. You will need to move them towards each other as you progress.

The long cords for the top and lower edge have been moved outward in the images below to show the details.

They need to be moved towards the inside of the eye, so both edges will curve. By the time you get to step 19, the four long cords should be resting side-by-side.

Step 11: Attach the 11th holding cord to the top edge of the Beaded Eye Bracelet. The long cords should be vertical at this point.

Repeat step 7. Attach the holding cords to the cords for the lower edge.

Step 12: Cut one color C cord to 2-inches. Drop it from the group by moving it under the first half of the eye.

Attach holding cord 12 to the upper edge, after curving the two cords slightly to the left.

The remaining 5 working cords should be attached to the holding cord with DHH.

Step 12, continued: Attach the 12th holding cord to the lower edge, curving the edge cords slightly to the right.

Step 13: Attach cord 13 to the upper edge, increasing the curve by moving the long cords to the left.

Cut 1 color C cord to 2-inches, and drop it from the group. Attach the remaining working cords as follows:

Right color B -- bead -- 2 color C -- bead -- left color B

Step 13, continued: Attach the holding cord to the lower edge, moving the long cords to the right to increase the curve on the left side of the Beaded Eye Bracelet.

Step 14: This is where you need to curve the top and lower edges inward sharply. When you attach holding cord 14, arrange the long cords on a diagonal slant towards the center of the eye.

Drop 1 color C cord, and attach the remaining three to the holding cord.

Attach holding cord 14 to the lower edge, curving it inward sharply, too.

Step 15: Attach holding cord 15 to the cords for the top edge, which should be diagonal.

Drop the last color C cord as you did the others. Attach the two color B cords to cord 15, placing a bead between them.

Attach the holding cord to those for the lower edge, which should be diagonal.

Step 16: Attach holding cord 16 to the top edge of the Beaded Eye Bracelet.

Drop one color B cord, and attach the other one to the holding cord with a DHH.

Attach holding cord 16 to the lower edge.

Step 17: Attach the last holding cord (17) to the top edge.

Drop the last color B cord, and apply only a bead.

Attach holding cord 17 to the lower edge.

Step 18: Organize the four long cords for the edges.

Use 2 of them to tie a Square Knot with two fillers.

This will close the eye design.

Step 19: Tie the second half of the strap the same length as the first half.

Measure carefully, so the Beaded Eye Bracelet will be balanced.

Finish it by tying a Square Knot.

Finishing Process

Step 20: Turn the strap upside down so you work in the back. Finish off the two working cords from the Square Knot by using them to tie a tight Overhand knot.

Apply glue in the back of the Square Knot, so it's on the inside when the knot is tightened. Let the glue dry and cut off the two ends. The remaining two cords are used for the clasp.

Step 21: Trim the working cords that were dropped to 1-inch. Apply glue to each one and adhere them to the back of the eye design. Hold them flat while the glue dries.

Trim the ends of the holding cords to 1-inch. Push those along the lower edge to the back of the eye design.

Apply fabric glue to each one, and adhere them to the eye so they are flat. Press firmly while the glue dries.

They will rest on top of the working cords already present. Make sure they are arranged neatly.

Step 22: Move the holding cords for the top edge to the back, and adhere them with glue. They will rest partially over the ends already present.

Add plenty of glue and press them down firmly, so they are flat while drying. They should be neatly arranged.

Let the glue dry completely before moving on.

Step 23: To make a simple bead clasp, pass the two cords from each end of the strap through a bead.

Make sure they pass through in opposite directions.

Pull the ends to close the Beaded Eye Bracelet. Move down at least 3 inches and tie Overhand knots at the tips. Apply glue while tightening.

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