[Crafts] Beaded Crochet Bracelets

Everything has its goods and not-so-good-but-not-bads. In the case of my hobby life, since I have so many, it means higher expenditure on purchasing materials and tools, as well as having to find a big enough space in my tiny room in Brooklyn to store all those things. But the good part is that I am never bored.

This past week or so has been a "crochet" and "learn to tat" time for me. I found a wonderful tutorial by Alice on her futuregirl craft blog.

Since I had a ball of cotton thread rolling around in my drawer, some pearls and beads purchased for sewing, and random buttons, I decided to try it out.

These are the instructions and pattern that Alice posted on her blog:

Abbreviations
sl = slip stitch
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
bsc* = beaded single crochet

*Bead Single Crochet: (bsc): Do a normal single crochet, except after you put your hook through the stitch in the previous row, pull a bead up to your hook and then yarn over using the crochet cotton thread on the far side of the bead.  Then pull the loop through the stitch in the previous row.  You will now have two loops on the hook and the bead will be looped against the piece.  Yarn over and pull through both loops to complete the single crochet.

Basic Instructions
· Thread 48 beads on crochet cotton thread.
· ch 7, leaving about 10" of crochet cotton thread before the start of the chain.
· Row 1 - Starting with 2nd ch from hook, sc in each of the next 6 ch, ch 1, turn.
· Row 2 - sc in each stitch across (total 6), ch 1, turn.
· Row 3 - sc in each stitch across (total 6), ch 1, turn.
· Row 4 - sc, bsc, sc, bsc, sc, bsc, ch 1, turn.
· Row 5 - sc in each stitch across (total 6), ch 1, turn.
· Row 6 - 2 sc, bsc, sc, bsc, sc, ch 1, turn.
· Row 7 - repeat Rows 3-6 until you've used all the beads.
· Last Row - sc in each stitch across (total 6), ch 3, turn.
· Button Hole - skip 5 stitches, sc in last stitch of previous row, finish off, weave in end.
· Attach button with 10" thread at beginning of bracelet and weave in end.

I used a size 1 hook (2.25mm) - the cotton thread that I used was pretty thick. I'm guessing a size 5 or even 3?

The bracelet fits perfectly on my wrist - not too tight, not too big. However, the pattern is super easy that you can adjust how long or short you want to make the bracelet. 

I ended up making four bracelets with different patterns of pearls and beads. 

I'm glad I've finally made use of these big faux pearls and assortment of purple beads!