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Back when we were in summer camp many of us spent a lazy afternoon in
craft class making plastic gimp bracelets. Back then we had time to spend lying on our
backs in the meadow looking up at the clouds in the sky and imagining what they might be
as they moved across the horizon. I have developed a way to bring back that lazy day
experience while at the same time update the finished project to something you would be
proud to wear with this free craft project pattern.
You are here
Bracelet Pattern Introduction > Step-By-Step Bracelet
Instructions > Wonder Tool >
Step-By-Step Instructions
Preparing the Aluminum Blank
- The aluminum bracelet blank is covered
with masking tape to eliminate the sharp edges and to alleviate any "glimmer"
through the woven ash splints. 2" masking tape works out best for this step, but if
you do not have it at hand you can use another size as long as all the surfaces are
covered neatly. Cover aluminum bracelet blank with 2" masking tape as in illustration
#1 - 4.
Setting Up The Weft
- Cut lengths of black ash splint
10" long in a number large enough to fill the width of the blank. You may vary the
widths of the splint and therefore the number of splints, in order to weave various
patterns.
- Lay the splints out along the end of
the blank and tape them temporarily as shown in illustration #5.
- Use a moistened sponge square to dampen
the splint at the point where the aluminum ends.
- Bend the splints around to the opposite
side of the aluminum blank so that they lie uniformly on top of the blank, with the free
ends extending past the opposite end of the blank. Do this carefully so that the splint
does not crack.
Weaving The Bracelet
- Taper the end of a long 3/32" or
1/8" black ash splint for 1". Insert the tapered end of the splint vertically
between the aluminum and the ash at the back, near the folded edge.
- Wrap the weaving splint around to the
front side and begin weaving in a twill pattern. Keep the weaver dampened with your sponge
as you weave.
- Wrap tightly over the ends on the back
side as you proceed around the aluminum blank. Be certain that each row is packed tightly
next to the previous row.
- As you reach the spot where the strip
ends are taped, remove the tape.
- The suggested pattern for the weave on
the face side is a 2 by 2 twill, but many variations are possible. No weaving is done on
the back side.
- If it is necessary, add an additional
weaver by overlapping a new weaver and concealing the end in the weaving on the face
side.
- Wrap and weave the entire length of the
aluminum blank. Taper the end of the weaver as it ends along the back. (Illustration #9)
- Dampen the portions of the ash strips
where they will be turned to the back so that they don't crack when they are bent.
- Use the Wonder tool to insert the ends
of the ash strips back under 1-2" of wrapping at the back side. Slip the end of the
tool under at least 1" of the back wrapping and insert a splint between the two ends
of the tool and pull back through the wrapping tightly.
- Trim off the ends.
- Sign and date your bracelet on the back
side.
- Bend the bracelet into a "C"
shape to fit your wrist.
- All number of weaving patterns and
color combinations will work with this bracelet, or use the same idea to create hair
clips, pins or pendants.
You are here
Bracelet Pattern Introduction > Step-By-Step Bracelet
Instructions > Wonder Tool >
Aluminum Bracelet Blanks
 are
available from Dick Blick.
S&S Worldwide
also carries aluminum bracelet blanks along with a full line of craft
supplies.
Enter Item # LA485X into their search engine.
Assorted Plastic Lacing Findings-Over 20 Assorted
Black
Ash woodsplint supplies
Request a FREE 480-page Art Supply Catalog
or enter "aluminum bracelet blank" into the search engine to buy online.
All text and graphics
© Susi Nuss, 1998
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