Multi-strand jewelry is all the rage, if you read the fashion magazines. If you are just crazy about jewelry, then multi-strand jewelry is a great way to get a great look - more bang for your buck, so to speak.

This multi-strand beauty is a favorite of mine; I have made quite a few of these for myself and for friends.

Skill level. Intermediate. Straightforward stringing, multiple crimping. Taping down the wires makes managing multiple strands easier. Experience crimping is helpful in crimping multiple strands.

Supplies

• 1 multi-strand tube clasp (sterling), 4 strand (or 5, if you can find it.) Match the length of the clasp to the separators.
• 3 x 5-hole multi-strand separators (spacing needs to accommodate a 4 mm bead, so if you get a change to measure, the holes should be approx. 4 mm apart - the ones I use are more like 3, and that works fine.)
• 40 x 4mm sterling Stardust beads (Yes, these do tarnish. Yes, they are annoying to polish - I like them anyway.)
• 180 x 4mm Swarovski 5000's (rounds) in a mix of complementary colors. For this project, I have used
  • Sapphire
  • Light Sapphire
  • Sapphire AB
  • Light Sapphire AB
  • Alexandrite
    
    (This is for a 7.5 inch bracelet; to add a half inch, add 10 beads, to reduce by half an inch, reduce by ten beads.)
    
• 10 sterling crimp tubes
• 5 feet (5 x 12 inches) beading cable, fine or medium

Tools

• Wire cutters
• Crimpers
• Tape (low-tack masking tape or removable clear tape is best)
• Work surface such as a beading mat, towel, piece of fabric (prevents the beads from rolling, and you can tape the strands down as you work.)

Start by cutting your beading cable to length, 5 pieces of 12 inches long (12 inches gives you enough room to work without accidentally spilling off the beads)

Take one wire; thread on one crimp,

Thread through the end hole of a separator

Add 1 4mm stardust

Slide to about 2 inches from the end of the wire

Add one more stardust bead,

Add a separator, again, through the end hole

Finish with another stardust bead

Add the third separator, in the end hole

And add a crimp

Tape down to your work surface.

Take the next wire, and repeat, stringing through the second hole this time.

Add the crimp, slide into the separator, and

Add this wire under the tape (lift the tape, tape down both wires, and stick the tape back down)

Then add your 4 mm stardust,

Add 1 stardust,

Through the separator, and

1 stardust

the second half of the second row: 18 + 2 assortment

Finish with a Stardust bead

Through the separator at the end,

Add the crimp

And add under the tape

Carry on the same way, for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th strand, moving to the next hole in the separator and taping each one down as you go.

Attaching the clasp

Separate the clasp

Start on the right hand side (unless you are left handed,)and on the end of the separator that is furthest from you, and slide one wire out from under the tape.

Thread the wire through the loop on the clasp, and back through the crimp

Tension is not important at this end of the bracelet - we will tighten up the beads when we attach the other half of the clasp. Ensure that the tape is holding down the wire at the other end, so that the beads do not escape while you attach this half of the clasp.

Crimp the beading wire. (see here for details on how to crimp)

Trim the wires short, next to the crimp, taking particular care not to cut the main wire by accident.

Peel up the tape and turn the bracelet around, lay it back down and tape down the loose wires again.

Slide the beads down as far as they will go to the end with the attached half of the clasp (on the left hand side now, unless you are reversing the instructions for being left-handed.)

Tension is important at this end - pull the beads tight, but not super tight, as there needs to be some flex in the bracelet to make it flow nicely on your wrist.

Slide out the first wire, and attach to the first loop

Go through the loop, and loop back through the crimp.

Crimp the crimp

Attach the second wire onto the same loop - to match the other side (this is how I prefer to do it, but it doesn't really matter that much.)

Continue attaching the strands to the loops on the clasp.

Finish by carefully cutting off the excess wire ends

Voila, you are done. This is one of the easiest-to-wear bracelets I make - it lays flat and smooth, and does not interfere with keyboarding or mousing, making it great if you spend a lot of time at the computer. It is also easy to put on and take off - and as your friends will all want to look at it and try it on, that is an important consideration.

This version was inspired by a strand of Tourmalines that I fell in love with. You can see from the close-up below, that I also crimped one strand without attaching it to the ring on the clasp. This works fine too.

I also kept all the Stardust beads lined up in this version. The official Swarovski™ colors used to simulate the Tourmaline strand are (from left to right, below):

• Indian Sapphire
• Turmaline
• Khaki
• Olivine
• Lime
• Lt Topaz
• Indian Red
• Fuchsia
• Burgundy