Today I have a sweet and shabby chic DIY for you! I am going to teach you how to make a braided bracelet from an old handkerchief. These are easy to make and a great way to repurpose your stained and tattered vintage hanky stash. You can customize the design to your liking as well. What I like best about them is that they are fast to whip up.
Here’s What You Need:
*Vintage Hankies
*Scissors
*Twine or Thread
*Chain(optional)
*Metal End Caps
*Jewelry findings (jump rings, clasps)
*Beads and Charms
*E6000
*Jewelry Pliers
Step 1: Cut your hankies- Gather up your tattered hankies. Cut them lengthwise into strips that are about 1.5-2″ wide.
Step 2: Braid- Gather up three hanky strips. At the very top of the gathered strips tie them with a piece of twine and snip the ends of the twine off after you knot. Then braid your strip, and secure with another piece of twine at the end. If you wish to add chain, replace one strip of hanky with a couple of lengths of chain and braid it in. Once you have tied off your braid, clip off the chain ends close to the twine.
Step 3: Glue- Carefully snip off the ends of the hanky braids close to the twine as possible. Place a little E6000 into your bead cap and mush in one end of your braid wiping off excess glue if you have some push out. Let dry overnight or at least for a few hours.
Step 4: Add Clasp and charms- Using your jewelry pliers add your clasp to your end caps with jump rings. Make bead charms or add ready-made charms and add to your clasp with jump rings. And there you have it!
I love these little bracelets! I think they are a great way to repurpose less than perfect hankies! They look so sweet by themselves or stacked together. I made a batch of them for my shop, but I think I will be making some of these for holiday gifts as well. You can make a whole batch of them in under an hour. And the best part is that you can have so much fun customizing them in your own way. One of a kind wearables! Hope you enjoy!
Happy Crafting!
These are lovely! One question, where did you find your metal end caps I’ve been having trouble finding them!! Thanks!
Thank you Lindsey! I bought the hardware months ago and the etsy store I got these particular end caps from has closed down. There are several places on etsy if you search for them under supplies. I would recommend The Peddler, she has all kinds of different end caps. Here’s the link for her etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ThePeddler Good luck with everything!
These are amazing is there any way i can buy a couple from you?
Thank you so much Anna! I am so glad you like them! They are for sale. I am selling them for $20 a bracelet. I haven’t put them up in my shop yet because I have a show this weekend. If you want to shoot me an email (BinkyandLola@gmail.com )and let me know which one(s) you would like I can get payment through paypal and go ahead and ship them out for you. Hope you have a fantastic day!
Pingback: DIY Bracelets | Lieke Dols
Thank YOU! for giving me the tip about the bead caps, I will definitely check out the shop you suggested! Happy crafting!!
You’re welcome! Hope they have what you need
Happy crafting to you too!
These are so cute! I’m gonna start looking for handkerchiefs the next time I’m at the thrift store.
Thanks Stepanie!
Pingback: Cómo hacer pulseras con un fular - Guía de MANUALIDADES
When my Dad was in WW11 he sent my Mom a hankerchief in letters from each base he was stationed at. Of course she kept them and now I have inherited them and cherish them dearly. I would like to share a few with my children and grandchildren but not to put in a drawer – to wear and enjoy – what a great idea this is! Can’t wait to give them!!!
Wow! What an amazing heirloom! That’s so sweet! I just adore hankies! If you have hankies that you don’t want to cut up, you can tie them together and make a bunting. That’s what I did with some of my favorites. Thanks for sharing your sweet hanky story
Pingback: more things to make and do | Ooh la Lapin
These are perfect for Christmas presents! Can’t wait to do this!
Emily
emilyp711.wordpress.com
Thanks Emily! If you make some and want to share on my Pinterest, send me your pin, or blog post link and i’ll share.
Pingback: Jewelry Making Ideas - Live and Inspire, by Lauretta Marie Pierce
These are adorable!! Defnitely have t try this out as well!! So creative!
Bijoujewelryblog.blogspot.com
Thanks Candice! They really are so fun to make
So cute!! Can’t wait to make some. I was wondering what size metal end caps you used?
Thanks Jane! They were pretty large. I think they were around 5 or 8mm on the inside. Hope you have a blast!
You truly produced some terrific ideas inside your blog,
“DIY Sweet Hankie Bracelets | My So Called Crafty Life” learntospeakitalian.info .
I will end up coming to ur blog eventually. Thank you
,Kassandra