Easy Nautical Jewelry: Sailboat & Anchor Bracelets

Today’s sailboat and anchor bracelet project is a style I love to make- with hemp and fun connectors. Once you’ve got the technique down, you can apply it to any style connector to make all kinds of summertime bracelets.  They whip up in 10-15 minutes each, so it won’t take long to make a whole collection, or to make gifts for friends!

Supplies needed to make your own sailboat or anchor bracelet:

• Connectors you love!  I found SO many beautiful new connectors in the Chic and Charmed line, that I had trouble choosing.  I couldn’t resist this sailboat or anchor, though.  This design will work of any connector with a hole at each end.
• 20-lb Hemp (in coordinating colors)
• Glue-on Clasp
• Jewelry Glue
• Scissors

First, cut 4 strands of hemp about 12 inches long – for my project, I cut 2 of each color.  This is more than you will need for the sailboat and anchor bracelet, but longer strands will be easier to work with and it will work up much more quickly.

Take two strands (on in each color in my case), and thread them through one of the connector’s holes.  At the halfway point, double the cords and tie an overhand knot.  Do this on each side.  You will now have 4 equal-length strands coming off each end of your connector, as you can see in the first image below.  Next, all you will do is braid them!  If you haven’t made a 4-strand braid before, I’ll walk you through it with the following images.  (Scroll down for the explanation.)

I’ve labeled the strands a, b, c, and d so that you can see where each strand ends up as you’re working.  The process is the same as for a 3-strand braid, only on one side, you’ll be working over 2 strands.  I’ll be working left to right.

Take strand a, and pass it over TWO strands (b and c).  Then take strand d, and pass it over your a-strand.  You’ll repeat this process, passing the left-most strand over two other cords, and passing the right-most strand over one cord.

Depending on the length of your connectors, you’ll be braiding about 2-1/2 inches on each side.  For smaller connectors, you’ll want more of a braid.  Ultimately, you want a finished length of 7 inches from end to end.  you can always braid a little extra, then decide where to cut it off after comparing it to your wrist length.

When you’ve decided how long you want your sailboat or anchor bracelet to be, tie a bit of hemp around that point tightly.  Then, cut it with your scissors.  (You will also cut the strings from your hemp marker, which isn’t shown below, I just wanted to show you that the bracelet will hold while you glue on your end caps!)

Trim up the excess, add a dab of jewelry glue to the inside of your end cap, and glue it on.  And that’s it!

If you’re like me, you’ll probably want to immediately make more. 🙂  I love this anchor bracelet!

The blue and white is a great combo with the silver accent anchor bracelet charm, don’t you think?

The best part about gluing the end cap clasps on is that you can easily change up the sailboat and anchor bracelets (although you could also make up this style just like a friendship bracelet, and tie it on instead).

What’s your summer jewelry style?

Adrianne

Adrianne is a writer, artist, designer, wife, and mom of 2 kids. She blogs at happyhourprojects.com where the theme is tutorials and recipes that can be made in an hour or less. Her favorite projects are jewelry-making, paper crafts, and recycled crafts. She participates annually in ArtPrize, an international art competition, and she’s the author of the book DIY T-Shirt Crafts: 50 Ways to Recycle a T-Shirt (August 2015).