bold beaded cuff 3917

Really big clay beads are used to create this knobby bracelet. The hand dyed cotton cord makes a flexible framework with the edge stitching holding all the beads together.

 Here's the quarter view showing the button and loop closure. Inside circumference is 7 1/4" (183 mm) Here are some other designs you might like:

Leather bracelet with clay bead

A similar design with smaller beads

A bigger badder design industrial punk….

Adjustable design in hemp fiber

Side view

More like this in the fiber design section of the ETSY shop.



design and photographs copyright 2016

colorful cord and bead spacer bracelet 3863

 This colorful little bracelet is made from a heavy braided cord with spacer beads and cotton floss. The beads are a somewhat random size that lends a casual playful shape to this design. The cord is a hand dyed grey cotton.

This bracelet is flexible but not stretchable so it fits like a soft bangle without a clasp or button.

This is a smaller size similar to this beaded spiral bracelet in design and color.

 about 7" (178 mm) inside circumference

This one was made-to-order, you might also like:

Three button toggle cuff bracelet

 earth tone red and tan beaded cuff bracelet 

traditional turks head knot bracelet with beads

wide three button beaded cuff bracelet

collection of three button bracelets with beads

These and other unique bracelets can be found online WhatKnotShop on ETSY


design and photographs copyright 2016

beaded adjustable hemp cord bracelets 3848

 Deceptively simple geometry, just a piece of cord with two overhand knots this design uses the inherent friction of the beads to hold the size of the bracelet constant.

Polymer clay beads are oversized with a walnut pitt exterior texture.

Hemp cord is a hand wound four by two (4x2) rope made on a small rope machine. About 4 mm diameter.

 To enlarge the bracelet slide the beads together and pull the cord through to increase the size of the loop.

To adjust the bracelet simply reverse the process and tighten up the cord.

Size range is 5 1/4" (133 mm) to 10 1/2" (267 mm) so "one size fits most" is an accurate description.

Beads available in a wide variety of colors shown here in tan and dark brown

You might also like these fiber wrapped bracelets or this leather bracelet with poly clay bead or this tribal style bead necklace made with polymer clay beads.

These and other unique bracelets can be found online WhatKnotShop on ETSY


design and photographs © copyright 2016 WhatKnotShop

twisted hemp rope bracelet prototypes with bead and loop toggle 3845

 Hand twisted hemp cord is a versatile material used in this prototype series with an oversize wood bead, dark waxed thread, and a button. The button connection is not very robust in this design...

The hemp is a material that can be tensioned into a four yarn lay rope as in this example and it holds a nice firm shape. The hemp is ordinary craft store variety stock that comes on those 20 yard balls. Lays up on the rope machine to form a 60" length of stock about 3.5 mm diameter.

Beads have to be reamed out with a drill to accommodate this heavier cord.

 A single overhand knot and a textured poly clay bead make a good toggle design that rests securely inside a loop to hold the bracelet together. The bushy end of the knot gets trimmed off. The waxed whipping has an up-and-down pass to hold it tightly together.

Being polymer clay the center holes can be made as large as necessary. Texture is made with a de-husked black walnut.

Another variation with rounded toggle beads and loops, extended whipping and a squared wood bead. Two sizes (him and her) with similar but non-identical design (everyone is different right?)

Poly beads are cut with a plastic core from a dental floss dispenser and cored with a straw.


design and photographs copyright 2016

handmade all glass beaded cuff bracelet with buttons 3680

The third in the series of beaded cuffs this one made entirely from glass beads and handmade rope. The three toggle buttons are a dark maroon polymer clay.

The button and loop system follows the progression of the zig-zag rope layout with one of the buttons located on the opposite side as the other two.

The extra cord is braided and stitched to the edge.

 The all glass bead composition adds some mass to this at 3.1 oz/ 90 g so it feels substantial.

Size is 7 1/2" (191 mm) inside circumference

Available here on ArtiFact Site


design and photographs © copyright 2015

three button beaded cuff 3679

This three button cuff is a larger version of the small child's beaded bracelet in the previous post. This one is made larger and with three buttons and loops to allow for easy application and removal.

The design similar to the smaller bracelet with a mix of glass and paper beads strung between rows of handmade cotton rope.

The difference is that the rope is laid out to form the loops instead of a continuous spiral pattern.
Size is 7" (178 mm) internal circumference
2 3/4" (70 mm) wide
Some other designs using handmade paper beads:

One button bracelet with paper beads
Black leather bracelet with paper beads
Rope bracelet with paper beads
One button cuff with paper beads 

Available here







design and photographs © copyright 2015

beaded string bracelet with coach whippings and loops 3624

 Hand dyed cotton cord and traditional coach whipping details combined in a simple multi part string bracelet. Three small glass beads embellish two of the coach whippings. Three closed loops add texture. Design based on traditional sailmaking and rope work techniques.

7 3/4" (197 mm)
2 1/2" (83 mm)
1/4" (6 mm)

Available here




design and photographs © copyright 2015

layered cord and seed bead bangle 3588

 Layers of cord and seed beads in a simply constructed pattern with four ply nylon thread. Cord is hand dyed cotton with a mix of blue and green dye. Beads are 3 mm glass. Color mix range from opal cream to clear green.

8 1/4" (209 mm)
2 5/8" (68 mm)
1" (24 mm)

.6 oz / 18 g

Part of the Handmade Artifacts collection of modern interpretations of heritage designs.



Available here



design and photographs © copyright 2015

beaded rope bracelet 3452

 Off white braided cord bound together with rows of glass beads made into a slip on bangle style bracelet. The two large beads look like a toggle closure but are actually sewn in place.

High strength nylon thread is used to compress the cord and secure the beads.

 size large 8 1/4" (209 mm) inside circumference
2 5/8" (67 mm) diameter

available soon


similar designs available here

custom work available




design and photographs © copyright 2014 WhatKnotShop

black beaded slip on cuff 3451

 Black on black...laminated polyester cord with a center ridge of beads forming a slip on bangle style bracelet.

37 beads at the center
8 layers of cord on each side

Part of the new Handmade Artifacts project recalling the heritage of ancient forms re-creating and re-interpreting old ideas in modern materials.

 extra large size 8 1/4" (209 mm) inside circumference; 2 5/8" (67 mm) diameter

lightweight and flexible

available soon in a new venue!

similar designs available here

custom work available





design and photographs © copyright 2014 WhatKnotShop

double loop button bracelet with wood beads 3189

8 mm bamboo wood beads

braided cotton cord

cotton cord wrapped keeper loop

oversize button



                 available by special order


design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

tangled bead grey rope bracelet 3114

hand dyed grey cotton cord
ochre polymer clay bead
waxed six-thread

distressed bead ensnared by nylon thread
8 3/4" (222 mm)

             available here








design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

1 button wrapped desert tan leather bracelet clay beads 3120

tan leather cord
waxed cotton cord
distressed poly clay bead
poly clay button

desert tan
ochre
bone white

7 1/2" (191 mm)

bead texture made from walnut shell




              available here


design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

ecru cord ochre bead wax whipping 3117

cotton cord
waxed six-thread whipping
ochre poly bead distressed texture

bead tangled in waxed thread
coach whipping secures loose ends

no clasp slip on style loose fit
8 1/4" (209 mm)





                available here


design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

adjustable knotted cord bracelet with 5 polymer clay beads 3109

Five distressed polymer clay beads with oversized holes on a knotted hand dyed cotton cord

The beads are textured using a walnut shell

Barrel knots provide size adjustment
slide apart to make larger
slide together to make smaller

size about 7" (178 mm) can be expanded to about 10" or larger



            available here



design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

1 button green beaded cuff bracelet 3064

 This 1 button cuff bracelet is made with hand dyed cotton cord, green glass seed beads, and a handmade polymer clay button.

Read more about the construction technique here.

 This handmade cuff is part of a small collection. Each bracelet is made on a mold using an edge-stitching technique to secure the cords with high strength nylon thread.

Find the red-orange bracelet here.

Find the ecru tan and red-black bracelet here.

This polymer clay button is slightly oversized with two holes large enough to pass the 3 mm cotton framing cord and still slip through the loops to form a secure closure.

                      available here




design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

1 button red black cotton cord cuff bracelet 3066

 This mini-series of three one button cuff bracelets is made with hand dyed cotton cord edge stitched together secured by handmade polymer clay buttons.

The first design features ecru and tan framing cords with high contrast red and black center.

Here's an illustrated guide showing how these bracelets are made

 The green bracelet on the left has two rows of seed beads positioned on the edges.

The red and orange bracelet in the center is a color scheme based on the bright colors of sugar maple trees in the fall.

All have slightly different button designs made from polymer clay designed to complement the fabric colors.

This button is a rounded shape which slips easily through the loop to form a secure closure.


                       available here




design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop