Grommet Wrap Charm Bracelet (Tutorial)
by Rena Klingenberg.
The charm bracelet in this tutorial has a bit of a rugged look, thanks to the grommets, multiple wraps, and swivel clasp.
A strip of grommet tape in leather or other fabric makes a fun, flexible base for this bracelet.
(Although it’s called “grommet tape”, it’s not the sticky kind of tape.)
And the charms are a perfect way to use up lone earrings, orphan beads, and leftover components from other jewelry projects.
Although this is a cool style for adults, it’s also a great item for teens and tweens to make and wear!
Supplies:
- A strip of grommet tape that’s long enough to wrap around your wrist as many times as you like.
Make sure the grommets are close enough to the edges of the tape to fasten jump rings into them.
My grommet tape is made from suede.
It’s 3/4″ wide x 1 yard long (19mm x 914mm).
The grommet holes’ diameter is about 5/32″ (4mm).
Sources of grommet tape: Fabric stores, craft stores, Etsy, and other online sources.
Other names for grommet tape: Grommet leather band, leather grommet tape, leather grommet trim, leather eyelet tape, eyelet tape, twill eyelet tape, leather band with grommets.
Here’s what I used:
- Clasp – I used a swivel lobster clasp to go with the grommet tape’s rugged sort of look; but many other clasp styles would also work.
Here’s the clasp I used:
- A variety of charms or dangles to hang on your bracelet.
I used mainly orphan beads, earrings that had lost their mate, and leftover goodies from previous projects.How many charms do you need?
Measure the circumference of your wrist and add 2″ (51mm) to that measurement.
Example: For a 7″ wrist, add 2″ = 9″.So for the 7″ example wrist you’d want the first 9″ of grommet tape to have a charm in each grommet hole – except for the first hole, which is where the clasp will go.
I needed 8 charms to fill up the first several inches of my grommet tape (leaving the first grommet hole open for the clasp).
- Jump rings large enough to fasten onto your grommet tape.
I used 12mm jump rings. - Flat nose & chain nose pliers – to open and close your jump rings
- Scissors – if you want to trim the length of your grommet tape.
How to Make a
Grommet Wrap Charm Bracelet:
Start by gathering or creating the dangles (or charms) for your bracelet.
I decided to stick to a color palette of oranges plus blue-greens.
Here’s what I used:
While choosing your charms, you may want to use a wire-wrapped briolette bead (similar to the one in the photo below).
You can make one using my easy tutorial Briolette Wire Wrapping Techniques.
And if you need to make a wrapped headpin loop for a bead charm (like the one in the photo below), you can learn how in my tutorial, How to Make a Wrapped Wire Loop.
Set out a jump ring for each charm, plus one for your clasp:
Use your flat nose and chain nose pliers to twist open your jump rings.
(If you’re new to using jump rings, see my quick tutorial, How to Open and Close Jump Rings.)
Thread an opened jump ring onto each of your charms:
Spread out one end of your grommet tape:
Skip the first grommet hole for now (later we’ll attach the clasp to the first hole).
Pick up your first charm, and thread its jump ring through the second grommet hole.
Then use your flat nose and chain nose pliers to twist the jump ring shut again:
Then pick up your second charm, and attach it to the next grommet hole:
Keep adding more charms:
. . . until you’ve attached each charm to a grommet:
Thread one of your jump rings onto your clasp:
Then thread that jump ring through the first grommet, and twist the jump ring shut:
(You may need to use scissors to trim off any excess fabric at this end of the grommet tape, so the clasp’s jump ring can move easily at the end of the tape.)
When the charms and clasp are attached, the grommet tape should look like this:
Your grommet wrap charm bracelet is finished!
How to Put the Grommet Wrap Bracelet on:
Wrap it around and around your wrist, starting with the empty end of the grommet tape, and ending with the clasp end.
Then fasten the clasp into one of the grommets at the empty end of the grommet tape.
You can either keep any excess length at the empty end of the grommet tape (which makes the bracelet adjustable) – or you can use scissors to trim off the excess length.
Want to Learn How to Design
Your Own Wire Jewelry?
In my Design and Make Artistic Jewelry Components video class, you’ll learn how to get great ideas for wire jewelry designs – and then follow my easy system for turning those ideas into successful pieces of jewelry.
By the end of this online video class, you’ll be designing and making your own artistic earwires, clasps, connectors, and pendant bails.
You’ll also learn my tips for making wire jewelry more easily, with more professional looking results.
