Kandi are brightly colored bracelets, necklaces or other beaded jewelry that ravers make themselves to wear at raves. At raves, kandis are constantly putting on and taking off, and there is a custom of swapping them with other ravers. They can ask you for one of your kandi in exchange for one of theirs, and you can decide whether to accept or not. Kandis are fun to make, and one type of bracelet that is most popular, both to wear and to swap, is that of a strap.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Making a Simple Bracelet
Step 1. Choose the right materials
To make a simple bracelet, you'll need 1-2 meters of stretch nylon thread, pony-type beads and a pair of scissors. While traditional kandi bracelets are made from pony beads, you can use whatever type of beads you want - just make sure the hole is large enough to fit two rounds of thread through it.
Step 2. Measure and cut the yarn
The length of the thread depends on the width of your wrist and the bracelet you have in mind: it is therefore variable. To get a rough idea, take your wrist measurement, and then multiply by 5 or 6 times. Cut a piece of thread of this length: if, while threading the beads, the thread ends, you can always make a splice.
Step 3. Make a first row of beads
Tie a knot at one end of the thread, but not at the very end (a small tail must remain), and start threading the beads. According to the standards, the beads are 25-30, but you need enough to put on and take off the bracelet comfortably, but it must not be too large so as not to run the risk of losing it.
Step 4. Tie the knot on the first row of beads
As you tie the knot, tighten the thread with the beads so that both are tight. Tie the short end to the longer end with a sturdy knot. Cut the thread sticking out of the short end, but leave the long one intact.
Step 5. Make a second row of beads
The second row must be a little less taut than the first, because it involves threading a first bead, and then passing a second one through the first row. To make the second row, thread the long end of the thread into a bead, and then pass it under and next to the bead you are working on. Add another bead, and pass the thread past the nearest bead. Do this until you rejoin the starting point: thread a bead, and then pass the thread "past" the nearest bead in the first row, and "through" the next. This way, you will weave the two rows together.
Since you have to skip one from the first to thread each bead in the second row, the bracelet will have a zigzag pattern
Step 6. Make a third row of beads
To make the third row of beads, use the same process you used for the second row. This time, you don't have to tie the two ends of the thread, but you can continue to thread beads into the gaps you left when you made the second row. Slide a bead into one of the empty spaces in the second row, and attach it to the bracelet by threading the matching bead in the first row. Continue like this for the entire length of the bracelet, until you create two complete rows of beads, and at the end knot the thread.
Step 7. Add more rows of beads
While two rows of beads are theoretically enough to make a bracelet, many prefer to add more rows. Use the method described above to create one row with alternating beads, and then a second one to fill in the blanks.
Step 8. Your bracelet is ready
When your kandi bracelet looks perfect this way, tie the knot and try it on. If at some point in the process you run out of yarn, you can splice it by knotting it at the long end, cutting off the part that protrudes from the knot to make a neat job.
Method 2 of 2: Making an X Bracelet
Step 1. Prepare the necessary materials
The X bracelet is named after the series of 'Xs' that characterize its shape. As it is a bit larger than the plain type, however, it requires more thread and beads. The final effect will be even more beautiful if you use beads of various colors. Get a spool of stretch nylon thread, your favorite pony beads, and a pair of scissors.
Step 2. Make a first row of beads
Wrap the thread around your wrist to determine the ideal bracelet length, and tie the two ends tightly, leaving a longer one. Thread a series of beads in the colors of your choice, keeping the thread taut at the final knot. When you have enough beads in place, tie the two ends together and pull the longer end out of the bead closest to the knot.
Step 3. Make a second row of beads
To make the second row, you will need to thread a series of beads, and then pass the thread through a bead in the first row, to weave the two rows together. Thread three beads into the longer end, and then thread the thread through the nearest bead in the first row. Thread three more beads, and then, similarly, pull the thread through the next bead in the first row. Continue like this for the entire length of the bracelet, and then pull the thread tightly to secure it.
Step 4. Make a third row of beads
The third row of beads is like the second one, except that you have to pass the thread through the middle bead of the second row (the middle one within the row of three). Pass the thread through the second row of beads, and let it come out of the first 'central' bead. Thread three more beads, and thread the end of the thread into the next 'central' bead of the second row. Continue like this for the entire length of the bracelet until you have also completed the third row, and pull the thread tightly.
Step 5. Make a fourth row of beads
Repeat the same process you used for the third row. Pass the thread through the nearest 'central' bead in the third row, and proceed with a subsequent series of three. Thread the end of the thread into the next 'central' bead, and continue adding three more. Continue like this for the entire length of the bracelet until you have also completed the fourth row.
Step 6. Repeat the whole process in reverse
When you have completed the four rows of beads, you will notice that the appearance of the bracelet is a bit uneven: the first row is straight, but the fourth is a bit crooked. This happens because in reality the bracelet is still incomplete, and you have to go through the whole process in reverse to complete the second half of your bracelet, the one 'mirroring' the first. Carefully slide the thread to the starting point of the first row (where the knot is).
If you run out of thread during this step, you can make a splice, cutting the part that protrudes from the knot to camouflage it
Step 7. Complete the 'mirror' half of your bracelet
Starting from the center of the bracelet and working outward, repeat the steps described above for all four rows of beads. You should end up with a total of 7 rows of beads, forming two arrays of 'X' structures.
Step 8. Your bracelet is ready
Once the two halves of the bracelet are complete, you can tie the knot and put it on. Knot the ends of the thread several times to avoid losing the beads. Finally, cut off the thread that protrudes from the two knots (the final one and the one in the center of the bracelet). With this, you are done!
Advice
- Put a drop of clear nail polish on the knots: you will make them extra strong.
- Once you have mastered the basic process, you will be able to come up with a whole host of different designs, in various colors. On the Kandi Patterns website you can find free patterns and tutorials.
