Overview

When I learned how to make Beez Stew, I happened to be aware of rubber rings. Since the weave looked great, I decided to try making a claspless bracelet using rubber rings so that it could stretch over my hand. After making the first one, I had enough rings to make a second one, so I went forward with making a pair. Now that I have them, I wear them almost every day.

Materials

I bought all of the rings for these bracelets from The Ring Lord and used these three types:

  • Matte Red Rings: 16 SWG 1/4” ID Matte Aluminum rings in red.
  • Bright Black Ring: 16 SWG 1/4” ID Bright Aluminum rings in black.
  • Black Rubber Rings: 16 SWG 1/4” ID EPDM rubber rings in black.

Notes

For my Beez Stew Bracelets, most of the project time went into waiting for the rubber rings to arrive and planning how to replace metal rings with rubber in the weave. I wanted to experiment with rubber rings, specifically to make something for myself that didn’t need a clasp. Doing so necessitated some changes to my tutorial to account for the fact that rubber rings can only be attached to metal rings, as they are solid (they can’t be opened). I also wanted to ensure the rubber rings were in columns so the bracelet could flex cleanly. While using rubber rings didn’t make the weave much harder to make, it did make the process more tedious. Placing the rubber rings along the edges was simple; however, joining the two segments together with rubber required opening each protruding ring, which took more effort but gave the bracelet the flexibility it needed. After wearing them almost daily for two years, I’ve found the rubber rings to be very durable; they’ve bent a little from their original shape, but they still stretch well and are nearly the same size as when new. The bracelets are very low-maintenance, as they don’t wear down much and can be easily cleaned with soap and water while washing hands or dishes. Just let them dry before putting them back on for faster drying. Overall, I recommend making a pair for yourself, as they look good, are durable, easy to care for, and comfortable to wear. If you want help or have questions, please reach out.

Pictures

Bracelet: Worn

Bracelet: Flat Profile

Bracelet: Flat

Band: Flat

Band: Flat Profile

Band: Flat Angled

In Progress