How to put a clasp on a friendship bracelet
Learn how to put a clasp on a friendship bracelet for a much better finish! You might also want to check out my complete guide to make your own friendship bracelets. This post contains affiliate links.
I’ve shared in the past how to start and finish friendship bracelets, but people have been asking me much more specifically when they see one of my designs with a clasp how to put a clasp on a friendship bracelet.
I decided it’s about time I share my really easy technique for doing this.
Why you want to put clasps on your friendship bracelets
Unlike the attitude when we were kids, as an adult I appreciate the art of knotting these bracelets. While it might seem like a basic craft – you’re just tying knots – you can really get artsy with it (and you’ll want to check out these diamond friendship bracelets to see what I mean), and making a really nice pattern does require some skill.
Plus, you can actually get quite sophisticated with your patterns (see my buffalo check bracelet pattern.)
Closing off your friendship bracelets with a clasp gives it a polished “real jewelry” look. It upgrades it from a childhood nostalgia look, or a hippie casual vibe, to a sophisticated textile-focused accessory.
Even more so, closing your friendship bracelet with a clasp means it’s easy to take on and off. That means that you can swap it out and match it to outfits. It also means that you can treat your artwork like it deserves to be treated: taking it off for showers, swimming, baking, etc. It’ll last much longer.
And finally, learning how to put a clasp on a friendship bracelet will allow you to offer a superior consumer product if you are selling your art.
This is something I learned the hard way, years ago, when I was a teen, and wanted to sell my bracelets. There is a cap price that people will spend on a friendship bracelet. The possibilities for something that presents more as a fiber art textured piece are much greater.
Think about it this way: if you spend two hours knotting a bracelet, and you can double the price by closing it with a clasp, why would you NOT do it?
How to put a clasp on a friendship bracelet
Supplies needed
- Finished bracelet – you can find some of my favorite friendship bracelet patterns for beginners here!
- Hot glue gun (adults only). I share my best hot glue guns for crafts here. For bracelets I’ve been using the Surebonder from the list as it’s got the best fine tip. You do want to use hot glue over other glues as it sits on the surface and forms a rubber “grip”. It also works really well with porous surfaces like embroidery floss, and since you’re cutting really close to your knots, you need it to be secure.
- Detail scissors
- Jewelry pliers – primarily chain nose and round nose.
- Ribbon crimps: Make sure these are wide enough to cover the width of your bracelet generously, but without too much overage that’ll look silly. For narrow bracelet patterns (such as the daisy chain friendship bracelet) use cord ends instead with the same technique.
- Clasp, jumpring, and connector (such as jumpring or short length of cable chain)
Process and tutorial
Watch the YouTube video if you prefer to learn that way:
This tutorial is being demonstrated on my ombre chevron friendship bracelet.
1. You can start your bracelet by gluing across the strings in order, by knotting them, or by taping them together. For this tutorial, I just knotted my strings at the start. Then, glue across the top knots using a hot glue gun. When it’s dry/cooled, flip over and do the same on the back. Also glue on the sides of the bracelet in that same spot. This serves both to hold your knots at the top, forming a barrier AND to serve as a grip for your ribbon crimp.
2. Glue the second side as well. Trim your strings right up against the glued bits after all glue has dried.
3. Attach your ribbon crimps to each end, over the glued part. Make sure it’s wide enough to cover the full width of your bracelet for a fully professional look and for security (the one I used in the tutorial is too narrow.)
4. Attach a jump ring and then a clasp to the ribbon crimp on one end. On the other, attach a few jump rings, or a small length of cable chain that’s thin enough for the clasp to close around.
That is all! You’ve mastered how to put a clasp on a friendship bracelet – and I’ll bet you won’t be doing it any other way!
How to Put a Clasp on a Friendship Bracelet
Materials
- Finished bracelet
- Hot glue gun
- Detail scissors
- Jewelry pliers - primarily chain nose and round nose.
- Ribbon crimps: Make sure these are wide enough to cover the width of your bracelet generously, but without too much overage that'll look silly. For narrow bracelet patterns (such as the daisy chain friendship bracelet) use cord ends instead with the same technique.
- Clasp, jumpring, and connector (such as jumpring or short length of cable chain)
Instructions
1. You can start your bracelet by gluing across the strings in order, by knotting them, or by taping them together. For this tutorial, I just knotted my strings at the start. Then, glue across the top knots using a hot glue gun. When it's dry/cooled, flip over and do the same on the back. Also glue on the sides of the bracelet in that same spot. This serves both to hold your knots at the top, forming a barrier AND to serve as a grip for your ribbon crimp.
2. Glue the second side as well. Trim your strings right up against the glued bits after all glue has dried.
3. Attach your ribbon crimps to each end, over the glued part. Make sure it's wide enough to cover the full width of your bracelet for a fully professional look and for security (the one I used in the tutorial is too narrow.)
4. Attach a jump ring and then a clasp to the ribbon crimp on one end. On the other, attach a few jump rings, or a small length of cable chain that's thin enough for the clasp to close around.
