My Bracelet Habit That Cuts Down Waste
after seeing how much elastic I was throwing away.
In my early years of jewelry making I would leave my beading wire or elastic attached to the spool while I strung my beads. It saved me wasting material and meant I didn’t accidentally cut a piece that’s too short halfway through my design.
After making more bracelets than I care to count, I’ve learned that guessing elastic lengths is a great way to waste elastic. These days, I keep a ruler nearby and a simple cutting chart pinned above my desk showing exactly what length I need for each bracelet size:
• 17cm bracelet = 22cm cord
• 19cm bracelet = 24cm cord
• 21cm bracelet = 26cm cord
It might sound a bit obsessive, but when you’re making a lot of bracelets regularly, those extra few centimetres soon add up. Over hundreds of bracelets, that waste can be surprisingly eye-watering. 😆
Want to learn more about bracelet sizing? I’ve written a dedicated guide that walks you through measuring bracelets accurately and getting the perfect fit every time.
