How to Make a Pony Bead Bracelet

Last Updated: August 10, 2021

Pony bead bracelets are a good-looking and inexpensive way to make a fashion statement or compliment your outfit. Pony beads come in every color of the rainbow, some are sparkly, and some even glow in the dark. With the right tools and a little effort, it's easy to make yourself a one-of-a-kind bracelet.

Steps

1
Buy yourself some Pony beads. You can find these at just about any craft store, or in the craft section of stores like Walmart and Target. Pony beads are very inexpensive; expect to pay about 2 to 5 dollars for a bag of 500 to 1500 beads.
2
Procure some string. This usually isn't too far from the beads. The best kind of string to use is stretchy elastic cord, which comes in many different thicknesses. The best size for this project is around .7 mm. Any smaller is likely to break from stress and any bigger is a bit difficult to tie off effectively.

Advertisement
3
Plan out your design. While it is entirely possible to just put random beads on a string and tie it off; your bracelets will look much better if you take a few minutes to plan out your design. Play around with different color combinations and patterns. Take as much time as you want to do this. Come up with a pattern that you really like before moving on.
4
Once you've decided on a pattern, you need to lay out that pattern and repeat it for as long as you need to make it go all the way around your wrist. An average bracelet will have approximately 25 to 32 beads on it, depending on the size of your wrist. Small children will usually only need about 20 to 25.
5
Time to make that bracelet! Take the loose end of the string and unwind about a foot or so of string from your spool. No, you won't be using all of it, but it's always good to have a little extra room to work with. Now start stringing your beads on. Leave about an inch and a half of string at the loose end.
6
Tie it together! Just make two good, tight square knots with your string. Try not to pull so tight that it breaks, but tight enough that it won't come undone. At this point the bracelet will still be attached to the rest of the string on the spool. Use some scissors to cut off the extra string near the knot. Now you've got a totally cool, unique bracelet.
7
Finished.

Advertisement

Community Q&A

Question

How can I tie the string to a lobster clasp?

Read4ever

Community Answer

Tie a knot on the string, put it through the hole, and then tie another secure knot. Alternatively, if the string is too thick, you can use another piece of thinner string to attach the clasp to your string.

Warnings

Many people also refer to these bracelets as "kandi." While you are more than welcome to call your bracelets "kandi" as well, just know that the term is strongly tied to the rave scene.

Thanks!
Helpful 7 Not Helpful 3
Be careful when working with pony beads around small children. The bright colors can look like candy to them and they may try to eat the beads. Always keep an eye on your children and your beads.

Thanks!
Helpful 8 Not Helpful 6