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Back when we were in summer camp many of us spent a lazy afternoon in craft class making plastic gimp bracelets. Back then we had time to spend lying on our backs in the meadow looking up at the clouds in the sky and imagining what they might be as they moved across the horizon. I have developed a way to bring back that lazy day experience while at the same time update the finished project to something you would be proud to wear with this free craft project pattern.

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Bracelet Pattern Introduction > Step-By-Step Bracelet Instructions > Wonder Tool >

Step-By-Step Instructions

Preparing the Aluminum Blank

• The aluminum bracelet blank is covered with masking tape to eliminate the sharp edges and to alleviate any "glimmer" through the woven ash splints. 2" masking tape works out best for this step, but if you do not have it at hand you can use another size as long as all the surfaces are covered neatly. Cover aluminum bracelet blank with 2" masking tape as in illustration #1 - 4.

Setting Up The Weft

• Cut lengths of black ash splint 10" long in a number large enough to fill the width of the blank. You may vary the widths of the splint and therefore the number of splints, in order to weave various patterns.
• Lay the splints out along the end of the blank and tape them temporarily as shown in illustration #5.

• Use a moistened sponge square to dampen the splint at the point where the aluminum ends.
• Bend the splints around to the opposite side of the aluminum blank so that they lie uniformly on top of the blank, with the free ends extending past the opposite end of the blank. Do this carefully so that the splint does not crack.

Weaving The Bracelet

• Taper the end of a long 3/32" or 1/8" black ash splint for 1". Insert the tapered end of the splint vertically between the aluminum and the ash at the back, near the folded edge.

• Wrap the weaving splint around to the front side and begin weaving in a twill pattern. Keep the weaver dampened with your sponge as you weave.
• Wrap tightly over the ends on the back side as you proceed around the aluminum blank. Be certain that each row is packed tightly next to the previous row.
• As you reach the spot where the strip ends are taped, remove the tape.
• The suggested pattern for the weave on the face side is a 2 by 2 twill, but many variations are possible. No weaving is done on the back side.

• If it is necessary, add an additional weaver by overlapping a new weaver and concealing the end in the weaving on the face side.
• Wrap and weave the entire length of the aluminum blank. Taper the end of the weaver as it ends along the back. (Illustration #9)

• Dampen the portions of the ash strips where they will be turned to the back so that they don't crack when they are bent.
• Use the Wonder tool to insert the ends of the ash strips back under 1-2" of wrapping at the back side. Slip the end of the tool under at least 1" of the back wrapping and insert a splint between the two ends of the tool and pull back through the wrapping tightly.

• Trim off the ends.
• Sign and date your bracelet on the back side.

• Bend the bracelet into a "C" shape to fit your wrist.
• All number of weaving patterns and color combinations will work with this bracelet, or use the same idea to create hair clips, pins or pendants.

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All text and graphics © Susi Nuss, 1998