Interlock Herringbone Bracelet Tutorial

Prep & stop bead: Thread a comfortable length of thread (~4–5 ft), add a stop bead and position it near the end. Make ladder base (7 rows): String 4 beads beside the stop bead and start ladder stitch: add 2 beads, sew back through the previous row so beads sit snug. Repeat adding 2 beads per pass until you have seven ladder rows across. Reverse & turn: Exit the top of the last ladder row, flip/turn the work so the stop bead sits at the bottom — you’ll build herringbone frames off this foundation. Begin first herringbone row & attach clasp: From row 7 add 2 beads (first herringbone unit), sew down through row 6 so the two beads sit like a Y. As you progress, loop the clasp through the beadwork (first loop on one side, then subsequent loops as you travel down) — attaching the clasp now makes finishing easier. Travel path for clasp loops: After adding each small herringbone unit, sew up/down across the ladder rows and pass the thread through the next clasp loop as shown — reinforce by repeating around each loop once or twice. Work traditional herringbone across the width: Switch to regular herringbone: exit bead #1 of a herringbone pair, add 2 beads, sew down through bead #2. Repeat across the piece. Your thread will step out to the side; this is expected. Add center beads (pearl inserts): When you reach the center of a herringbone pair, add: 11/0 → 6 mm pearl → 11/0, then continue the herringbone on the opposite side. These center units sit inside the herringbone “frame.” Add side accent beads: As you progress, add single 11/0s (or a contrasting color) on the outside edge where the thread steps off — these give the framed, interlock look. Continue the repeat: add 2 herringbone beads → down bead #2 → add accents → share center beads as required. Repeat pattern for length: Continue the herringbone rows, inserting pearls and side accents the same way until the bracelet reaches desired wrist length. Create ladder finish at the far end: Use the last two herringbone rows to start a ladder stitch (mirror of the start): add pairs of beads to form the ladder, progressing so the ladder finish aligns with your starting ladder. Attach final clasp loops: Sew through the clasp loops on the finishing side the same way you did at the start (up/down through rows and through each clasp loop). Center and reinforce the clasp with extra passes. Secure thread with sewer’s knot & bury tails: Weave under a bridge thread, make a small sewer’s knot (loop through twice), pull tight into the work, then run the thread away into another section and trim/burn the tail. Final checks: Check tension and symmetry, add reinforcement passes through the clasp area and problematic joins, then trim and finish.