How to Attach a Seed Bead Clasp

Seed bead jewelry is sometimes hard to finish when a combination of stitch patterns are incorporated, but not anymore! There's no need to fret when you use this toggle clasp designed just for seed beads. There are two different types of seed bead clasps designed for two different purposes: to finish with jump rings or to finish with a bar. Clasps with jump rings are ideal for smaller bead weaving designs and offer a more secure hold, offered in either a three jump ring or five jump ring style. Clasps with bars are a little more versatile, able to be used in bead weaving stitches, multistranded techniques or mixed media ideas. This helpful hint is courtesy of Teresa Meister and instructs how to attach a five jump ring clasp to a bracelet band made using a ladder stitch and brick stitch combination. Please refer to the images provided.

Using 8/0 seed beads, use a combination of ladder stitch and brick stitch to make a bracelet band seven beads high and three rows across.

R1: Using ladder stitch, make the first row three beads high for the desired length of the bracelet.

R2: Using the first row as a base, make Row 2 one bead high using brick stitch. Include one increase in Row 2 so that the number of beads across the rows is the same as in Row 1.

R3: Using brick stitch, make Row 3 three beads high. Include one increase in Row 3 so that the number of beads across the row is the same as in Rows 1 and 2. End the threads.

The rows are numbered R1 to R7. Start a new thread. On one end of the bracelet band, sew through the two beads in Rows 1 and 2 shown. Pick up an 8/0 seed bead and place it between the second ring and the end ring of the clasp. Sew through the end ring.).

Pick up one 8/0 seed bead. To attach the 8/0 to the end of the clasp, sew up through the end ring, the 8/0 and through the next ring in the clasp. Pick up an 8/0. Sew down through the three beads in Rows 3, 2 and 1 on the end row of the bracelet band. Continue up through the three 8/0's in Rows 1, 2 and 3 of the clasp. Sew through the third ring on the clasp.

Pick up an 8/0. Sew through the next ring in the clasp. Pick up an 8/0. Sew up through the last bead of the end row in Row 7.

Pick up an 8/0. To attach the 8/0 to the end of the clasp, sew through the end ring, the next 8/0, the next ring and next 8/0. Sew through the next three beads in Rows 5, 6 and 7 on the end of the band.

To secure the connection, sew up through the 8/0 on the end of the clasp, the end ring, and the next 8/0. Sew through the next two beads in Rows 6 and 7 on the end of the bracelet band. Sew back through all the beads and rings of the clasp. End the threads.

Repeat steps two through six to attach the other end of the bracelet band to second half of the clasp.