The Tool you didn't know you can't live without!

This week's Facebook Live focused on this innovative gem - the Bracelet Knotter Tool designed by the amazingly talented Katie Hacker. Katie joined us for this Video and it was so fun to have her back working with the Beadalon Team!

The tool works by holding a bangle bracelet in the foam pad secured to your work space with the acrylic C clamp. If your desk is too thick or doesn't hold the tool as you'd like, you can use a Tacky Bead Mat (another great use found!) to hold it in place. The foam pad holds your bangle tight enough to knot around it, but gently enough that it won't mar the wire or crack any beads that you have added.

Katie originally designed the Knotter Tool to help her hold Cup Chain Bangles in place while she did macrame knots around them. I love discovering other, new ways to use it! The Katie Knotter Tool is definitely one of those tools that you didn't know you needed, and once you have it, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

Project: Simple, Knotted, Bangle Bracelet using the Katie Knotter Tool by Beadalon

Materials:
14 Gauge Artistic Wire
Artistic Wire Crimp Tubes for 14 Gauge Wire
B-Lon Tex 210 Beading Thread

Tools:
3D Bracelet Jig
Katie Knotter Tool
Mighty Crimping Tool
Bracelet Bending Pliers
Scissors

Instructions:
1. Form a bangle with 14 Gauge Artistic Wire using the 3D Bracelet Jig and make sure it is sized correctly for your wrist.
2. Use the Mighty Crimp Pliers to attach an AW Crimp Tube to both ends.
3. Use the Bracelet Bending Pliers to bend the AW Crimp Tube so it matches the curve of the bracelet.
4. Put the bangle in the foam part of the Katie Knotter Tool and you're ready to start knotting!
5. Working off of a spool of B-Lon, attach it to the bangle with an overhand knot.
6. Continue making overhand knots around the bangle.
7. After every 5 or so knots, re-position your thread by passing it back through the center of the bangle to the other side.
8. Continue around the bangle and knot over the AW Crimp Tube until you meet the beginning knot.
9. Tie the two threads together with an overhand knot and add a dangle to the ends of the thread to finish it off. I love that the ends of the B-Lon are stiff enough that they will thread through beads without needing to use a needle. So convenient!

A great big thank you to all of my students at the JTV Experience last month for helping me further develop this project so I could offer some additional tips and tricks for making it. Rewatching the Facebook Live Video is a great way to see the project, and for a boiled down version including part numbers and instructions, check out the YouTube Video here.

Thanks to everyone who participated, and be sure to join us next week and most Wednesdays at 3:00 pm EST on the Beadalon Facebook Page. Like, follow, comment...you know the drill!

Happy beading,
Meredith