Fishing swivels are small metal devices made of two rings with a pivoting joint in-between, designed to keep a fishing line from tangling. They also make inexpensive and cute bracelets with the addition of some beads.
Swivels come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and can be purchased at sporting goods stores, or at Amazon.com. The size 10 and 14 swivels are best for bracelets.
This can get a little fiddly, as the clasps and beads are small, and you will probably have to unbend the clasp in order to get the beads around the bend in the swivel. The swivels tend to come uncrimped if you open and shut them more than once; try beading the entire bracelet then recrimping each swivel with the needle-nosed pliers (don't do them as you go in case it comes uncrimped, as it is hard to get the swivel back together after that).
Make sure that the beads will fit onto your swivels before you start.
You can also use spring-ring clasps on your bracelet, if you want.
Fishing Swivel Bracelets
Supplies:
various beads
dangly charms, if desired
snap fishing swivels (6-8 per bracelet)
spring-ring clasps (optional)
Equipment:
paper plates or plastic trays (like container lids) to keep the beads in one place
needle-nosed pliers
Directions:
Open up a swivel and thread on a few beads. You may need to unbend the wire quite a lot in order to get the beads around the curve.
Thread the loop end of another swivel onto the beaded one, and close the first swivel. Use the needle-nosed pliers if the swivel is hard to close.
If you want to put more than 1 or 2 beads on a swivel, you will need to thread on a bead or two, then the next swivel, then the remaining beads, so that the next swivel is more-or-less centered between the beads.
Open the second swivel, bead it, and thread on another swivel. Repeat until the bracelet fits around your wrist. You may want to make it long enough that you can put the bracelet on without having to open and close a swivel, or use a spring-ring clasp.
Adapted from Dangles and Bangles by Sherri Haab and Michelle Haab (Watson & Guptill, c2005).
