Beaded elastic bracelets are convenient, versatile, and stylish evergreen choice of accessories.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much for them to snap. Oh, and the pain of watching the dozen or so beads scatter everywhere! So frustrating.
What makes elastic bracelets break? The most common reasons elastic bracelets break are, getting snagged by something, loose knots, everyday wear, and exposure to environmental factors
Still, it all begins with the quality of the string. It is of utmost importance that you use a top-notch cord that is right for jewelry making and is the correct thickness for the beads.
So what’s the best stretch string for bracelets? The best stretch string for bracelets is a high-grade polymer string. It is durable, comes in a variety of sizes, and is used by professional beaders. The most common sized string used for bracelets is 0.7mm thick.
If you are interested in making your own lovely bracelets, you obviously want to make pieces that will last. Particularly, if you intend to give them as gifts or go commercial and sell them at craft fairs or online.
With any pick from our recommendations below for the best stretch strings for bracelets, you will get a stellar quality elastic cord with incredible strength.
Let’s get down to the details.
How to Choose Stretch Strings For Bracelets
When choosing elastic string for bracelets, material type and size are the two most significant considerations. They determine the durability of your jewelry – and you certainly don’t want all your lovely work to come undone from a faulty string!
How Do You Choose the Right Size of the String?
Select your beads first. Then you just have to choose a string that goes through the bead with the smallest hole among your stash comfortably.
0.5mm-thick strings are suitable for seed beads and size 8 to 11 beads. If you’re not sure what size you have, know that this is one of the thinner strings out there, so it’s suitable for small beads.
0.7mm-thick strings will work with a wide range of bead sizes and is the most universal size. If you’re not sure sure what to choose, this is a pretty safe option, though there is always a small chance you’ll have to leave a couple of your smallest beads for another project if you don’t confirm sizes.
Medium to bulkier beads can do with a 1 or 1.2mm-thick string, respectively. Anything smaller may need to be doubled.
What Type of Stretch String is Best for Bracelets?
You can opt between a high-grade polymer string or a stretchy woven floss.
Polymer strings are the best stretch string for bracelets. It is excellent for durability and size variety and is what professionals use. However, tying knots may pose a challenge for novice crafters. Squirting a little glue always helps, though.
The floss is pretty, has color variants, is stretchy with an excellent memory, and is easier to use. However, the woven strands fray quickly, compromising your bracelets’ longevity. They are probably best for kid crafters because of the exciting colors and manageable slip when knotting.
Serious bracelet crafters are better off with polymer strings.
3 Best Stretch Strings For Bracelets
Now that you know what you need, let’s look at some options. We’ve researched and found our top three recommendations to get you started:
| Rank | Product | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Pepperell Stretch Magic Jewelry Cord | Clear, 0.7mm, 358 ft |
| 2. | BeadNova Elastic Beading String | Clear, 0.6-1.2mm, 109 yd |
| 3. | Bead ‘n Stretch Stretchy String | Clear, 0.7mm, 75 ft |
Read on to check them out with more detail. Happy beading!
1. Pepperell Stretch Magic Bead and Jewelry Cord
If you have mastered the art of bracelet making and are looking for an industrial-grade elastic string, Pepperell Stretch Magic is your go-to.
It is a stretchy yet sturdy rubber-like polymer string. Your bracelets won’t sag with age as other cheap elastic strings do.
The rounded string measures 0.7mm (0.028in) in diameter. You can tie triple or even quadruple knots without it being bulky.
Wrapped around the spool is 100m/ 358 feet of clear string ample for bulk churning of bracelets, which is way cheaper than several of its smaller reels and a great value for your money.
This quality is unmatched. This is one of the very best stretch strings for bracelets out there. Plus, it’s made in the US, which many are sure to appreciate. You will get your money’s worth with this one – and your fabulous creations will last to dazzle for ages.
2. BeadNova Elastic Beading String
This stretchy polyurethane string from BeadNova is strong and flexible with good ‘memory’. It always retracts to its original form, which is ideal in a stretchy bracelet.
It is sturdy enough for threading heavier beads, and has an admirable crystal, almost invisible quality. You also get two extra brass wires with the spool for an easier beading time.
Knotting may be a little tricky for beginners so glue might come in handy. But once you get the hang of things and make them tight enough, it holds up well.
The different diameter sizing options range between 0.6mm and 1.2mm. Each spool is a generous 100m/109 yards long.
BeadNova is an affordable elastic string with adequate strength and stretch. If you are making bulk bracelets on a budget, it will be the best elastic string for your bracelets.
3. Bead ‘n Stretch Stretchy String
Bead ‘n stretch is a name many experienced beaders already recognize. It is tough yet thin enough for nearly any bead size to pass through effortlessly.
With a decent amount of stretch, it doesn’t give out to everyday wear.
You get 75 feet (23m) in this compact spool, but you can always choose the two or three-pack for more yardage if it impresses you, and it will.
Otherwise, it’s a good amount for personal bracelets, a few gifts, or repair projects that don’t need plenty of string. As with any rubbery plastic cord, knotting can be a challenge, but as always, securing it with some glue always does the trick. The string comes transparent and is made in the US.
Good luck and enjoy your bracelet making!
Up Next: The Best String For Waist Beads
