Bead book thongs replace standard, everyday style bookmarks making wonderful gifts for book lovers. A beginner or advanced bead crafter can create beautiful book thongs using miscellaneous and left over beads in your bead stash.
Supply List
- Bead string wire (such as #12 Beadalon nylon coated stainless steel wire)
- Crimp beads
- Jump ring
- Head pins
- Assorted beads (glass, metal, crystal, lampwork, gemstones)
- Seed beads
- Charms (optional)
Tools
- Wire cutters
- Round nose pliers
- Bent nose pliers
- Beading board, work mat, or towel (this prevents your beads from rolling away)
Instructions
- Measure and cut a 17” length of wire. Set it aside. Choose which beads will be the first 2 inches and last 2 inches of the thong. Seed beads will go between these two sections. For a simple or beginner style project, choose a charm and attach a jump ring to it. A more complicated method will be described later.
- Next, string a crimp bead along with the charm’s jump ring onto the wire, slipping the wire back into the crimp bead which creates a loop around the jump ring. Your excess length of wire should measure about 1” and will be hidden inside the beads strung. Using the bent nose pliers, pinch the crimp bead closely to the jump ring and tightly. Make sure the wire can’t slip from the crimp bead.
- Take the first set of beads you selected; string them onto the wire following the crimp beads. Hide the excess end of the wire inside the beads. Follow the first section of decorative beads with the seed beads. Continue stringing seed beads until your thong measures approximately 13” excluding the charm. Add your last section of decorative beads onto the wire keeping the last bead or small charm (with jump ring) set aside.
- Slide a crimp bead onto the wire followed by the last bead or charm’s jump ring. Slip the wire through the crimp bead creating a loop around the last bead/jump ring; pull it tight and slide the wire into last few beads. Use the bent nose pliers again to squeeze the crimp bead over the wire securing it tightly. Clip any remaining wire beyond 1” access.
The finished book thong will measure about 15”or 16”. For larger books, start with a long wire adding 2 to 3” extra to the length for securing with crimp beads. There are many variations and themes that can be created using color and style of beads and charms. For example use a special lampwork bead as the focal point and an accent bead on the opposite end. Or create a themed bookmark as gifts for people with different interests using themed charms or beads.
More Complex Beaded Book Thong
This is for someone with more experience in beading. Select several small sets of beads. Set of 3 to 5 beads is best. The amount is up to you. Slide each set of bead onto a head pin, then using round nose pliers bend the wire making a loop and wrap the excess around the top. Create as many of these little “charms” as you like to use on your thong. They are gorgeous mixed with charms. Attach your bead charms onto the jump rings of the charms. You may want to attach them after your thong is completed so it is easier to handle while working with the crimp beads since several charms on the ends may get in the way.
