Make a Lizard Bracelet!

i recently went to a festival, and loved seeing everyone’s cool accessories, so here’s one of my own! Based off of the famous 90s bead lizards!

The 3 colours are represented by letters:

a main colour (pink)

b highlights (purple)

c eyes (black)

1. 3 different coloured beads (I used pony beads, but seed beads and other round shaped ones work too)
2. A long string (roughly 3 times your wrist) - embroidery floss, wool, twine, fishing wire (only for the tiniest beads), fabric covered elastic (I don’t recommend clear elastic)

For step one, all you have to do is simply fold your string in half, and tie a loop in the centre!

What we’re doing in this step is a simple beaded ladder stitch.

1. Start off by threading one bead of colour a onto your right string
2. Thread your left string into the side of the bead that your right string is coming out of (so they Criss cross)
3. Pull both strings firmly- make sure not to pull them too tightly, as it causes the beads to curl
4. Repeat this process with two a beads
5. Again repeat and increase your beads with your two c beads and one a beads (it should be c a c)
6. Repeat this method, and decrease back to two as

This bit is the most difficult bit, but don’t fret! It’s still fairly simple. On this part, we will not be using the ladder stitch, and instead focusing on our individual strings.

1. On one string, thread two as, and three bs
2. Thread your string back through the two a beads - this will cause the b beads to form little hands
3. If your arm in in the middle of the string (as shown), simply loosen the beads and push them back towards the body (this may take a few tries)
4. Repeat on the other side

We’re back to our ladder stitch for this step. I’ve written out the pattern, and if you get lost, return to the head step!

1. Thread a b a
2. Increase a b b a
3. Repeat above
4. Decrease back to a b a
5. 
   
6. Repeat the arm steps for the legs -there are no changes to worry about, as the limbs are identical
7. Ladder stitch a a

To make the tail, all you have to do is ladder stitch with a single bead for each row! I chose alternating colours, but it’s up to you

Thread the beads until the length of the lizard is roughly the circumference of your wrist

To finish it off, I tied a knot to secure the beads - if you’re using any sort of thin string, I recommend a surgeon’s knot, and if you’re using thick string, a granny knot should work fine

I think that everyone has their own way of tying off. For me, I simply thread the end through the first loop, and knot ! There are several other ways of doing this, and luckily you’re on the site to learn them hahah

And there you have it!