This tutorial will teach you how to make a Hello Kitty cuff kandi bracelet, and in the process you will also learn how to follow patterns, and how to make multi-stitch kandi cuffs in general. If you really want to learn how to follow kandi patterns, you will need to keep referring back to the pattern to understand why we start at the bead we do.
Supplies you'll need: scissors, elastic string, 6x9mm pony beads in the colors shown below.
This tutorial is copyright to Kirsty Forrester of kandipatterns.com and cannot be redistributed.
These are the colors we will be using:
This is the pattern we will make the cuff from:
Click the image to the left to download a printable PDF of the pattern, bead rows, and bead counts. I strongly recommend you print this out and follow along if you want to fully understand how to read patterns.
Basics of following kandi patterns:
The pattern above is for a kandi cuff that's 30 beads around. Each numbered layer is a layer of the cuff. You'll notice that the first two rows of the pattern are both labeled "1." That's because when you start making your cuff, the first layer (which will just be a single stranded bracelet) will be composed of both of the "1" rows. It has to be this way so the single stranded kandi bracelet will be 30 beads around, not 15. You read the pattern from bottom to top (the columns), and left to right (the rows). However, as you work your way up the rows, you will not always start at the first bead in the row. You will start at the bead outlined in green on each row. If you make your cuffs in the exact same way as this tutorial, and your pattern has an even number of beads (like all the patterns on this site) this is the pattern your starting beads will follow:
| Row | Start at bead # | Row | Start at bead # |
| 1 | 1 | 11 | 6 |
| 2 | 1 | 12 | 6 |
| 3 | 2 | 13 | 7 |
| 4 | 2 | 14 | 7 |
| 5 | 3 | 15 | 8 |
| 6 | 3 | 16 | 8 |
| 7 | 4 | 17 | 9 |
| 8 | 4 | 18 | 9 |
| 9 | 5 | 19 | 10 |
| 10 | 5 | 20 | 10 |
Hopefully you can see how the pattern goes from there. Note that you shouldn't rely entirely on this chart, because it may not work for every single pattern, and it definitely doesn't work if you make the cuff in a different way, e.g. tie off after every row. You should keep checking your cuff with the pattern to make sure you're on track.
But for this cuff, this chart does work. So looking at the pattern again...
...these are the beads you will string for the first row:
Here are the two main rules to remember as you're making this kandi cuff:
1) When stringing a new bead, skip a bead; don't string through the bead directly next to where you're coming from
2) When ending the row, you'll need to pull through two beads (this rule goes for all cuffs with an even number of beads for the base)
Starting Row 1
Cut a long piece of string - as long as you are comfortable working with. You can always tie on more later. Then string 30 beads in the order shown above, and move the long end of the string to the right hand side.
Step 2:
Then, take the long end of the string, and pull it through the first bead at the end of the short end - the hot pink one.
Step 3:
Pull the long end of the string tightly until the beads come together to form a single stranded bracelet.
Your string should be coming out of a hot pink bead.
Starting Row 2
Row 2 - Bead 1
So now we're on row 2. The first bead we'll string is a hot pink one. Why? Refer back to the bead chart and pattern. On row 2, we start at the 1st bead, outlined in green. That bead is hot pink.
In the picture on the left, and future pictures, the bead highlighted in yellow is where our string is coming from, the green one is the new bead, and the blue one is the bead we're pulling through.
So, string your hot pink bead, skip a bead, and pull through the black bead.
Then pull the long end of the string tight until the beads snap into place. Be careful not to pull too tight, especially if you are using plastic string rather than elasticated string.
Row 2 - Bead 2
The next bead we string is light pink. We're coming from a black bead, and stringing through another light pink bead. The bead that we skipped is light pink.
Be sure to pull tightly after you string this new bead:
Row 2 - Bead 3
The next bead we string is hot pink. We're coming from a light pink bead, stringing through a black bead. The bead we skipped is a hot pink one.
Row 2 - Bead 4
The next bead we string is light pink. We're coming from a black bead, stringing through a hot pink bead. The bead we skipped is a light pink one.
By this time I hope you get the idea of how to string beads. Continue the rest of the row yourself, using the chart below.
Bead 5 is next. Remember to skip a bead. When you get to bead 15, I'll resume with the photos.
Row 2 - Bead 15
Last bead of row 2! It's a light pink bead. We're coming froma black bead and going through two hot pink ones to complete the row.
Starting Row 3
Row 3 is where it starts to get easier, because you'll be able to see where the beads dip down, leaving space for the new bead you're going to add.
Row 3 - Bead 1
Looking at the bead line above, you'll see that the first bead in row 3 is black. Look back to the pattern and chart, and you'll see that this is because for the third row, we start at the second bead in the pattern.
We come from hot pink bead, skip a black bead, and go through a light pink bead. Pull tightly after adding the bead (not shown).
Row 3 - Bead 2
Bead 2 on the third row is hot pink. We come from a light pink bead, skip a light pink bead, and go through a hot pink bead. Pull tightly after you've added the bead (not shown).
Bead 3 will be black. You'll be coming from a hot pink bead, skipping a black bead, and going through a light pink bead. Finish stringing the rest of row, and I'll give you more directions once you get to the last bead (15), which will be a black one.
Row 3 - Bead 15
This bead will be the end of the row, so remember that we will have to pull through two beads at the end.
We come from a light pink bead, skip a hot pink, and then pull through a hot pink and black bead. Pull tightly.
Row 3 complete!
Row 3 is now complete. Do row 4 yourself based on the pattern and bead line below, and I'll return with instructions for the last bead.
Tip: for bead 1 (black) you'll skip a light pink bead and string through a hot pink one.
Row 4
Row 4, Bead 15
Our last bead is a hot pink one. We're coming from a black bead, skipping a hot pink bead, and pulling through two black beads.
Row 4 complete!
After this row, your kandi cuff should be starting to look like Hello Kitty!
Row 5
Do row 5 yourself based on the pattern and bead line below, and I'll return with instructions for the last bead.
Row 5, Bead 15
Our last bead is a hot pink one. We'll be coming from a hot pink bead, skipping a black bead, and pulling through a black bead and hot pink bead. Pull tight.
I'm now going to let you do the rest of the rows yourself, following the bead lines below. When you get to the end, I'll show you how to tie off your cuff.
Remember, simply string the beads in the order they're shown. And when you get to the last bead, you'll be pulling through two beads to end the row. Here's a chart of the beads you will be pulling through at the end of each row, so you can be sure you're on the right track (note, there's no easy way of telling from just the pattern which beads you'll be pulling through; you have to see as you go along)
| Row Number | Pull through these two beads at end of row: | |
| 6 | Hot pink, black |  |
| 7 | Black, black |  |
| 8 | Black, black |  |
| 9 | Black, hot pink |  |
| 10 | Hot pink, hot pink |  |
| 11 | Hot pink, white |  |
End of the last row (row 11) - Bead 15
Once you've strung bead 15 on row 11 (a hot pink bead), you should have pulled through a hot pink and white bead. This means that at the end, your string should be coming out of a white bead.
Tying off your cuff - top end
There are a few ways to tie off a cuff, so do whatever works best for you. But this is how I do it.
Take the end of your string, and push it down between a gap in a nearby bead. Then grab the end and pull it up so it's visible from the top of the cuff.
Next, fold the end up and pull it through the loop. Pull tightly and you will have made a knot. Make 1-2 more knots, then trim the excess string and pull the knot inside a nearby bead to hide it.
Repeat this process for the end of string leftover at the bottom end of the cuff.
The final result: Hello Kitty Kandi Cuff!
Ran out of string? Here's how to tie more on
Disregard the "old" and "new" labels if they confuse you. It's probably easier to go by which strings are on the right and left once you get past the first step.
Step 1:
Cut off a new piece of string, and hold it over the top of the old string in an X.
Step 2:
Fold the new piece of string underneath the old string, and flip both ends up.
This will cause the new string to be on the left, and the old on the right.
Step 3:
Next, hold the string on the right over the string on the left. Fold the right string under and through the loop you've just made and pull tight to create a knot. Repeat this process to create 1-2 more knots.
When you're finished, trim the excess string and pull the knot into the nearest bead to hide it.
