How to make your own beaded phone strap

Remember the phone charms that used to hang off your Nokias? Enlarged into a phone strap, the beaded phone charm is now a strap that hugs your wrist. A pandemic accessory that blew up our IG algorithms and feeds, it graced the wrists of K-pop idols, models, singers and fashion girls. An “It” accessory of the decade, it’s certain that beaded phone straps are going to take over mini bags.

Now that they sit on the loops of smartphone cases worldwide, a phone strap can set you back from $2 to $250 SGD for one. Rather than breaking the bank for a phone strap, I decided to look no further than my own drawer to revive two broken bracelets, which I hadn’t repaired for 10 years. If you had bracelets that broke like mine did, you can turn them into phone straps, too!

Tools:
2 bracelets
1 charm (optional)
1 cotton thread
1 needle
1 scissors

Step 1: Cut your thread

Credit: Michelle Varinata

1/6

It has to be long enough to fit around your wrist. When you cut, give yourself some extra length so that you have enough to loop the whole strap through your phone later. Then, loop it around a needle and make a knot on two sides.

Step 2: String the beads

Credit: Michelle Varinata

2/6

String your beads and charm along the thread.

Step 3: Secure the ends

Credit: Michelle Varinata

3/6

After you put in the last bead, push your needle through the first bead and tie a knot.

Step 4: Make a knot

Credit: Michelle Varinata

4/6

Make a knot at the middle between two strings.

Step 5: Loop it onto your phone case

Credit: Michelle Varinata

5/6

Slide the top half of your strap on the side loop of your phone case.

Step 6: Loop the other end

Credit: Michelle Varinata

6/6

Loop your strap through the gap of the second loop.