Introduction: Spider Rubber Band Bracelet: No Rainbow Loom Needed
10/15 Update: CLICK HERE FOR FULL LENGTH VIDEO EDITION.
I don't know about you but this rubber band bracelet is the only way I would get close to any spider. This Spider Rubber Band Bracelet is so cool, it could literally make you start flinging web. Just kidding, but it does grab a lot of attention. With 2 requests to do this instructable based off the concept I did for another bracelet (click here for that one) I created earlier this year, I knew it was time to recreate this bracelet to share.
What I love is that while this bracelet uses Rainbow Loom rubber bands; you do not even need a loom/ hook or even clips. Make yourself stand out by wearing one of these. They are also perfect for Halloween and cosplay.
Okay, come on, let's get this bracelet making party started by creating one big spider!
Step 1: Materials
Pretty easy on this list, all you need are some small rubber bands.
For my spider I choose the following colors:
Purple (head and body) You will need the most of this color.
Pink (eyes) Only need 2.
Black (body base and legs)
White (web)
If you like another color combo, get creative and go for it. I know that next time I build this one, I'd want to try out the glow in the dark ones.
*A quick note, I am sensitive to latex and Rainbow Loom rubber bands are latex free. Also these rubber bands do not break like the cheap ones you find in bulk for a few dollars less.
Step 2: Building a Skeleton
The body and the head needs to be built first. I coined the term, "skeleton" for when rubber bands are attached together, end to end by tying them to each other.
1. For the body you will need a bit more rubber bands in the skeleton than the head. I just start rolling one end of the skeleton into a ball and the every last rubber band, I used to loop 2 times around the whole thing to secure it. I did the same for the purple head.
2. These bases are not perfect and as you can see, there are always lumps and loops. Don't worry about these. The loops actually are useful because you will need to find 2 of them to pull out, 1 in the head and 1 in the body, to attach to each other.
3. Add more purple to stabilize and contour the head and body.
Step 3: Legs
1. For the legs you will need to make 8 spider legs. Each leg create a small skeleton of 1 black tied to 1 white.
2. Loops the black pieces in alternating sides to the neck of the spider.
3. To create the thicker leg it's time to "bead." A bead is very easy to make. To bead grab a black rubber band and twist it several times around the black skeleton leg of the spider. I used 4 black rubber bands to create beads along each leg.
4. When all the legs are done, the spider will look almost right. You can fatten it up by adding more purple rubber bands throughout the head and body. Make sure when looping the bands to ensure that the legs are also included so that they will appear easy when spread out instead of in a cluster.
Note that in the last picture I use the loom only so I can show you spread out how the spider legs look. Again, no loom needed.
Step 4: Eyes
1. Tie a skeleton of 3 purple rubber bands. Bead 2 pink onto the middle purple rubber band. Make sure to space the pink appropriately as eyes for your spider.
2. Secure the eyes by looping of the right and left of the middle rubber band to the top legs. Then loop the 2 other sides appropriately to the body.
3. Add more purple to the head and body to secure the eyes.
Yay, the spider is now complete and finishing the web is next.
Step 5: Web
To make the web took a bit of figuring out. Thankfully long nails helped me in untying the mistakes I kept making as this bracelet was a learning process. The good news is I have figured out how many rubber bands you need to make a nice fitting web.
1. The web for under the head will be created first. Build 2 skeletons of 1 white with 1 purple. Use the purple to attach the white to the bottom side of the spider.
2. The top set of legs need another white each. There are a total of 3 whites to the second set of legs which was then tied with 1 white extra..
3. Next are the very bottom legs. They need 2 white rubber bands attached to each and then tied and spaced with 1 white. The attached white will need 1 white on each side.
4. Transition to the 3rd set of legs by making the web 2 whites long each. Each of the end white should meet with the end white of the 4th/ bottom legs and be tied together with another white rubber band. Add 2 more whites to each side and then tie them together in a double knot.
5. Secure the 2nd and 3rd legs together using a skeleton of 2 whites.
Yay, the spider bracelet is all done!
Step 6: How to Wear
This Spider Rubber Band Bracelet is easiest to wear by:
1. Place the spider on top of your hand, right side up.
2. Look for the double-knot loop and bring that bracelet piece under your wrist.
3. Look for the open single knot loop and bring that bracelet piece under your hand.
4. Place the 4 open white rubber bands appropriately on each finger. I like to do the ones that come under the eyes first.
As you can see, this bracelet can be worn left or right handed and even the spider can rest against your palm.
*For a better fit on the fingers, I think it would be best to use thin, white metal rings that are sized more appropriately for your fingers instead of the rubber bands. These Rainbow Loom bands can constrict the blood flow to your fingers if they are too tight. You can also switch the finger white webs with larger size rubber bands too.
Although it won't look as cool, you can also opt to forgo the finger bands and tie the 2 webs pairs as loops with more white skeletons. Just secure it between the fingers instead of on each one.
I hope you enjoy this bracelet and thank you for looking at my instructable. :-)
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Participated in the
Halloween Costume Contest
