I recently made these textured string bracelets from April’s issue of Martha Stewart Living as a birthday gift for my sister. While a little time consuming, the final product is really great. I like that each time you can create a new color scheme and design. One thing I noticed however, is that the instructions said that when you’re done with a color, “Cut the string, leaving a 3-inch tail; thread through a needle. Thread the tail under strings on inner side of bangle to secure.” I found that this was not a very solid finishing step (or simple), because the tail end could easily get loose or unravel. So instead, each time I was finished with a color, I would glue both the end and the beginning of the string to the bangle and start wrapping the new color around the two strands. This made me feel a lot better about how it would hold up in every day wear. It also provides a more seamless look if you are using multiple colors.

I’m sure it’s not the only time someone’s improved on a beautiful Martha idea! It just goes to show you that Martha isn’t perfect after all. I’m a big fan, so she’s still wonderful to me.

To see a larger version of the photo, please go here.