Tri-beads make great holiday craft the family can enjoy together

By Sue Kral
Photo by Kelly Day

Wreaths that can be made into necklaces, bracelets or tree ornaments? Must be the holidays!

Have you ever tried tri-beads? These little beads featuring three knobby points come with holes that are big enough for small hands to thread onto a chenille stem or “pipe cleaner.” And because the holes are big enough to be seen by older grandparents, they make for a great holiday craft for the entire family. Tri-beads can be purchased inexpensively at any craft or hobby store or variety department store.

The possibilities are endless for using tri-beads. You can make small wreaths by using shorter stems and gluing on a small bow made from _- inch ribbon to use as ornaments, or make longer stems and put several of them together to make a large wreath.

A bonus of this tri-bead craft is the exploration of patterns, which are a foundation for mathematical reasoning and thinking. This is the perfect hands-on way for kids to think about and create patterns, plus it gives little hands a chance to successfully practice those fine motor skills.

This craft is a real winner—educational for your kids, fun for the whole family and immediately successful. It’s sure to make your holidays happier.

Here’s what you need:

• 12-inch green chenille stems
• Tri-beads in any color combination you like
• Wire cutters or scissors

Here’s what you do:

1. Decide what you want to make (a wreath, candy cane, etc.) and how long you want the item to be, and choose a chenille stem. Cut the chenille stem at least an inch longer than you want the item to be.
2. Lay the beads out alongside the chenille stem in any pattern you like, but make sure the pattern is completed. Encourage your child to try several patterns until he or she is pleased. Make sure you leave at least a _-inch space at each end of the stem.
3. Thread the beads onto the chenille stem. It may be helpful to wrap some masking tape around the ends of the chenille stem to keep the beads from sliding off.
4. Twist the ends of the chenille stem together and push the sharp ends inside the beads.
5. Bend the stem into the desired shape.

Sue Kral is outreach coordinator for the Creative Discovery Museum.