Here’s how to make a glasses chain using an old necklace and some hair elastics!
Sometimes I like to MacGyver some things together to make something far more useful, this is one of those times. I needed a sunglasses chain for an upcoming trip where I definitely didn’t want to lose my glasses. In the past I’ve made glasses chains using specialised findings, but I found that the rubber would wear out and break very quickly, so I wanted a more durable option… cue hair elastics! By tying some hair elastics cleverly, I’ve now got a stylish glasses chain that is far more long lasting than my old rubber pieces. How cool!?!
Please note that this tutorial contains affiliate links.
You will need the following tools and materials to make your glasses chain:
1: Two thin hair elastics.

2: A long chain that you don’t use anymore. I used this snake chain costume jewelry necklace.

3: Some flat nose pliers for opening and closing jump rings.

Here are the steps to make your own handy glasses chain using hair elastics:
1: Using your pliers. Remove the clasp and any additional hardware from the jump rings on either end of the chain.

2: Close the jump rings.

3: Take one of the hair elastics, fold it in half and thread it though one of the jump rings at the end of the chain.

4: Loop the other end of the elastic through the loop that you just threaded through the jump ring and pull it tight.


5: Create a knot above the loop you just made to secure the elastic on the jump ring.

6: Now find a spot near the middle of the elastic, but closer to the open end of it, and create a knot. You might need to make it closer to the end of the elastic or further away depending on the width of your glasses arms.

7: Repeat steps 3 to 6 for the second elastic to complete the glasses chain.

Once you have both elastics in place your glasses chain is ready to use! Here’s my finished chain.


And here are some more I made:
This one was made with a handmade beaded copper chain.


Here’s some pre-made beaded chain you can use if you don’t want to make your own:
And this one was made using a vintage plastic chain.



Here are some plastic chain options you can use:
Here are some more glasses chain tutorials you can follow using traditional findings, if you want to use elastics instead, just follow the steps in this tutorial to knot them in place 😉
- Here’s how to make a glasses chain using a ball chain. This one also has clips so you can use it to keep track of a face mask or other accessory.
- Here’s a simple glasses chain with bead accents.
- This is a fully beaded glasses chain.
- This one shows you how to make a chain using head pins and beads.
- This glasses chain is made from recycled materials.
- Here’s a tutorial that shows you how to make a rhinestone glasses chain.
- This glasses chain has dangling charms on it.
- And finally, this tutorial shows you how you can use a glasses chain as a holder for your wireless headphones!


