Friendship bracelets are jewelry made from threads of different colors and given as a token of friendship. Give some to your best friend or keep them to vary your bracelet collection. In addition, if you have talent in this kind of confection, you could even sell them! Start by learning the basic techniques for making them. Then enhance your bracelets with braids, amulets, and beads.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: start the bracelet
Step 1. Choose several colored embroidery threads
You are the artist now. Choose as many wires as you want as long as you are using more than three. Select the color combinations that you like and that could make a pretty bracelet. Be creative. If you only use one color, you will not be able to create a pattern.
If you choose between four and six, you will get a thinner bracelet while eight to ten threads will make a thicker bracelet. The more you put in, the thicker the bracelet
Step 2. Measure and cut the first wire
Measure a length of thread that is slightly longer than the distance from your fingertip to your shoulder, and then cut it. This way you will have enough yarn to wrap it around the wrist and create the pattern. It is better if the wire is too long than too short, which is why you should cut it longer if you are in doubt.
Step 3. Use the first wire to measure the others
You want a nice, regular bracelet. Hold the first thread against the others and cut them to the same length as the latter.
Step 4. Tie the threads in a knot
Then hold them on a stable surface with a pin. For example, you can tie it to your pants, a pillow or other fabric that you won't damage. If you can't find this kind of surface around you, watch your feet! Wrap the bracelet around your toe to hold it in place.
You can also tape it to a surface or hold it in a closed drawer. However, it is better to hold it with a pin than with duct tape to prevent it from coming undone after twisting it
Step 5. Lay out the wires
Before you start tying the knots, you need to lay out the threads so that the colors are in the order you want the stripes to appear on the pattern. To make the knot at the end of the bracelet look thinner, try not to cross the threads too much on top of each other.
Step 6. Pass the first thread over the second
Then tie a knot. You will need to make a capeler hitch so that the knot will hold.
- First, pass the first thread over the second. Be sure to leave a length of the first on the other side to form a loop.
- Place the first thread behind the second and pass it through the loop.
- Hold the second thread firmly while pulling on the first. As you do this, the knot should come up over the second thread. You have just finished the first node. It wasn't that hard, was it?
Step 7. Repeat with the other wires
Once you've made the second knot with the first and second threads, you'll need to use the first to tie two knots with the third thread, then the fourth, etc. Continue until there are two knots in each thread.
- Make sure to pull on the wire until you feel resistance. Be careful not to pull too hard. If some knots are tighter than others, the bracelet will look clogged and jagged instead of looking neat and tidy.
- Continue to tie knots with the first thread around all the others, from left to right, until you have tied all the threads to the first.
Part 2 of 3: continuing the knots
Step 1. Repeat with the leftmost wire
Congratulations, you have completed the first row of threads! Don't stop there. The next thread to tie is the one on the left. Once you are done, each thread will end up on the right and you start over each time with a different color. Repeat the double knot technique with the leftmost thread moving from left to right.
Step 2. Continue until you get the correct length
You now have a nice bracelet, but you need to make sure it looks good on you. Wrap it around your wrist. There should be enough space for you (or the person wearing the bracelet) to fit two fingers through the wrist.
Step 3. Tie a knot at the other end
Make sure that the knot does not cause the bracelet to shrink so much that you cannot put it on.
Step 4. Cut off the excess wire
If you have any thread left, you can cut it with a pair of scissors.
Step 5. Tie the bracelet
Now that you have tied knots at both ends, tie them to close your bracelet. If you want it to be tighter, have a friend tie it around your wrist.
Part 3 of 3: add braids and beads
Step 1. Add a braid
If you want to give it more style, add a braid. It will be on one end of the bracelet, so you should start it before you tie the knot. Collect pieces of thread and put them in groups of two or three to obtain the main threads of the braid (one on the left, one in the middle and one on the right).
Step 2. Cross the left thread
Take the thread which is now on the right and pass it over the middle thread. It now becomes the middle thread. Then take the one on the left and pass it over the middle one so that it takes its place as the middle thread.
Just repeat these steps! Continue in the same pattern, right strand over middle strand, left strand over middle strand, until you get the length of braid you want, usually 2-3cm should be enough
Step 3. Tie the braid in a knot
Once you've reached the length of braid you want (2-3cm), tie a knot before you start braiding.
Step 4. Braid the other end onto the bracelet
Once you have a good length, finish the bracelet with a short length of braid.
Step 5. Add amulets or beads
If you feel like it, you can decorate the bracelet by adding amulets or beads to the threads you have braided. Tie a knot to hold them in place.
Your bracelet is now complete, congratulations! Give it to a good friend, try to sell it, or keep it if it's too good to part with
Advice
- Try to finish the bracelet in one go so you don't forget where you left off. If you're worried about forgetting the color order, write it down.
- To help you braid more easily while making the bracelet (and prevent it from breaking if you pull too hard), cover the strands with wax first. You just need to rub them on an old candle.
- Choose colors carefully. You can use your favorites or you can also choose ones that mean something (eg red is for love, yellow is for pleasure, etc.).
- Loosely lay all the threads on top of each other to get an idea of the pattern you are going to get.
- Do not tie knots that are too tight or too loose. If they are too tight, they could break or make the pattern less noticeable. If they are not tight enough, they will come apart easily.
- If you are making a double knot for your knots, be sure to do this for all knots. If you make two successive knots on the same thread, you will help the bracelet to stay flatter.
- If it starts to twist, wipe it with an iron or use a paper clip to keep it straight. Move the paper clip as you work. You can also use a clipboard.
- If you tie the knots backwards, the angle of the pattern will be reversed. You can try this technique for an arrow or zigzag shaped bracelet.
- If you do a lot of them, you could make money selling them.
Warnings
- The embroidery thread is very fine. Be careful not to tie knots in the wrong places. If you do, all is not lost, you can still undo them with tweezers or safety pin, but it is difficult and you could undo the pattern or break the bracelet. It will be very difficult to untie these knots.
- Do not tighten the bracelet too much on your wrist so as not to cut off your blood circulation!
- Try not to get your fingers caught in any knots or threads.