How to Make Thread Wristbands
Thread wristbands have been made and exchanged as friendship bracelets for decades. Part of the fun of making these wristlets is learning a new pattern and teaching it to a friend and, conversely, learning a new pattern from a friend. There are a myriad of designs, from the simple horizontal line to the chevron to alphabet, which allow you to spell out names or words such as "peace" and "love." You can start with a diagonal pattern that is fairly straightforward.
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Things You'll Need
- Embroidery thread in four colors
- Tape
- Safety pin and cushion
- Blunt embroidery needle
Instructions
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1
Cut two lengths of each color of embroidery floss to about 24 inches long.
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2
Line the top of each thread even with the others.
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3
Wrap the threads around an index finger about 6 inches from one end, forming a loop. Pull the short ends around the loop and through, forming a knot.
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Pin the knot to a cushion or tape it to a table to use as a work surface.
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Separate the colors so that two threads of matching colors are side by side. Arrange the colors in a sequence that will be easy to remember if they become jumbled. The threads must be kept in the same order.
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Pulling the thread furthest to the left up, wrap it over the second thread and then up and through to form a knot. Repeat the knot, wrapping the first thread over the second, up and through to form a second knot on the second thread.
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Put the second thread down and repeat the double knot, over the third thread, around, up and through twice. Move to the fourth thread and make the double knot again. Continue until the first thread has made two double knots on each of the other threads. Leave the first thread on the right side of the threads when this first row is complete.
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Pick up the second thread, which is now in the first thread position. Make a double overhand knot on each of the other threads working in order from left to right. Reaching the last thread, which was the first thread at the beginning, make the two knots and place the second thread to the right of the first thread.
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Continue making a row of double knots across the bracelet and placing the most recently used thread at the end of the row when that row is complete. This rotates the colors and prevents a knot mistake. If a mistake is noticed, use the blunt embroidery needle to pick the mistake knot out and then proceed.
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10
When the knots have been repeated enough to make a bracelet of the desired length, tie all the threads together in a knot, as you did at the beginning. Leave a 6-inch tail at this end, as well.
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Divide one set of eight tail threads into groups of three, two and three. Take out one knot and braid one of the 6-inch ends. Knot the end of the braid. Remove the knot from the other end and braid it. Make a knot to hold the threads at the end of the braid to finish the bracelet.
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References
- Photo Credit Medioimages/Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images
