How to Make a Patchwork Friendship Bracelet
Similar to macramé creations, friendship bracelets are made by following a designated pattern of knots to create colorful, wearable designs. In Central and South America, friendship bracelets were traditionally exchanged upon making wishes with friends. The moment the threads of the bracelet wore too thin and the bracelet fell off, the wish was said to come true. Whether or not today's usage of friendship bracelets is centered on faith in this fable, friendship is still at the forefront of making and giving them. Custom-make a bracelet in a friend's favorite colors or simply share the hobby together to carry on this tradition.
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Things You'll Need
- Three pieces each of six colors of embroidery floss, 60 inches in length
- Scissors
Instructions
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1
Align the edges of the embroidery floss at one end and tie in a secure knot. Separate each color from the rest and line them up in a row, hanging vertically from the knot, so they are ready to use. Place the colors in any order you'd like, but be sure to keep multiple strands of the same color together. Number the colors "Color 1," "Color 2," and so on; you will refer to them numerically from this point on.
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2
Take the third piece of Color 1 in your hand, placed farthest to the right. Cross it over the next piece of string -- the first string of Color 2 -- at a right angle, resembling the shape of the numeral four. Wrap the active piece (Color 1) underneath after it crosses the piece of Color 2, then pull it through the right angle you just formed. Pull tightly on the active string to secure the knot with your right hand while holding the other string still with your left hand. Repeat immediately, finishing a standard knot. Cross the active string to the right side of the string it was tied around in preparation for the next knot.
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3
Use the same active string from Color 1 to complete one knot each on the second and third strings of Color 2. You will end up with one diagonal row of three knots. Take the second piece of Color 1 and repeat the process, making a standard knot on each of the three strings of Color 2 from left to right until a second three-knot diagonal row is formed. Use the leftmost piece of Color 1 to form a third and final row of knots across Color 2. You should now have a single-colored square with Color 1 and Color 2 in inverted positions emerging below the square; do not rename them.
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4
Form a square using Color 3 as you did with Color 1. Begin with the third string in the set, tying a row of three knots across Color 4 and repeat with the second and first strings.
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5
Begin the right-edge patch as you made the other patches. Use the third string from Color 5 to make a row of three standard knots across Color 6. Take the second string from Color 5 and make the three knots of the second row, then make a fourth knot around the third string from Color 5; it will be hanging to the right of the Color 6 strings after completing its row. Use the first string from Color 5 to make a third row. Tie knots around the three strings of Color 6 and around both previous strings from Color 6 individually. This Color 5 patch, when finished, should have three rows of three, four and five knots, respectively.
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6
Make a reverse-direction patch of Color 4. Use the first string of Color 4 and cross it backwardover the previous string -- in this case, the third string of Color 1 -- in a right angle similar to the shape of a backwards numeral four. Wrap the Color 4 string under the other string after crossing over it, then pull it through the right angle; pull taut with one hand while holding the Color 1 string still. Repeat to finish a backward knot.
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7
Work toward the left using the backward knot to complete a row, tying the active Color 4 string on the second and first strings of Color 1. Repeat with the second and third strings of Color 4, resulting in a three-row patch. Use the same process to create a reverse-direction patch of Color 6. Tie the first, second and third strings of Color 6 backwards across the strings of Color 3.
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8
Begin the left-edge patch differently than the first patch to account for additional strings. Knot the first string of Color 2 onto the second and third strings of Color 2, moving toward the right using the standard knot, then immediately onto the first, second and third strings of Color 4. Tie the second string of Color 2 onto the third string of the same color and strings 1 to 3 of Color 4. Take the third and final string of Color 2 and tie it onto the first, second and third strings of Color 4. The result should be three rows of five, four and three knots each, respectively: the reverse of the right-edge patch. Use this pattern for every subsequent patch along the left edge.
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9
Continue forming the bracelet, patch by patch. Observe the same pattern as you go, alternating between a row of three patches -- one square patch between two uneven edge patches -- and an offset row of two reverse-direction square patches. Keep an even tension as you work to retain the same size among patches.
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10
Observe the bracelet length as you work. Test its length every so often by wrapping around your wrist. When you reach the desired length, finish the row of patches with a complete right-edge patch. Gather remaining lengths of string together and tie in a knot close to the end of the bracelet. Tie beginning and ending knots together to close your bracelet, making sure not to twist the bracelet as you tighten the knot. Trim any excess embroidery floss.
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Tips & Warnings
Pin the bracelet to your jeans or a pillow to anchor it as you work. Use longer pieces of floss if making a bracelet for a larger-than-average wrist.
References
- Photo Credit Digital Vision./Photodisc/Getty Images
