How to Make a Candy-Stripe Friendship Bracelet
Friendship bracelets trace their origin to Indians in Central and South America who tied a bracelet onto the wrist of a friend who would make a wish at the moment the bracelet was tied. The recipient would wear the bracelet until it wore off on its own, at which point his wish would also come true. Today, the friendship bracelet has evolved into an emblem of a friendship between two people. While friendship bracelets employ a variety of patterns, the candy-stripe is one of the easiest to make and is an excellent choice for beginners.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Three colors of embroidery floss
- Scissors
- Fabric-measuring tape
- Masking tape
Instructions
-
-
1
Use a pair of scissors to cut three strands of embroidery floss in different colors so that each strand measures 3 feet long. Measure your wrist with a fabric-measuring tape to determine how long to make your bracelet. Add 1 inch to your measurement to give the bracelet room to hang freely on the wrist.
-
2
Hold all three strands together in your hands near one end. Create one closed-off end of your bracelet by tying one knot into all three strands. Observe loose strands that you'll turn into a bracelet below the knot, as well as a small loop that will serve as a clasp above the knot.
-
-
3
Lay the embroidery floss on a table and tape the knotted end to the table with a piece of masking tape. Or, secure the knotted end of the bracelet beneath the metal clip on a clipboard to hold it in place while you make the bracelet.
-
4
With the knot attached to a clip board or table, separate each strand below the knot into individual strings so that you have nine strands of floss or thread, three strands of each color.
-
5
Grasp the far-left strand in your right hand and tie a knot with it and the strand lying next to it, just below the knot. Pull the far-left strand tight. Repeat by tying knots with the first strand in all of the strands of floss until you complete one row of knots at the top of bracelet. Lay what was formerly the far-left strand down on the far right of the strands. Repeat the process, starting with your new far-left strand (see Resources section).
-
6
Continue making rows of knots in your embroidery floss until you reach your predetermined bracelet length. Gather all loose ends together and thread them through a single bead that's slightly larger than the loop you created at the beginning of the bracelet. Tie a knot into the ends of the strands, below the bead, securing it on the bracelet. Cut off excess embroidery floss and present your gift to your friend.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Roger Weber/Digital Vision/Getty Images
