How to Make a French-Style Friendship Bracelet

Friendship bracelets are gifts from one friend to another that tradition says must be worn until they wear away and drop off the wrist. These bracelets began in Central America. If you want to make a gift for a French pen pal or a buddy who is moving to Paris, create a friendship bracelet decorated with the blue, white and red stripes of the French flag.

Things You'll Need

• Blue yarn
• White yarn
• Red yarn
• Tape measure
• Pen
• Scissors
• Table

Instructions

The Right Length

1. Take the red, blue and white yarn and align the ends of each piece.

2. Wrap them around the wrist of the eventual wearer of the bracelet.

3. Make a pencil mark on the yarn at the point that the yarn touches itself. Measure up to this point and multiply the measurement by 4. This is the length to which each piece of yarn must be cut. You will need an extra 6 inches of yarn if you don’t have a helper, because you will need to tie the yarn to a table, which requires extra yarn.

With Help

1. Hold the ends of the three pieces of yarn in your hand. Have your helper do the same with the opposite end.

2. Twist your end of the yarn as your helper keeps the other end steady. Stop once it becomes once it becomes hard to twist; don't let the yarn become knotted.

3. Instruct your helper to twist in the opposite direction to the direction you're twisting, if you want to quicken the process. This technique is more difficult.

Solo Twisting

1. Take the end of the yarn that the helper would usually hold and tie it to a table leg or any other object that won’t move.

2. Twist the yarn until it's taut without becoming knotted.

3. Cut off the yarn tied around the table leg, holding the ends of the bracelet as you do so.

Completing the Bracelet

1. Fold the yarn in half. Grab the ends of the yarn tightly in one hand and take the center of the bracelet, which is the looped end, in your free hand. Pull the yarn tightly.

2. Release your grip on the two ends of the yarn; they will twist around each other automatically, in the same way that you twisted the yarn in Sections 2 and 3. Your bracelet will now be twice as thick and half as long.

3. Tie a knot in the loose end of the bracelet to secure it. Make sure there is a little excess yarn.

4. Open the looped end slightly and tie the excess yarn in the loop to finish the bracelet.

References

• How SB; How to Make a Twisted Cord Friendship Bracelet Or Belt; April 2011
• Kids Club: The Peace and Friendship Bracelet