How to Make a Japanese Promise Ring
A Japanese promise ring, or Misanga promise ring, is a symbol of good luck that's constructed in the same manner as a friendship bracelet. To make a Japanese promise ring, braid or knot embroidery floss to create a solid-colored or multicolored ring. When it's done, tie it around your finger, or give it to a friend or loved one.
Instructions
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1
Cut four 12-inch pieces of embroidery floss strands with scissors.
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2
Tape the strands to a hard, flat surface. Three inches of the embroidery floss should be on one end of the tape.
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3
Fan out the longer ends of the strands to separate them from one another. The strand on the far left is Strand 1, the next strand from the left is Strand 2, and the next two strands are Strand 3 and Strand 4.
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4
Pull the end of Strand 1 over Strand 2 to create a loop, and then pull the end of Strand 1 under Strand 2 and through the loop to create a knot. Strand 1 should now be to the right of Strand 2. Repeat to finish creating a forward-backward knot. When you're done, Strand 1 should be to the left of Strand 2.
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Pull the end of Strand 4 over Strand 3 to create a loop, and then pull the end of Strand 4 under Strand 3 and through the loop to create a knot. Strand 4 should now be to the left of Strand 3. Repeat to finish creating the backward-forward knot. When you're done, Strand 4 should be to the right of Strand 3.
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Pull the end of Strand 2 over Strand 3 to create a loop, and then pull the end of Strand 2 under Strand 3 and through the loop to create a knot. Pull the end of Strand 3 over Strand 2 to create a loop, and then pull the end of Strand 3 under Strand 2 and through the loop to finish creating a forward knot. When you're done, Strand 2 should be to the left of Strand 3.
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7
Continue making the same types of knots in the same order until there is enough knotted embroidery floss to wrap around a finger.
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8
Remove the tape from the embroidery floss.
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9
Fold the knotted embroidery floss in half, and then tape the folded part to a hard, flat surface. Both ends of the embroidery floss should overlap one another.
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10
Separate the leftmost and rightmost pieces of embroidery floss from the rest of the strands on both sides of the ring.
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Gather the strands in the middle of the ring, and then use one of the middle strands to make two forward knots around the other middle strands.
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12
Double-knot the two leftmost pieces of floss.
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Double-knot the two rightmost pieces of floss.
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Remove the tape from the ring.
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15
Cut the excess floss from the ring.
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16
Apply a small dab of craft or fabric glue to the cut ends of the floss with a cotton bud.
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Tips & Warnings
If you're having trouble keeping the embroidery floss in place, clip it to a clipboard or tie it to a safety pin.
Clear glue is less noticeable than colored glue.
Use more than one embroidery floss color to create patterns in the ring.
Experiment by making different types of knots.
Resources
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
