How to Make a Jamaican Flag Bracelet With String
Jamaican flag bracelets use the three colors of the Jamaican flag, which are green, yellow and black. Other versions of the bracelet can contain red, but these are the "Rasta" version of the bracelet, referring to the Rastafarian movement, a part of Jamaican culture and history. There are hundreds of types of flag string bracelets, ranging from complex weaving to simple string arrangements. The easiest for beginners is the simple braid pattern consisting of six different strings.
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Things You'll Need
- Green, yellow and black embroidery thread, 12-inch pieces
- Scissors
- Clear fingernail polish
Instructions
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1
Stretch the six strings out on a flat surface parallel to each other. Place the two green strings together, the two black strings together, and the two yellow strings together.
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2
Tie a knot in the end of each set of two matching colors. You should now have three knotted sets: one pair green, one black and one yellow.
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3
Tie each pair to the horizontal rail on the back of a wooden chair, or onto anything horizontal that allows you to stretch them toward your body. Have them in the order, left to right, of green, black and yellow. Slide them all together so that they are all touching each other.
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4
Wrap the green pair over the black. Wrap the yellow pair over the black and green pair. Continue to braid the three colors together in the same sequence until you come to the end of the string.
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5
Clip the tied end of the braided bracelet off of the chair with scissors. Wrap the bracelet around your wrist, being careful not to unravel any of it.
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6
Mark the point where the two ends overlap. Add 1 inch to each point where they meet and cut the bracelet with scissors.
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7
Unravel both ends 3/4 inch. Braid the two ends together using both unraveled ends. Paint and coat the braided ends with clear fingernail polish. Let the polish dry for 30 minutes before putting on the bracelet.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't braid too tight. Leave the bracelet with a flat surface. If you don't get the braid sequence right, it's OK. Just keep going and re-establish a pattern. For wider bracelets use three or more pieces of string of the same colors.
Don't cut your bracelet wrap too short. Check your size with your wrist several times before cutting off the ends.
