How to Start Braiding a Friendship Bracelet

Friendship bracelets are a fun, easy and creative craft. Braiding a friendship bracelet requires a few low-cost materials. The most common crafting knot used is the left-hand knot, which is popular for braiding in macramé.

Things You'll Need

• Embroidery floss or string
• Scissors
• Safety pin

Instructions

1. Gather embroidery floss or similar-weight string and scissors. Locate a firm surface where you can work on the bracelet.

2. Wrap the thread around your wrist twice to find the right length for each string. Measure and cut the thread to the desired length. Adjust according to the pattern or if you have designed the pattern, estimate the size of the friend's wrist.

3. Collect all the strands of string together Tie one knot with all the strings about an inch from the end of the group. Work with all strands as one string and make a loop. Pull one end of the string through the center of the loop. This is your starting knot.

4. Attach the bracelet to a firm surface, at or above the starting knot. Clip the knotted end to a clipboard, tape it to a table top or using a safety pin, fasten it to the leg of your jeans as you work.

5. Separate the strings. Take the first string and wrap it loosely over the second string so that it forms the shape of a "4."

6. Wrap the first string under the second string, then pull it up through the hole of the "4." Pull the string until the knot is placed snugly at the top. Repeat a second time to finish one left-hand knot.

7. Continue tying left-hand knots to start a braid.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're not interested in learning traditional friendship bracelet knots, you can simply braid the strings, using the three section method commonly used in hair braiding.

• Patterns are available in friendship bracelet books, on the Internet or just use your imagination.