How to Make the Chinese Staircase Bracelet

Friendship bracelets are a fun craft project. Turn your next bracelet into a Chinese Staircase Bracelet with one easy stitch. Find some yarn, string or cord, and use as many different colors as you want. Make a colorful bracelet that's literally a twist on the usual friendship bracelet.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• String, cord or yarn
• Scissors

1. Choose four different colored pieces of cord, yarn or string. Cut the pieces so they are 14 inches long. Tie the strands together making a knot about 1 1/2 inches in from the end of the strands.

2. Take the strand on the right side (your working strand), and loop it over the other three. Continue to loop the working strand under the three strands, and finish by pulling it back up and through your top loop. Pull it tight to complete the stitch.

3. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until you have made enough stitches to either complete your bracelet, or leave another 1 to 2 inches at the end.

4. The stitches will start to curl around the inner strands making the bracelet resemble a staircase, thus the name Chinese Staircase bracelet.

5. Choose to switch colors for your working stitch. If you want to mix the colors up, after repeating the stitch several times, put that strand back in the pile, and pull out a different color to use for the stitch.

6. Tie a knot at the end of your bracelet, and tie the ends together making sure the bracelet slips over your wrist.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a clear cord for the working stitch and continue with it through the whole bracelet. It wraps around the other cords and allows you to see the three other colors.
• You can make a Chinese Staircase Bracelet with 3 to 6 strands depending on how many colors and desired thickness.
• Tape the ends of your bracelet strands to a table or secure them in a clip board to hold them in place while you make the bracelet.

[pipenzi]

on 4/12/2009 This is my FAVE project! I love making them for friends.

[pipenzi]

on 4/12/2009 This is my FAVE project! I love making them for friends.