How to Finger Weave Bracelets

Finger-woven bracelets are made in a variety of colors and patterns.

Finger-woven bracelets have been popular for years. Kids braid these at camp, tying them on their friends as "friendship bracelets." Children often celebrate Friendship Day by making their friends knotted finger-woven bracelets. Finger weaving is a form of macrame, using fine embroidery floss to make the bracelets. A few different ways of creating woven or braided bracelets exist, with the simplest pattern being the candy stripe, or diagonal.

Things You'll Need

• Four different colored strands of embroidery floss, 48 inches in length
• Masking or craft tape
• Scissors
• Small beads (optional)

Instructions

1. Gather the needed items. Four different colors of embroidery floss (referred to later as Color A, Color B, Color C and Color D) are required. Have at hand masking tape or another strong tape. Make sure you have a clean, solid work surface.

2. Cut one approximately 48-inch section of each color floss. The sections do not need to be perfectly measured, as the ends will be trimmed once the bracelet is completely woven.

3. Tie the bundle of floss together at one end, leaving from two to three inches in length. Tape the ends just above the knot to a solid surface. You are now ready to begin weaving.

4. Spread the lengths of floss apart slightly. Starting from the left side, take the strand the farthest to the left (Color A) and loop it over the strand next to it (Color B), then under Color B. Then pull tightly inside the loop you've just made, tying a knot. Make sure to keep tension in Color B as you make the knots. Repeat the process, tying another knot with Color A and Color B. This is called the half-hitch knot in macrame.

5. Next, take Color A and make the same two knots with Color C, the strand to the immediate right of Color B.

6. Follow the same pattern, making the same two knots using Color A to tie to Color D. Color A will now be on the right-hand side of the lengths of floss, opposite where it started out.

7. Repeat the entire process, starting with Color B, which will now be on the left side. Tie two knots of Color B to Color C, then two knots of Color B to Color D, then two knots of Color B to Color A.

8. Continue repeating the pattern until you have reached the desired length. To tie off, take Color A and Color B and tie them together with Color C and Color D. Tie ends together. Trim the ends to an even length, or tie beads at irregular intervals to the loose ends, adding more decorative value to the hand-woven bracelet.

Tips & Warnings

• Always use high-quality embroidery floss, as it resists unraveling.

• For smaller fingers, yarn may be used.

• To make a wider and thicker woven bracelet, use triple strands of each color, keeping each color's strands together when weaving.

References

• Macrame Bracelets
• Friendship Bracelets
• Macrame Patterns

Resources

• Friendship Day