How to Weave Embroidery Floss Bracelets
A rainbow of colors and smooth-as-silk texture makes embroidery floss a dream material for weaving small projects, such as headbands and friendship bracelets. A small, homemade loom lets you try different weaving techniques to create unusual and distinctive bracelets that are smoother and more finished than typical knotted or macrame friendship bracelets. Once you master the basic over-under weaving technique, you can try your hand at two-thread and three-thread patterns for more complex woven bracelets.
Things You'll Need
- Corrugated cardboard, 4-by-10 inches
- 2 pieces plastic foam, about 1/2-by 4-by-1/2 inch
- Transparent tape
- Straight pins
- 2 skeins embroidery floss, contrasting or coordinating colors
- Scissors
- Plastic darning needle
- Wide-tooth comb
Instructions
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Weaving the Bracelet
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1
Tape one piece of plastic foam across the width of the cardboard, about 1 inch from each end of the cardboard.
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2
Push eight straight pins into the top of one piece of foam, spacing them 1/4-inch apart. Push them in deeply enough to anchor them securely, but leave about half of each pin exposed.
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3
Cut eight 20-inch lengths of embroidery floss in one color. Fold each length in half.
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4
Slide the folded end of each length over one straight pin on your loom. Stretch the embroidery floss gently over the piece of foam at the other end of the loom. Space the threads evenly and tape them firmly into place.
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5
Thread the yarn needle with a 36-inch length of contrasting or coordinating embroidery floss. Slide the needle under the first thread on the loom, about 1 inch below the foam piece, then over the second and under the third, continuing to alternate over and under until you have reached the last thread. Pull the needle and floss through all of the threads, leaving a 2-inch long tail.
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6
Turn the needle and work back across the threads, sliding the needle under the threads you crossed over on the last row and over the threads you crossed under. Pull the floss through the threads until it is snugged gently against the first lengthwise thread. Push the second row up snugly against the first with your fingers or with a wide-tooth comb.
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7
Continue working back and forth across the threads as established until the woven area is the desired length -- about 1/2-inch shorter than your wrist circumference. Push the threads up toward the top of your work with a comb or your fingers as needed to keep it even and smooth.
Finishing
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8
Bring the needle up through the end of your weaving between the first two threads on one edge and one thread back from the end. Bring the needle over the last horizontal thread and down through the next two vertical threads. Continue working across the row, wrapping the thread around the last horizontal row to bind it in place. Cut the thread, leaving a 2-inch long tail.
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9
Bind the beginning of your weaving the same way you finished the ending. Cut the embroidery floss, leaving a tail to blend with the other threads.
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10
Remove the tape from the end of your bracelet and lift it off the pins at the end of the loom. Cut through the folded ends and knot all of the threads together at each end of the bracelet. Trim the tail ends to the same length as the remaining threads. Tie the bracelet around your wrist.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Finish the bracelet with a purchased jewelry clasp for a more finished look.
Experiment with skipping more than one thread or with stripes of color.
Resources
- Photo Credit embroidery image by vnlit from Fotolia.com
