Easy-to-Make Friendship Bracelets

Embroidery floss is a thin and strong type of thread that comes in many colors.

Friendship bracelets are a type of homemade bracelet exchanged between friends. Although knotted bracelets made with embroidery floss string are a classic project, you can use many different materials and techniques to create a friendship bracelet that suits your skill level and style preference. The key is to experiment with different projects until you create a bracelet you feel is good enough to give to a friend.

Things You'll Need

• Embroidery floss string
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Tape

Instructions

Braided Bracelet

1. Cut six 16-inch pieces of embroidery floss in three different colors, two pieces of each color. Tie the strings together in a knot a few inches from the top. Place tape over the knot to secure the bracelet to the table.

2. Pull the strings into groups, as in two blue, two red and two white, to create three main sections. Think of each two-string section as a single string for braiding. Braid the three sections together to create a simple bracelet.

3. Tie the strings together in a knot at the bottom of the bracelet. Remove the tape from the string and tie the top and bottom together to secure the bracelet into a circle shape.

Knotted Bracelet

1. Measure and cut a piece of red (for example) embroidery floss 36 inches long. Repeat the process with a length of blue floss and a length of white floss.

2. Tie the three strings together in a knot a few inches below the top. Press a piece of tape over the knot to secure the top of the strings to the table to make it easier to work on the bracelet.

3. Pull the red floss away from the blue and white. Tie the red floss in a knot around the other two strings and tighten. Repeat process four more times for a total of five red knots.

4. Place the red floss back into the group and pull the blue floss away. Tie the blue floss in a knot around the group a total of five times. Repeat the process with the white floss. Keep alternating between colors until the bracelet is large enough to wear.

5. Tie the strings together in a knot at the bottom of the bracelet. Remove the tape from the string and tie the top and bottom ends together to secure the bracelet.

Tips & Warnings

• Slide small beads onto the strings as you knot or braid to create a friendship bracelet with extra decorative detail.

• You don't have to tape the bracelet to the table if you prefer not to. However, keeping the bracelet secure makes the knotting/braiding process easier and tends to result in tighter, more uniform patterns.

References

• How to Make Jewelry: How to Make Friendship Bracelets
• Making Friends: Spiral Bracelet