Breezy Friendship Bracelets
The best summer project around? Friendship bracelets… So portable, so cute and so easy! And you don’t need to be intimidatingly crafty to make them. In fact, even if you have two left thumbs, these Breezy Friendship Bracelets are perfectly do-able.
Over the past few years, we have featured several knotted bracelet designs here on the Bee (click here to see them all), but this season’s version is the easiest and breeziest. Made with two very simple knots, these bracelets work up so quickly you can make several in an afternoon and a whole armful in a weekend.
The Breezy Friendship Bracelets also have a new streamlined, adjustable closure for easy on and off. And for the first time, I used our 1 mm Chinese Knotting Cord, a durable nylon cord made for, well… knotting! You only need two colors to make a bracelet, but wheres the fun in that? Make a whole rainbow!
Kids can easily get in on this friendship bracelet action. We’re thinking tokens of friendship for the end of the school year and hours of entertainment for summer road trips. But, honestly? We make and wear friendship bracelets too! -Molly
Materials
- A least two colors of 1mm Chinese Knotting Cord. I used Yellow, Light Grey, White, Aquamarine and Neon Pink.
You will also need a lighter and a safety pin.
Finished Size
7 inches around with two 3-inch ties. These bracelets adjust to fit most adult women, but the pattern can easily be altered to fit anyone!
Pattern
One Sided Wrap Bracelet (Narrower)
Pick two colors: an Under Color and an Over Color. From the Under Color, cut three 18-inch lengths. These are the Base Cords. From the Over Color, cut one 68-inch length. This is the Working Cord. From the Under Color (or any color you like!), cut a 10-inch length. This is the Tie Cord.
Line up one end of the Base and Working Cords and tie them together in a simple overhand knot, 5 inches from the aligned ends. (Do not pull this knot too tight because you will be pulling it out later.) Safety pin the knot to your pants or to another secure location.
Pull the Working Cord to the right side of the beginning knot, while keeping the Base Cords grouped together, hanging straight down. Keeping it slack, pull the Working Cord to the left over the Base Cords and then bring the Working Cord under the Base Cords and over itself to create a loop, as shown above.
Pull the Working Cord upwards around the Base Cords, tightening it as you pull. Tug fairly firmly on the knot so that it’s snug at the top of the bracelet. This is a Half Right Knot.
Next you will create a Half Left Knot… Keeping it slack, pull the Working Cord to the left over the Base Cords, and then crossing over to the right, bring the Working Cord under the Base Cords, and then back over itself to create a loop, as shown above.
Pull the Half Left Knot upwards and to the right.
When the new knot meets up with the previous knot, pull the Working Cord taut so that the little nubs created by the knots are both facing to the right and the left sides are smooth. If you look closely you can see that a small “V” shape is formed by the Half Right and Half Left Knots meeting one another.
Continue in this same manner, alternating a Half Right Knot with a Half Left Knot, while making sure that the knotted edge is on the right and the smooth wrapped side is on the left.
Stop when your bracelet measures 7 inches (or however long you like) from the beginning knot and then tie two Half Left Knots in a row and pull them very tight.
Snip off the ends of the Base Cords a few millimeters beyond the last knot, and cut the tail of the Working Cord to 3 inches. Tie a simple overhand knot at the very end of the 3-inch tail. Use the lighter to melt the ends of the Base Cords, as well as the knot at the end of the Working Cord tail.
Untie the beginning knot, tie two Half Left Knots and then finish that end in the same manner as the first. Arrange the bracelet in a circle, making sure it’s not twisted and the two 3-inch tails are overlapping and parallel to each other with the knots facing in opposite directions.
Tie the center of the Tie Cord in a tight over hand knot around the center of the two tails.
Tie one Half Left Knot at each side of this overhand knot using each tail of the Tie Cord. This is the Tie Closure.
Then turn the whole bracelet over and tie another overhand knot on the other side of the Tie Closure.
Two Sided Wrap Bracelets (Wider)
Pick out two colors, one for the left hand side of the bracelet and one for the right. Cut each of these into one 53-inch length. These are the Left and Right Working Cords. From the lighter of these two colors, cut four 18-inch lengths. These are the Base Cords.
Line up one end of all six strands and tie them together in a simple overhand knot, 5 inches from the aligned ends. (Do not pull this knot too tight because you will be pulling it out later.) Safety pin the knot to your pants or another secure location. Arrange the cords so that the Left Working Cord is to the left, the Base Cords are gathered together in the middle, and the Right Working Cord is to the right.
Create a Half Left Knot with the Left Working Cord by crossing it right over the Base Cords and then left under the Base Cords, coming out over itself. Slide the knot up and to the left, pulling it taut at the base of the beginning knot.
Next, using the Right Working Cord, create a Half Right Knot by crossing it left over the Base Cords and then right under the Base Cords, coming out over itself.
Slide this knot up and to the right until it bumps up against the previous Half Left Knot.
Repeat these steps, tying a Half Left Knot with the Left Working Cord, followed by a Half Right Knot with the Right Working Cord until the bracelet measures 7 inches from the beginning knot (or however long you want). Make sure to keep the nubs of the knots facing in their respective directions so that the bracelet lies flat.
Friendship bracelets can never get old. They all look really cute. Love them. Thanks for sharing from 3girls1apple.com
Love these! I think they will make a good road trip craft for my girls and me too! Thanks so much!
Is a fantastic idea! Want to try it with my daughter today!
Looks like a terrific project to do with the grand kidlets. Thanks for the clear tutorial and the inspiration.
What you are doing with the first one is tatting without a shuttle or a needle. But it is tatting all the same. I intend to teach my 7 year old granddaughter this, this summer. Then next summer going on to tatting will be a breeze. Thank you for this elementary introduction into one of my favorite pass times. I just couldn't believe it when I saw the photo of the first half of the knot and then I saw the second photo and I yelled to my husband, "They're tatting friendship bracelets". You could have knocked me over because I don't think you knew what you were doing! Congratulations!!
These are so pretty. I recently read an article about needle tatting in Piecework Magazine, and, like TerriSue, I thought it looked like the same kind of knots.
How strong is the end detail? It seems like the last few knots could slip right off the ends of the working cords. Or does the last knot melt into the working cords when the ends are melted? I love this project and am in the middle of my first bracelet, but I want to be sure it is sturdy. Thanks!
Hi Andrea-
The closure and ends are surprisingly sturdy on these! The ends do melt together so the working cords don't slip off. You don't even have to melt them too much- just a couple of seconds under the lighter should do just fine.
Thank you!
Molly
Hi! Will the brighter colors of cord be available through your online store again soon? Thanks- I would love to try this out!
-Mary
Hi Mary-
Yes! If you'd like to be notified when they come back in stock please email customerservice AT purlsoho DOT com.
Thank you for getting in touch!
Molly
Perfect for my sister's fundraiser at the end of the month – I have to give them a go. So pretty the girls will LOVE them! Thanks so much for sharing.
I am a big fan of friendship bracelets, and my daughter too. These are awesome, thanks so much for sharing them!
This is a great thing to do with kids! It's so simple a kid like me did it with no help whatsoever!
I love all of pulls stuff + the intrusions r easy-peay to follow with!
Love ya purl!
Great
These look so fun!! We’d like to try them over spring break. Are there any stores that carry the knotting cord? Just saw this last minute , and not sure we have time to have them shipped! Thanks!
Hi Tiffany-
I’m not sure where else you can get knotting cord but we do have express shipping available! You can see that info here: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/shop/shipping
Thanks for getting in touch!
Molly
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE <3
How do you figure out how long to cut the cord? Say for a child how would you measure to know how much cord to cut to make a bracelet?
Hi Ashley-
I think you should still cut the same amount,or perhaps just cut each cord 2 inches shorter just to make sure you have enough. There is nothing worse than running out of cord half way though the bracelet!
Thanks for getting in touch and please let us know if you have any more questions!
Molly
I LOVE all of your bracelets. I am crafty and can do certain things but looking at the instructions, there is no way I could make these. You should consider selling the finished ones. I would certainly buy them.
Hi Isabel-
I’m so sorry to hear that you’ve had problems with these instructions! Is there a specific step you’re having trouble with? We’d love to help you figure it out!
Please let me know!
Best-
Molly
Another cool bracelet I’ve made similar to these is, using 1 working chord and 1 base chord, making half left knots again and again. It comes out to be a cool spiral looking rope almost.
Hi Lily-
Thanks so much for the bracelet pattern recommendation! I’ll have to try that out!
Best-
Molly
hi can we use wool if we don’t have chinese knotting wool?
Hello, Walima!
Thank you for writing in! The Chinese Knotting Chord that we use for these bracelets is 100% Nylon. You can certainly use wool to make these bracelets, however they may not have the lasting power that nylon has. Wool tends to felt once it has been agitated so your bracelets might begin to felt with continuous wear. I recommend substituting with a cotton yarn/string rather than wool if you don’t have access to nylon cording.
If you have further questions please let us know!
Best,
Kumeko
Hello 🙂 If I use cotton yarn, how would I go about fastening off the ends? I assume I do not put a lighter to them, as I would with nylon cording. Please advise! Thanks much.
Hi Lesley,
You are right, the cotton will not react the same when lit. I suggest using clear nail polish to make sure the ends don’t fray. Thanks!
-Adam
Do you have a booklet on how to make all your bracelet…
Hi Gisell,
Thanks for writing in! We do not have a single booklet with all of our bracelet patterns but we do have booklets for a few different of these fun patterns. They can be found here: https://www.purlsoho.com/patterns/craft.html
Happy crafting!
Cassy
Hello, I am a little late to the game but I just tried making these. I made the first one without any problems, but I am having trouble with the closure for the second. In the example above I would finish by making two half left knots with the pink cord. What happens to the white one. I ended up just cutting it off and melting the end but it is already starting to unravel. Where did I go wrong? Thank you for a great tutorial. These are very fun!
Hi Christina,
Thanks for writing in and for your kind words! I am sorry to hear that you are having difficulties with the second bracelet. It sounds like you may need to melt the end a touch more. Alternately, on your next bracelet, you would make an additional knot with the white and then melt it. Hopefully this will give you a touch more to melt to create a more secure finish.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Can I use a yarn for this bracelet
Hi Jenissi,
You could use a fine yarn like a fingering weight, however it would not be as durable as the thread. If it gets wet it could mar and felt up.
I hope this helps,
Melissa
Can I use embroidery floss instead of Chinese knotting cord?
Hi Kelsey,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, it will be a bit of a different texture and not quite as sturdy but you can absolutely use embroidery floss for these bracelets!
All the best,
Gianna
Hi there!
I’m making the first pattern for my boyfriend. What length of cord would you recommend for an adult male bracelet?
Thank you! 🙂
Hi Dana,
Thanks for writing in! The cord lengths in the pattern are quite generous so you will be able to continue knotting the bracelet for another inch or so without adjusting how much cord to cut initially. The finished bracelet is adjustable so I think an eight inch bracelet would fit most men, but if you would like to make it even longer, I would add two inches to each of the base cords and five inches to the working cord.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Have you thyof doing a video for the bracelets? I learn so much better by following a video instead of written directions.
Thanks,
Danette
Hello Danette,
Thank you for reaching out! This is a great suggestion and I will certainly pass it along!
Happy Crafting,
Marilla
Love this beautiful bracelet! It works so well, and the colours look so nice against my skin tone! I got the Gourgeous Cashmere Meriuno Bloom string, reccomed it!
These bracelets are super cute and very easy to make ! . I cant wait to make them for all my friends <3 . Thank you for the tutorial 🙂
Can I use embroidery floss instead of Chinese noting cord?
Hi Klai,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, it will be a bit of a different texture and not quite as sturdy but you can absolutely use embroidery floss for these bracelets!
All the best,
Gianna
What kind of cord can i use for this project/
Hi Neptune,
Thanks for writing in! We used Chinese Knotting Cord, 1mm for this bracelet, we also offer this as a set, you can find that here: Knotting Cord Set, 1.4mm! You could also easily use something else like Embroidery Floss!
Warmly,
Gianna