Cashmere + Neon Friendship Bracelets

Ever since my first foray into friendship bracelets I’ve become a little obsessed. I’ve spent more time than I care to admit digesting how-to videos of sailors’ knots and complicated leather braids, of lanyards and macramé techniques. Along the way, I stumbled upon my new favorite thing: the circular four-stranded braid. It’s so easy! And so beautiful! And so perfect for a friendship bracelet!

For these Neon + Cashmere Friendship Bracelets I used super soft 8 ply Cashmere  from Jade Sapphire combined with bright, smooth strands of Neon Round Cord from Carta. The hazy halo of the Cashmere gives the Neon Cord an extra glow, while the dense ropey braid feels substantial and lush, a real joy to wear!

Even if you’re not a seasoned crafter, you can make these! And if, like me, you get hooked, you’ll want to browse all of our friendship bracelet projects here!- Molly

Materials

• 1 skein of Jade Sapphire’s 8 Ply Cashmere, 100% Mongolian cashmere, in Ivory
• Carta’s Neon Round Cord in Coral, Orange, and Yellow

You will also need a safety pin and a lighter.

You can make 20 short bracelets or 12 long bracelets from each package of Neon Cord and dozens of bracelets with one skein of Cashmere.

Size

8 (16) inches long (adjustable)

The 8-inch length wraps around a woman’s wrist once, the 16-inch length wraps twice.

Pattern

NOTE: This pattern is also available as a printer-friendly PDF. Just click here!

Cut

Cut a 36 (60)-inch length from the Neon Cording.

Cut three 30 (54)-inch lengths from the Cashmere.

Braid

Fold the piece of Neon Cord in half.

Tie the doubled piece in a simple overhand knot so that the fold creates a ½-inch long loop as shown in the photo above. Tie this knot very tightly.

Holding all three of the Cashmere pieces together, find their halfway point. Slide the Cashmere pieces in between the two sides of the Neon Cord. The halfway point of the Cashmere pieces should be right under the Neon Cord knot.

Using a safety pin attach the loop to something (usually the knee of your jeans!).

Tie the two sides of the Neon Cord together over the Cashmere pieces in a simple half knot and pull it tight.

Arrange the strands so that the two Neon Cords are on the left and the two three-stranded sections of the Cashmere are on the right.

NOTE: Each three-stranded section of Cashmere will be treated as one strand as you braid.

Pass the outer (left-most) Neon Cord under the two adjacent strands (the inner Neon Cord and the inner Cashmere).

Now pass it over the inner Cashmere and pull it back to the left so that it becomes the inner Neon Cord.

Take the outer (right-most) Cashmere and pass it under the two adjacent strands (the inner Cashmere and the inner Neon Cord).

Now pass it over the inner Neon Cord and pull it back to the right so that it becomes the inner Cashmere.

You will continue braiding in this manner for the length of the bracelet. As you go, it’s easier to think of it as just two steps:

1. Pass the outer Neon Cord under the two adjacent strands and then pass it over the inner Cashmere and pull it to the left.
2. Pass the outer Cashmere under the two adjacent strands and then pass it over the inner Neon Strand and pull it back to the right.

To keep the braid tight and neat as you work, keep the bottom pinched so it doesn’t unravel.

Braid in this manner until the bracelet measures 7 (15) inches from the beginning knot.

At the end of the braid tie all of the strands together in a simple overhand knot. Make sure that the Neon Cord strands end up at the bottom of the knot, as shown above. Pull this knot very, very tight.

Clip off all of the tails right at the end of the knot.

Carefully melt the snipped ends of the Neon Cording. (If you burn a little of the Cashmere, it’s no big deal. The burn marks rub off easily.)

To close the bracelet slip the knotted end through the beginning loop!