Braided Friendship Bracelets for Valentine’s Day

These little bracelets make such sweet Valentine’s gifts, for the whole class, the whole office, or for one special friend. They’re easy enough to whip up a whole pile, and a neat adjustable closure means they’ll fit just about everybody. Plus, they are so bright and winning, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the big day!

Get started with Purl Soho’s new Mini Knotting Cord Sets. Each one includes two 5-yard lengths of 1mm cording in pretty Valentine colors, enough to make two bracelets. Can’t you just feel the love! -Molly

Update May 2024: While we no longer carry these materials, you can check out our Friendship Bracelet Kit right here!

• A Purl Soho Mini Knotting Cord Set, 1mm. These are enough materials to make two bracelets in either size.

Sizes

Kids: 5 inches of braiding, with an adjustable closure

Adults: 7 inches of braiding, with an adjustable closure

Begin

Cut ten 18-inch lengths from the Knotting Cord. If you’re using both colors from the Knotting Cord Set, cut any even number of lengths from each color, as long as they total ten. For example, cut 2 lengths from one color and 8 from the other, or 4 from one and 6 from another. You can also use only one color for a monochromatic look, if you like.

To begin (and end) this bracelet, please check out our Adjustable Closure for Friendship Bracelets Tutorial.

Braid

You will hold two same-color lengths of cord as one piece during the braiding process. Make sure that the two cords lie flat next to each other as you braid. Try to not allow them to tangle or loop around each other.

After you have tied your beginning knot and secured it with either tape or a safety pin, arrange the cords so that there are 3 pairs on the left and 2 pairs on the right, in any color order you like, as shown above.

Start with the pair of cords on the far left. This is the Working Pair and in this photo is orange. Working from left to right, bring the Working Pair over the next pair to its right and then under the following pair to the right. Then pull the Working Pair over to the right side.

You now have 2 pairs on the left and 3 pairs on the right.

Pick up the rightmost pair, i.e. the new Working Pair.

Repeat this process on the right, working from right to left this time…

Bring the Working Pair (orange, above) over the next pair to its left and then under the following pair to the left. Then pull the Working Pair over to the left side.

You now have 3 pairs on the left and 2 pairs on the right.

Starting with the new leftmost Working Pair (white in the photo above), repeat these steps until your bracelet measures 5 inches (for kids) or 7 inches (for adults) from the beginning knot.

Here’s what the process look like as you move a little further down the bracelet…

When there are 3 pairs on the left and 2 pairs on the right, the leftmost pair is the Working Pair.

Working from left to right, go over and then under the left side pairs, then pull the Working Pair to the right.

You now have 2 pairs on the left and 3 pairs on the right.

Pick up the rightmost pair. This is now the Working Pair.

Repeat this process on the right, bringing the Working Pair over and under the right side pairs, then pulling the Working Pair to the left.

Finish

To finish the bracelet, be sure to visit our Adjustable Closure for Friendship Bracelets Tutorial!