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Braid fun and colorful bracelets to give to friends
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Chevron bracelets are very popular, especially as friendship bracelets. Giving your friends chevron friendship bracelets is a fun way to show them you care, or you can wear them yourself! Here are a couple of different methods to use when making chevron friendship bracelets.
Things You Should Know
- Cut 6 strands of embroidery floss to 60–65 inches (152.4–165.1 cm) long, then tie them to a paperclip. Tape the paperclip to a table to secure the strands.
- Splay the strings on a table and tie a right knot in the rightmost string, then tie knots in strings to the left until you reach the middle. Then do the same for the left strings.
- Tie a right knot in the 2 middle strands. Then repeat the process again (tying knots in the right, left, then middle), to the end of the strings.
Steps
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Prepare the embroidery floss. Cut the embroidery floss or craft thread about 60–65 inches (152.4–165.1 cm) for each color depending on your wrist size. You'll need at least six strands of string (two strands of three colors), but you can use any even number of strands.- The more strings you use, the more complex your color arrangements will be and the wider the width of your bracelet.
- Use whatever colors you want; just make sure that you have two strands of every single color that you choose.
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Secure the strands. Tie a knot at the end of the strands of string and secure it in any number of ways to make it easier to hold steady while you finish the bracelet.
- You can clip it to your clipboard, safety pin it to your pants or a pillow, or tape it to your work surface. You can also use a binder clip with a binder or book. Alternatively, you can just tie it to a drawer handle.
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Arrange the strands. Using the thread, make a mirror-image pattern so that the two outside strands are the same color and so on going inwards.
- Pretend there is an imaginary line in the middle and create the same color pattern with the string on both sides of the line.
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Begin the right knots. Starting with the outer-right string, tie a right knot twice on the adjacent string (the second from the right).
- To tie a right knot, make a ninety-degree angle with the tying string over the top of the string you are tying it to. Then loop the tying string underneath the other string and pull tight.
- Note: Remember to make two knots on each string.
- Once you have knotted the outer right string to the one next to it, do the same to the next string closer to the middle. Continue this process until you've reached the middle.
- Note: The string you began tying with (the outermost right string) should now be in the middle.
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Begin the left knots. From the left side, tie left knots with the outer-left strand until you reach the middle.
- To tie a left knot, do the same as the right knot but reversed. Make a ninety-degree angle with the tying string over the top of the string you are tying it to and loop the tying string under the other string and pull it tight.
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Tie the middle knots. Tie a left or right knot (doesn't matter) with the two middle strands to connect the two sides (be sure to tie the knot twice).
- Note: If you have done everything correctly up to this point, the strands you are tying together in the middle will be the same color and you will begin to see the V-pattern emerge.
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Continue the pattern. Repeat steps 4, 5, and 6 until you reach the desired length, always starting with the outermost strands on each side. These strands should always be the same color.
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Finish the bracelet. Tie a knot at the end of the pattern and use the excess string to tie the bracelet onto your wrist or the wrist of a friend.
- Alternatively, you can create a button-loop closure for the bracelet. Attach a button to one side by pulling any two strands through the holes in the button. Then, tie the strands together and cut off the excess of all strands (even the ones not used for the button). On the other end of the bracelet, there should already be a loop that exists between the knot at the end and the place where the knots begin. Pull the button through the loop once you have finished all the steps.
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Prepare the embroidery floss. For this bracelet, you'll need four different colors of thread. Cut two strands of each color that measure about 65 inches (165 cm) each. This should leave you with eight strands.
- Once you've cut all of the thread, fold the bundle of strands in half and cut at the center. This will leave you with 16 strands in total.
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Secure the strands. Tie a knot in one end of the string and secure it to a flat surface you can work on with some sturdy tape (like masking tape or duct tape).
- Alternatively, you can safety pin it to your pants, tie it to a dresser drawer, or clip it on a clipboard.
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Arrange the strands. Using the thread, make a mirror-image pattern that repeats twice so that there are two exact replicas of the same pattern right next to each other.
- For example, your pattern may look like this: 1 2 3 4 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 4 3 2 1
- Pretend there is an imaginary line in the middle and create the same color pattern with the string on both sides of the line. Then repeat this pattern again.
EXPERT TIPwikiHow Staff WriterAly Rusciano is a Creative Writer based outside of Nashville, Tennessee. She has over ten years of experience in creative, academic, and professional writing. Aly’s writing has been nationally recognized in the Sigma Tau Delta Rectangle and featured in Blue Marble Review, The Sunshine Review, PopMatters, and Cathartic Literary Magazine. She graduated from The University of Tennessee at Martin with a BA in English, focusing in Creative Writing and minoring in Theatre.“When I first started making friendship bracelets, I used a bracelet loom to hold my strings in place. The loom makes it easier to track your strands while keeping your bracelet taut. Plus, it’s perfect if you know you can’t finish a bracelet in one sitting because the strings will stay in place as long as they’re in the loom.”
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Begin the right knots. Starting with the outer-right string, tie a right knot twice on the adjacent string (the second from the right).
- To tie a right knot, make a ninety-degree angle with the tying string over the top of the string you are tying it to. Then loop the tying string underneath the other string and pull tight.
- Note: Remember to make two knots on each string.
- Once you have knotted the outer right string to the one next to it, do the same to the next string closer to the middle. Continue this process until you've reached the middle.
- Note: The string you began tying with (the outermost right string) should now be in the middle.
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Begin the left knots. Take the far left string from the middle and tie left knots with the outer-left strand until you reach the middle.
- To tie a left knot, do the same as the right knot but reversed. Make a ninety-degree angle with the tying string over the top of the string you are tying it to and loop the tying string under the other string and pull it tight.
- This will complete one side of the double mirror image.
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Complete the other half. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 for the left side of the double chevron pattern.
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Tie the middle knots. Tie a left or right knot (doesn't matter) with the two middle strands to connect the two sides. Be sure to tie the middle knot twice.
- Note: If you have done everything correctly up to this point, the strands you are tying together in the middle will be the same color and you will begin to see the double V-pattern emerge.
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Continue the pattern. Repeat steps 4, 5, and 6 until you reach the desired length, always starting with the middle-most strands and moving outward in each direction to complete the double mirror-image pattern (1 2 3 4 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 4 3 2 1).
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Finish the bracelet. Tie a knot at the end of the pattern and use the excess string to tie the bracelet onto your wrist or the wrist of a friend.
- Alternatively, you can create a button-loop closure for the bracelet. Attach a button to one side by pulling any two strands through the holes in the button. Then, tie the strands together and cut off the excess of all strands (even the ones not used for the button). On the other end of the bracelet, there should already be a loop that exists between the knot at the end and the place where the knots begin. Pull the button through the loop once you have finished all the steps.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat type of rope am I supposed to use?Community AnswerIt is called embroidery floss. It can be found at craft stores.
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QuestionHow do you tie it on your wrist?Community AnswerIn my experience, threading the bracelet through the loop and tying it back onto itself works best.
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QuestionHow do I make it without mixing up the strings?Community AnswerI put half of the strings on one side and the other half in my hands so it’s easier to know what string I'm on.
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Tips
- Tie them in double knots quite tightly to prevent them from falling off.Thanks
- When excess string is cut off during the button loop closure, glue the stubs to prevent unknotting from occurring.Thanks
- If your bracelet starts to twist, just iron it.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- When tying the middle knot, pull the strings on either side to prevent the other color from showing up on that knot.
- You don't always have to use embroidery thread. Get creative with your materials!
- Make the strings longer at first. You can always trim them later.
- For a bulkier or thicker look, or for beginners, use wool.
- Always keep track of how many times you knot your string.
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Things You'll Need
- Embroidery floss or craft thread (at least three colors)
- Clipboard, safety pins, masking tape, or a binder with a binder clip
- Tape measure
- Scissors
References
- Videos provided by The Corner of Craft
About This Article
Article Summary
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To make a chevron friendship bracelet, cut at least 6 strands of craft thread so they're 60 to 65 inches long. Tie a knot at the end of the strands and tape it to a work surface. Arrange the thread so the two outer strands are the same color, and so on going inward. Next take the outer right string, tie a right knot twice on the second to the right string, and work your way to the middle. Repeat this process on the left side, then connect the two middle strands. Once you reach the desired length, knot it off. For tips on how to make a double chevron friendship bracelet, keep reading!
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 865,298 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "This article helped me understand how to make a beautiful friendship bracelet to give to my best friend. I encourage the maker to continue these amazing sites and videos to help!" ..." more
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"This article helped me understand how to make a beautiful friendship bracelet to give to my best friend. I encourage the maker to continue these amazing sites and videos to help!"
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"The description of the knot was very easy to understand, which is better than other tutorials I've come across."
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"The fact that you put how long the string should be helped. Couldn't find it any other place. Thanks!"
"I just needed a reminder on how to make these, since I loved making many when I was young."
"I really love it. I made one for myself and one for my friend; it melted her heart!"
