Friendship Bracelets with Sable

The first thing that you need to do is to pick the colors that you want in your friendship bracelet. Now, I find embroidery thread the most successful when making these, plus they are low-cost as well. As an example, I picked these colors:

The more colors that you pick, the thicker your bracelet will be. I do not recommend going below four strings when braiding them, because when it goes below four, the bracelet will be too thin, then making it too twisty.

After you pick your colors, you are going to have to cut each color to a specific length. The length of the string has to be pretty long because as you go along, you will be using a lot more string than you think. Make sure to ask a parent for help when using scissors!

I recommend cutting the string to this length:

This length is generally long enough for when I make my bracelets, but if the person you are making it for has particularly big wrists or ankles, always go longer than you think you will need, especially if you want to make a thick bracelet.

In order to keep the bracelet stable and so it doesn’t move around when you are trying to braid it, you need to tape it to a long and solid object so that it can stay in place. What I found that works best for me, is I tape it to my laptop.

You also might want to make sure you layer the tape up a bit, because if the tape is not secure, then your knot will slip right out.

Okay, so you grab all the colors you want, you cut each color to the right length, then you should try and put them into the order that you want after you make sure they’re in the order you want them, you will need to tie a knot - always make sure you leave enough string at the end so that you are able to tie each end together on the wrist comfortably.

Once the strings are taped down go back through them and put them in the color order that you want, they may have twisted or moved when you tied the knot, so move them back into order.

Now is time to start the actual braiding of the bracelet. The steps are pretty simple once you get used to them. You are going to take your first and second string and you are going to make it into the shape of a "4", like so:

Once you have your strings like this, you will take the first string and loop it under the second one. If that is confusing, hopefully, this picture will show it clearer:

See, I looped the black string under my brown string, because the next step is going to be pulling the black string up the brown string and making a knot at the top.

Then, you will repeat the same steps. Make a "4" shape with your first and second string, loop the first string under the second, and pull it until it makes a tight knot at the top.

For each string, you will want to knot along the top twice. You should do it twice because it makes that line a little thicker, plus it makes the bracelet itself thicker and more durable.

You will continue that pattern all along with the number of strings you have. Place your first string in a "4" shape above your second string:

loop the first one under the second:

and then pull it into a tight knot:

and remember, pull a second knot as well:

When you have reached the end of your first row of braiding, you will just return back to the beginning of your strings, take that first string, and continue that pattern all the way through, repeating the process.

Eventually, as you continue on through the process and the strings, your bracelet will start to look like this. All it takes is patience and dedication, I promise!

Now, to keep it from moving, I recommend continuing to tape it all the way down so that it doesn’t move or twist while you are braiding it. It’s going to continue to get longer and longer. Soon enough you will almost be finished with your friendship bracelet!

So, you need to stop braiding when there is about two and a half to three inches of string left at the bottom. Once you have stopped there, you need to gather all of the string and knot it at the end, just like you did in the very beginning.

Once you have that knotted, go to the person you want to gift the bracelet to, wrap it around their wrist, take both ends of the bracelet, and double knot it. And then you’ve finished your bracelet! YAY! If you want to make one for yourself, that is totally fine too! I make them for myself all the time!

It would be awesome if you guys would want to try this, and if you’re up for it, why not show a picture in the comments! I want to see what all of you guys come up with!! Happy bracelet making!

This is how mine came out:

See you all soon!

Staff Sable:)