DIY: Chunky Link Ball Chain Friendship Bracelets

Where to buy:

Chain (approx. 4 inches)  // Ball Chain  (approx. 10 inches) //  Embroidery Floss (about one skein) //Embroidery Needle // Sharp Scissors

1.  Begin by firmly (double) knotting your floss to your chain. // 2.  Add your ball chain to the chain, and slowly wrap the floss around both the chain and ball chain. // 3.  Continue to wrap – you’ll see a beautiful pattern emerging! // 4.  When you get to the end of the first link, pull the embroidery floss through the second link and continue wrapping.

5.  Continue to wrap.  // 6.  As you get to the end of the chain, just keep wrapping along… // 7.  Continue wrapping until you get to the place where you started.  Knot your floss to the first end.  // 8.  Trim your knots, and you are nearly done.

9.  Cut off three pieces of floss, about 36″ long, each.  Take them together, and fold in half.  Thread the loop through the first link of chain.  // 10.  Pull the ends through your loop.  // 11.  Pull tightly, and braid for 2-3 inches, depending on how long you want the bracelet to be.  // 12.  Repeat on the other side… you’re done!

DIY Basics: 4 Fresh Ways to Make Friendship Bracelets

Nothing says summer like a fresh friendship bracelet! Whether you’re reliving your days as a summer camper or simply love wearing a stack of handmade goodies on your arm, we think you’re gonna love these 4 simple ways to make friendship bracelets. Best of all, all 4 of these can be made with just a handful of materials.

Materials:- waxed cotton cord (turquoise)
- embroidery floss (lavender + violet)
- gold tube
- rhinestone chain
- wooden buttons
- brass ring
- gold round studs

Tools:- needle nose pliers (for studs)

The materials of this can be found at most craft and jewelry stores. Choose colors that you love!

1. Gold Tube Bracelet: This is a simple twist on a stacked bracelet.

Create a loop at the end by tying a knot. Snip off excess cord. Measure the cord to fit your wrist and leave a 2-3 inches extra cord for the button clasp. Slip on the gold tube. Finally, thread your button on and tie so that it fits nicely around your wrist. Cut off any excess cord and you’re done!

2. Rhinestone Cowgirl: We can’t talk about rhinestones without talking about stylish cowgirls, can we?

Take one piece of waxed cotton cord and one piece of embroidery floss and cut to a few inches longer than your rhinestone piece. The rhinestone piece should fit around your wrist. Wrap embroidery floss around the cotton cord to create a loop, as seen in the first photo. Attach the rhinestones by lining up with the waxed cord and wrapping with embroidery floss. Add a button at the end!

3. Brass Ring: This is a more delicate and colorful one.

This tutorial couldn’t be simpler. You’ll need four pieces of waxed cotton cord. Take the first two and loop them through the brass ring, creating a topsy tail style knot. Do the same on the other side. Then create a loop on one end and and add a button to the opposite one. Done-zo!

4. Studded + Woven: This is definitely the most complicated option, but the results are awesome.

First, it’s time to channel your friendship bracelet-making skills. We went with a simple knotting pattern, found in more detail from our friends at Honestly WTF here. The basic gist is that you start with 8 pieces of embroidery floss and knot in succession to create rows of knots. When you tie floss together, be sure to create a loop. Rotate colors and keep doing this until you reach the end. We recommend cutting your embroidery floss to three times the length of your wrist to make sure you don’t end up with a short bracelet.

Add a button to the end. Then it’s time to stud! Press through the bracelet and use needle nose pliers to secure on the other side.

We love the round studs on this, but you could also use square or diamond-shaped ones.

Ta-daa!

Friendship Bracelet DIY

For several months now, we’ve been receiving emails requesting a friendship bracelet DIY. Well, friends, ask and you shall receive! Today, we’ll give you a step by step tutorial on the classic chevron pattern. If you used to whip up friendship bracelets like a champ in grade school and have since forgotten how, consider this a refresher course. And if you can make these with your eyes closed and arms tied . . . umm, can we still be friends?

You’ll need:

• embroidery thread
• a safety pin or tape
• a pair of scissors

Start by cutting several strands of embroidery thread at about 24 inches each. Make sure there are two sets of each color. Combine the threads and tie a knot, leaving at least 3 inches of slack. Tape it to a flat surface or safety pin it to a pillow. Separate the two sets, arranging the strands in a mirror-image pattern with the outside strands the same color and so on moving inwards.

Start on the left side with the outermost color (shown here in red) and make a forward knot by creating a 4-shape over the 2nd color, loop it under and back through the opening.

Pull up and to the right to tighten. Make the same knot twice over each color. Continue knotting over each color, towards the right, until the outermost color has carried over to the middle. This is one half of the chevron pattern.

Now pick up the outermost color on the right side (show here in red) and make a backward knot, creating a reverse 4-shape over the 2nd color, loop it under and back through the opening. Pull up and to the left to tighten. Don’t forget to knot twice over each color!

Continue knotting towards the left until the outermost strand reaches the middle. Tie a backwards knot with the two middle strands to connect the two halves. Did you remember to knot twice? The first chevron row is complete! Continue with the the next color, which is now the outermost strand . . .

Remembering the color order is important for the first few rows but after the 3rd or 4th row, the strands will fall nicely in place. Finish it with a knot and a braid.

For a striped bracelet, cut one set of colors and simply carry the outermost color all the way through to the right side. For an assymetrical chevron, mix the colors when dividing them into 2 sets. Be sure to count the number of strands so you know when to stop in the middle each time. For an embellished bracelet, take a small piece of rhinestone chain, glue it to the top of the bracelet and stitch embroidery thread between each rhinestone with an embroidery needle.

Its amazinggggggggggggg!

{ credit to honestlywtf }