DIY Beautiful Friendship Bracelet

Friendship bracelets are a great craft that you can take anywhere! They’re especially nice for people who have failed repeatedly at learning to knit and crochet. And as a bonus, I feel like learning how to make a friendship bracelet. And embellish your DIY friendship bracelets.

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.Source

DIY Decorate Friendship Bracelets

Today we’re showing you three easy ways to embellish your DIY friendship bracelets that will get sparkly and shiny metallic upgrades for Summer.

To add rhinestones, you’ll need:

  • a chevron friendship bracelet (tutorial found here)
  • 5-6” crystal rhinestone chain
  • 1 yard of embroidery floss
  • an embroidery needle
  • a pair of scissors

Thread the needle with embroidery floss and tie the end into a double knot. Push the needle through the back of bracelet. Lay the rhinestone chain along the middle of the bracelet, using the chevron pattern as a guide. Stitch the floss between the first two rhinestone links, pushing needle out the middle of the bracelet. Bring the needle back through the middle, this time further down between the second and third links. Continue stitching between the rhinestone links. After the very last stitch, tie a double knot on the backside and trim the ends. Your friendship bracelet is sparkling and finished!

To add studs, you’ll need:

  • a chevron friendship bracelet (tutorial found here)
  • 5 3/8” brass cone studs
  • a pair of small, sharp scissors
  • a screwdriver

Use a Sharpie or marker to make 5 evenly spaced marks along the middle of the friendship bracelet. From the backside, push the point of the scissors through the mark to create a hole. Push a screw through the hole. Twist the coned spike onto the screw and use a screwdriver to tighten. Repeat the steps with the rest of the spikes. Voila! Your friendship bracelet has a spiked spine.

To add chain, you’ll need:

  • a friendship bracelet (tutorial found here)
  • 5-6” of brass curb chain
  • 1 yard of embroidery floss
  • an embroidery needle
  • a pair of scissors

Thread the needle with embroidery floss. Untie one end of the friendship bracelet and re-knot it with the tail of the threaded embroidery floss. Push the needle through the outer edge of the backside of the bracelet. Lay the chain flat, against the edge of the bracelet. Thread the needle over and through the first link. Push the needle though the backside about two rows down. Depending on the width of each link, the row count may vary. Keep stitching. Make two stitches around the last link, untie the knot and re-knot with the last of the floss. Trim away any excess. Your chain trimmed friendship bracelet now has an edge – how simple was that? Stack ’em, give ’em away and you’re officially ready for summer.Source