As a teen, I was obsessed with making Friendship Bracelets and I’m so pleased to see they have made a comeback recently! My favourite type is the easy Chevron Friendship Bracelet made with embroidery thread and a few knots.
This is a great project to make in front of the TV, so I hope the DIY tips below will mean you can all join in my favourite 90s craft trend!
I picked up my pastel coloured threads in the charity shop. I also found a lovely vibrant pink and some royal blue for an upcoming embroidery project for my friend’s wedding gift.
Start by cutting 5 lengths of embroidery thread each around 60cm long. Fold in half and tie a knot a couple of inches from the top. Tape down & you are ready to get started!
Divide the threads either side into colour order from the outside in. You should have symmetrical colours.
Starting on the left hand thread (mint green in the image below), loop it around the next thread in the sequence and pull tightly to the top of the strand. Repeat on the same thread, so you have made two knots.
Repeat this sequence in turn for each thread, knotting from left to right. You should stop when you have knotted across 4 different coloured threads.
Now work from the right to left with the mint green thread, making two knots on each colour (4 threads). These knots are made in reverse to the ones you made on the left hand side. You should end with both mint green threads in the middle.
Now make two knots with the left hand mint green thread to close the chevron shape in the middle.
Start with the next rows in the chevron, working from the outside in, first with the left thread (pink) and then the right. Continue working each colour in turn.
The chevron pattern should cover the top of your wrist. I continued the pattern until my bracelet measured 2-3 inches (but I have skinny wrists!).
Plait the remaining thread at each end and knot to secure. I added a bead for decoration.
And you’re done! Now wear your Chevron Pastel Friendship Bracelet with pride, or even better – pass it to a friend. After, all it should live up to its name!
There will be another friendship bracelet DIY on the blog next week, so watch this space.
claireabelle x
Ah, brings back fond memories! I too was a friendship bracelet addict.
Had to read it a couple of times, fiddly things like this boggle my mind but you’ve explained it so well. Love love love this. Would buy this in a shop 🙂
Thanks 🙂 I can make these with my eyes closed as did so many as a kid, so I was hoping I’d explained it clearly!
Lovely!! I love the colours you have used, I will pass this on to my sister as I think my step niece would love it 🙂
Wonderful summery colours!
I LOVE this. I never made them as a kid and I’m just dying to make up for that as a (kinda) grown-up! 🙂
We HAVE to make them at the Etsy craft party then!!
Brings back so many school day memories! I used to make friendship bracelets in the playground with my friends and my jazzy thread box was envied by all the cool kids! Great post for reliving my childhood 🙂
Your jazzy thread box sounds awesome!
I use to have so many issues at making the chevron designed bracelets when I was little. I still don’t think I could get it properly right haha.
Give it a whirl! You crochet now, so I’m sure you have improved your skills without knowing 🙂
Haha i’ll try but i’m sure i’ll end up in a huge knot lol
I have always wondered how people make these kind of bracelets!! I used to make loads of friendship bracelets as a child/teen too, but I only knew the basic ones! I need to find some thread so I can have a go 🙂
Let me know if you do give it a go. I’d love to see your colour choices 🙂
Okay! 🙂
I used to make them too, but not in this method. My method is to knot in one direction so the knots are slanting across the bracelet.
I’m loving that friendship bracelets have made a comeback – so many memories! Don’t think mine look quite as perfect as yours does, but I’m into making red, white and blue versions this week 🙂
I felt so nostalgic making them! Very therapeutic too. Love that you are making patriotic ones. Thanks for stopping by!
I’m loving that friendship bracelets have made a comeback – so many memories! I don’t think mine look quite as perfect as yours does, but I’m into making red, white and blue versions this week 🙂
I was only saying on Twitter this week that the friendship bracelet craze has got the better of me and that I’m going to have to have another go! Love the colours you’ve used. x
I couldn’t resist either! Let me know when you do make some 🙂
What a brilliant and clear tutorial – and lovely colour combo, too 🙂
Thanks Wendy. I’ve had many comments about the colours so I will be seeking more of these threads!
They are really pretty and any girl would love to wear one. I don’t know about ‘easy’ tho. Looks fair complicated to me!
I think once you get the hang of it, it does get easier as it is repetitive!
Lovely colours. I can’t remember seeing anyone making friendship bracelets this detailed or this good before when they were last around.
Thanks Stephen, I really love pastels at the moment.
I love this – relatively simple but very effective! May give this a go if I have the time (or maybe do it with one of my mini mes!). Thanks for the share and I look forward to the next installment. 🙂
It doesn’t take very long to make one. The next one is even easier!
That is you speaking – you made these when you were younger!
Ah yes lots of memories of friendship bracelets, however mine were never as fancy as this! Thanks for the tutorial, might have to give it a go 🙂
Let me know if you do, I’d love to hear how you get on x
I love the pastel colours, it’s really pretty. The chevron design looks great.
Ali x
Thanks Ali, the pastel colours seem to be very popular!
wow this is so pretty! wish i was good at this, i would probably tie my hands in knots doing this, haha! great post xx
Really lovely colours, I hadn’t realised how they were coming back into fashion until the last week or so when we have had lots of youngsters in the shop I work in buying collections of embroidery threads and soft cottons – could have done with your tutorial when one of them was asking me how to make them!
I’m not quite sure why they have made a comeback, but I’m happy about it as it takes me back 🙂
This is great, I am going to save this tutorial for my daughter to have a go at over the summer holidays, perfect as I have lots of embroidery thread left over from my cross stitch days.
Look out for another friendship bracelet post soon. I’m on a roll now 😉
That’s really pretty. I love the pastel colours you used. I’ll bookmark this for later!
Beautiful! Thank you for the wonderful instructions, very simple to follow!
You are welcome, thanks for stopping by!
This is too cute! I love your choice of colors!
Thank you – everyone likes the pastels!
Ho thanks, I used to be obsessed with friendship bracelets as well but had totally forgotten about them. The colours you picked for your one are delightful by the way.
I had too until I saw the Mollie Makes cover with them on!
Pre-teen memories for me – this was a primary school lunchtime pastime – though never knew the chevron trick, just slanted stripes. I still remember one getting shredded by a mower when I left it behind when the bell went… lol
Aaw what a sad end for your friendship bracelet! You’ll have to get making one now 😉
Ohhh this takes me back! i used to be so obsessed with making friendship bracelets!!
xo dana
I love a bit of nostalgic crafting!
Brilliant! I agree, a definite for the craft party! Used to spend my school lunchtime with one safety pinned to my sock. Lovely colours x
Haha I’ve got this image of you walking around with embroidery threads traipsing from your trouser legs!
Oh this is sooooo pretty! I’ve got back into making friendship bracelets recently, trying out new patterns etc. Boy, have I got myself in knots over it!!! Practice makes perfect though ;D xx
Would love to see what you have made 🙂 x
this is such a great tutorial! and i am loving friendship bracelets, this one is darling! i would love for you to come link this, or any other post you’d like to up to my weekend link party http://lovenotesbylauryn.blogspot.com/2012/08/spread-love-link-party-20.html
hope to see you there!
have a great weekend!
{love} lauryn @ lovenotesbylauryn.blogspot.com
Thanks Lauryn – I’ll be sure to stop on by and link up!
Awesome!! love it
LOVE this friendship bracelet!! The colors are WONDERFUL!!!
Thanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer.. From Dream To Reality!
I remember making these as a child. Thanks for the tutorial for the memories!
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fun to do and looks good. we also add jewellery motives to these bracelets.
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Loved the tutorial!!! Thunder colors!
Hi, what a great tutorial! May I know what colours you used? It would be great if you could let me know the colour codes 🙂
Hi Shermain. I am so sorry but I didn’t note the colour codes!
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I used to make these bracelets when i was a kid!
What a wonderful DIY trick! I think I want to make some soon at home. Keep spreading good vibe, xoxoxo
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Beautiful colors!!
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Should I knot it twice? or not? ((CONFUSED!)) Because in the other toturials, they know it twice…..
Love the colors you used! I will be glad to make this bracelet for my BFF’s??
cute…pastel
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Wow, this brings me back to high school days. Love making friendship bracelet. This pattern is relatively simple but beautiful, got to try this die how-to.