Pride Bracelets
Anyone else’s first career move selling friendship bracelets on the playground? Haha. I’ve always enjoyed tying up these colorful adornments and sharing them with friends, and I thought it would be fun to do a little tutorial for my three favorites in honor of Pride Month. This weekend is the NYC Pride Parade, so it was perfect timing to whip up a bunch to hand out, and I happened to have a couple extra packs of Lion Brand Bonbons left over from recent projects - match made in heaven! Scroll down for the free tutorial for each bracelet pictured above.
MATERIALS:
1 pack of Lion Brand Bonbons (I used the Brights colorway, but Crayons and Beach would work well too!)
RAINBOW CHEVRON BRACELET
1. Cut a 72”/183cm length of each color. Fold all strands in half and tie a knot near the top, leaving a loop for the closure. Secure to a table with tape, or to the fabric of a pillow or your jeans with a safety pin.
2. Separate the threads into two groups, with one of each color on either side. For the bracelet pictured, I arranged my threads in rainbow order from the outside in.
3. Starting with the left most thread (the “working thread”) of the group on the left, begin working a forward knot. To do so, make a “4” shape with the working thread so that it goes OVER the thread to the right.
4. Then bring the working thread UNDER the thread to the right and up through the loop created in the “‘4” shape. Pull on the working thread to secure the knot up to the top of the work near the loop closure. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to make a second knot in the same place (each forward knot is really made of two knots).
5. Moving on to the next thread in order, begin a second forward knot with the working thread, again making the “4” shape with the working thread going OVER the other thread.
6. Just as in step 4, bring the working thread UNDER the other, then up through the loop created with the “4” shape. Repeat the knot to finish the forward knot on this thread.
7. Repeat these steps, working a forward knot with the working thread on each thread in the left group. Try to work each forward knot slightly diagonally down to the right to begin forming the chevron design. It will be a bit finicky at first, but after a couple rows the shape will be established and it will be much easier.
8. Now you will create the other half of the chevron. The right most thread will be the working thread now, and you will work a backward knot on the thread next to it. To do so, make a backward “4” shape with the working thread going OVER the other thread.
9. Then bring the working thread UNDER the other thread and up through the loop created with the backward “4” shape. Pull to secure the knot at the top of the work, then repeat the knot a second time to complete the backward knot (again, this knot is actually made up of two knots).
10. Move on to the next thread in line, and again create a backward knot beginning with the “4” shape.
11. Again, bring the working thread UNDER the other and up through the loop created. Repeat the knot to finish the backward knot.
12. Continue, working a backward knot onto each thread in the group until the working threads meet in the middle. Again, try to angle the knots diagonally downward to establish the chevron design.
13. Work a final backward knot using the right thread as the working thread.
14. The first row is now complete, and the chevron shape has been established.
15. Begin working the second row. Now the left most thread will become the working thread. Work a forward knot onto the thread next to it.
16. Continue on, working a forward knot onto each thread of the left group.
17. Now begin the right half of the second row, working a backward knot with the right most thread as the working thread.
18. Work a backward knot onto each thread in the right group until the two working threads meet in the middle.
17. Complete the second row by working a final backward knot with the right thread as the working thread.
18. Continue as established, working rows starting with the outermost threads until you reach the desired length (mine measured 5”/13cm).
19. Once your bracelet is the preferred length, you will work the second part of the closure. First, separate the threads into two groups.
20. Then separate the left group into two groups of four threads.
21. Twist both of these groups tightly in the same direction SEPARATELY until the twists begin to kink.
22. Then twist the two groups TOGETHER in the opposite direction to form a two-plied rope.
23. Make the rope approx. 4-6”/10-15cm, then tie off and trim the ends.
24. Repeat steps 20-23 to create the second rope tie.
RAINBOW BRAID BRACELET
1. Cut a 72”/183cm length of each color. Fold all strands in half and tie a knot near the top, leaving a loop for the closure. Secure to a table with tape, or to the fabric of a pillow or your jeans with a safety pin.
2. Separate the threads into eight doubled strands in rainbow order, holding four groups to each side.
3. Working left to right, weave the left most thread OVER, UNDER, OVER the next three threads.
4. Pull this thread up to tighten the weave. The thread just used now joins the right group, leaving three on the left and 5 on the right.
5. Now working right to left, weave the right most thread UNDER, OVER, UNDER, OVER the next four threads (including the one that was previously part of the left group).
6. Pull to tighten the weave. The thread just used now joins the left group, making four on each side again.
7. Now starting with the current left most thread and working left to right, weave OVER, UNDER, OVER the next three threads.
8. Pull to tighten the weave and join this thread with the right group.
9. With the right most thread and working right to left, weave UNDER, OVER, UNDER, OVER the next four threads.
10. Pull to tighten the weave and join the thread just used to the left group, bringing it back to 4 on each side again.
11. Continue weaving/braiding as established until bracelet reaches desired length (mine measured 5”/13cm).
12. Repeat steps 19-24 from the Rainbow Chevron Bracelet to create the two rope ties.
SQUARE KNOT ADJUSTABLE BRACELET
1. Cut two strands each of two colors, 36”/91cm long. Tie a knot, leaving 6”/15cm long tail ends. Secure to a table with tape, or to the fabric of a pillow or your jeans with a safety pin.
2. Separate strands so the there is one strand to the left and one strand to the right of the two center strands.
3. Weave right most thread OVER the two center threads and UNDER the left most thread.
4. Then, weave the left most thread UNDER the two center threads and OVER the right most thread.
5. Pull on the side threads to tighten the knot.
6. Tighten the knot all the way and draw it up to the top of the work. Half of the square knot is now complete.
7. To work the second half of the square knot, this time weave the left most thread OVER the two center threads and UNDER the right most thread.
8. Then weave the right most thread UNDER the two center threads and OVER the left most thread.
9. Now tighten this knot and draw up up to sit just below the first part of the knot.
10. Repeat steps 3-9 to work square knots until desired length is reached (mine measured 2.5”/6cm).
11. Tie a knot with all threads at the bottom of the square knots to match the knot at the top.
12. Trim the remaining ends to 6”/15cm and arrange the bracelet so that the ends are parallel and facing opposite directions.
13. Create adjustable closure. To do so, cut a separate thread approx 20”/50cm long and tie crosswise around all ends. Try to keep the tails of this separate thread roughly the same length on either side.
14. Begin working square knots around the bracelet ends with these new threads, first weaving the right most thread OVER the center bundle and UNDER the left most thread.
15. Then weave the left most thread UNDER the center bundle and OVER the right most thread.
16. Pull to tighten the knot so that it sits just under the knot where you attached this new thread.
17. Begin the second half of the square knot by weaving the left most thread OVER the center bundle and UNDER the right most thread.
18. Complete the square knot by weaving the right most thread UNDER the center bundle and OVER the left most thread.
19. Continue working square knots until adjustable closure measures approx .75”/2cm. Tie off ends with a regular double knot.
20. Trim ends and dot the final double knot with super glue to prevent it from coming loose.
21. Tie a knot at the end of each bracelet tail. To tighten the bracelet, pull on the tail ends. To expand the bracelet, pull on the bracelet itself.
