How To: Make a Friendship Bracelet

I wrote this post about my kids making friendship bracelets as a thank you to their babysitters. It is such a simple and fun way to keep kids busy while creating something they can either give away, or pile up on their wrists. I thought I'd write a post on how to make them in case you would like to make them with your family, or even for yourself! 

Step 1: Pick up some embroidery floss from your local craft store. I purchased a huge pack of different colors for 5 dollars at JoAnn's. 

Step 2: Pick out the colors you'd like for your bracelet. I like to use 4, but you can use 3 or as many as you'd like. Cut the strings the same length (about 12 inches). I went about 18 inches for ours to play it safe so the kids wouldn't have to worry about the strings getting short and tangling. 

Step 3:  Tie a simple knot at the end leaving about one and a half inches above the knot so you can anchor it to something as you make it.  

It should look like this.

Step 4: Pick the color  you'd like to start  with, it doesn't matter which. Separate it from the rest as shown below.

Step 5: Fold the string across the TOP of the other strings.

Step 6: Pull the string UNDER the group of strings you just wrapped it across and through the hole making a knot.

Like this...

Step 7: Pull the knot all the way to the top.

Repeat this sequence until you have a spiral like the photo below. About an inch of the first color you chose. 

Start the sequence over with the next color of your choice.  

Here is the next color I chose after going a ways with the green.  Fold it over like this..

Loop it through the circle you've made, making a knot.

Pull the string tight.

Continue the sequence until you've gone through all your colors and start the pattern again.

Tie off the bracelet where you feel it will be long enough for whomever's wrist it will be decorating. Then tie the two ends together and Voila! 

This is the bracelet I made for Gavin. He really liked it for a day and then lost it! If you have any questions please leave a comment below. Have fun!