Friendship Bracelet Pattern Weaving
Weave colorful friendship bracelets using knotting patterns from simple stripes to advanced chevrons — builds focus, fine motor precision, and pattern thinking.
What You'll Need
- 1Embroidery floss (3-4 colors)
- 2Scissors
- 3Tape or clipboard to hold the bracelet while working
- 4Ruler or measuring tape
What You'll Need
Embroidery floss in 3-4 colors (available at any craft store)
Scissors
Tape or a clipboard to anchor the bracelet while working
A ruler for measuring strand length
Getting Started: Candy Stripe
Cut 3-4 strands, each about 60 inches long. Tie them together 2 inches from the top. Tape or clip the knot to a work surface.
Arrange strands in color order from left to right.
Take the leftmost strand. Make a forward knot: loop it over the next strand, pull through, tighten. Repeat twice on the same pair.
Continue knotting that same strand over every strand to the right. When it reaches the far right, row one is done.
Take the new leftmost strand and repeat. Each row builds the diagonal stripe.
Leveling Up: Chevron Pattern
Once Candy Stripe feels easy, split your strands into two mirror-image halves.
Work from outside in on both sides, meeting in the middle, and join the center strands with a knot.
This creates a V-shaped chevron pattern. Repeat for each row.
Finishing
Continue until the bracelet wraps the wrist with an inch of overlap.
Tie all strands in a firm knot, braid the tail, and trim ends.
Tips
Always knot twice on each pair. A single knot looks sloppy and slides. This is the rule that separates neat bracelets from messy ones.
If the bracelet twists or curls, knots are too tight. Loosen slightly — firm and flat, not pulled and puckered. It takes a few rows to find the right tension.
Start with only 3 strands for the first bracelet. Fewer strands means fewer knots per row, letting kids master technique before scaling up.
Use high-contrast colors (red, white, blue) so the pattern is easy to see. Save subtle combos for after technique is solid.
This is a perfect travel activity. Clipped to a clipboard, kids can work on it in the car or during downtime. Portable and screen-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 45 min, with 5 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: embroidery floss (3-4 colors), scissors, tape or clipboard to hold the bracelet while working, ruler or measuring tape.
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 8-12 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors?
This activity is designed for indoor play, making it perfect for rainy days or when you're staying inside.
How difficult is this activity?
This activity has a moderate difficulty level. It may require some preparation or guidance, but is manageable for most families.
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