lace on the left (PURPLE) is crossed over the lace on the right (BLUE), forming a 4 or backward “p.” The end is looped under and tied. Repeat the process to complete the knot.
The lace currently on the right (PURPLE) is crossed over (forming a “p” or backward 4) and looped under the lace currently on the left (BLUE). Repeat the process to complete the knot.
In the diagrams that follow, the basic knot will be shown with a symbol of a straight arrow, pointing either down to the right (forward knot) or down to the left (backward knot), depending on whether it is the thread on the right that is crossed over the one on the left and knotted twice. , or viceversa .
| A Guide to the Symbols | |
| = the thread on the right is crossed over the one on the left and tied into a backward knot | |
| = the thread on the left is crossed over the one on the right and tied into a forward knot |
Knot School
Complex knots
Some of the friendship bracelets in this book require slightly more complicated knots. Like the basic knots, the complex knots require two ties each, but in the complex knot, the second tie mirrors rather than duplicates the first. These knots are shown in the diagrams with symbols of bent arrows pointing either down toward the right or down toward the left .
These types of knots are used to make sure that the order of individual threads doesn’t switch between one knot and the next, so you can better control your color patterns.
To tie a l/r (or forward backward) knot , make the first tie of a forward knot (left lace crosses over right, forming a 4 or backward “p.” The end is looped under, then pulled tight). To make your second tie, take that same left/ purple string and, from the right, form a “p” or backward 4 over the right/blue string. Loop under and pull tight.
You have tied the left string to the right string for both ties, but have worked from two different directions rather than from the same direction twice. Now that you’ve made the second tie, the left string is back in its original position.
The r/l (or backward forward) knot starts with the first tie of the backward knot (right lace crosses the left lace, forming a “p” or backward 4. The end is looped under and pulled tight). To make your second tie, take the right/blue string and, from the left, form a 4 or backward “p” over the left string. Loop under and pull tight. Now that the knot is completed, the right string is back in its original position.
As mentioned above, with these types of knots you’ll find that, after you’ve completed the knot, the threads will be in the same position as they were at the beginning of the round (in fact, the blue lace is on the right in both photographs). This is not the case with the basic knots.
| Symbol legend: | |
| = the thread on the left is crossed over the thread on the right, looped under, and tied into a knot; the process is repeated with the thread now on the right crossed over the one now on the left, looped under it, and tied into a knot. | |
| = the thread on the right is crossed over the thread on the left, looped under, and tied into a knot; the process is repeated with the thread now on the left crossed over the one now on the right, looped under it, and tied into a knot. |
Now that secret behind the Friendship Bracelet has been revealed you are ready to take on any design, from the simplest to the most complex.
Finishing off the Bracelet
Every time you finish off a bracelet, braid the threads as shown in the picture: then tie the ends of the braids into knots to secure them.
Finish off the bracelets with anything that strikes your fancy: shells, charms, beads, buttons, or anything else that matches the color and design of your bracelet. While you’re making the bracelets, thread a few strands through beads or button holes or, as shown in the image, thread them through jump rings looped through holes drilled into shells (a lot of clam shells, cockle shells and other types of mollusk shells already have perfectly circular holes in them, perfect for attaching jump rings). Jump rings are available in the jewelry-making section of craft stores everywhere.
Keep tying knots until your bracelet has reached the desired length; then finish it off with braids and secure them with knots.
Ideas and Suggestions
Experiment with different ways of tying off the braids.
For example, instead of just tying a knot at the ends of your braids, why not add some large beads, as shown above?
Slip the ends of your braids through opposite holes of a bead to make a slide, then add beads to the two ends, and finish with knots to keep the beads in place. Pull the ends in opposite directions to tighten the bracelet around the wrist.
With the button and with closures like the anchor, proceed as follows: for the button, pass the two small braids through the button holes and tie it off; for the anchor, loop one end of the bracelet through the anchor and tie it with a bow.
In both cases you’ll have to create a loop on one end of one of the braids that either button or the anchor will be able to pass through in order to fasten the bracelet. Make a loop by folding over a small bit of the braid and tying two knots. Make sure the loop is large enough for the button or anchor to pass through, but not so wide that it will easily fall out again.
Watch the video demo to see how the bracelets are finished off.
Two-Colored Candy Stripe
DIFFICULTY LEVEL:
THREAD LENGTH: 34 IN (85 CM)
4 turquoise threads
4 wine-colored threads
Recommended floss: DMC 3846 – 718
The technique used for making friendship bracelets is Macramé, an ancient textile-making method used to make ornaments or other objects by hand-knotting a series of threads. The first type of bracelet pattern to tackle is the “Candy Stripe,” or two-colored diagonal line. This is one of the simplest patterns: one thread pair is knotted after the other, all of the knots following the same direction.
