Friendship connect
Pandemic living means we've gotta be creative - so why not go back to an ancient way of showing someone they matter to you? Exactly when friendship bracelets date from is debated, but there's evidence of knot tying in a similar way in China hundreds of years BC. Tradition says you give one to a true friend, and when you give it to them you make a wish (or you can say a prayer) - and that becomes linked to the bracelet. They wear it until it wears out - which signifies the strength and value of the friendship.
AND - the best bit is, this also gives you something to do if you are stuck in the house missing someone - why not make one of these for them and you can think about them or even say some prayers for them whilst you're doing it - making it extra special!
Here's your step by step guide to making friendship bracelets: ⏬
Step 1 - choose your threads
Friendship bracelets are made from embroidery threads - you can get these from a craft shop or on the internet. You need cotton threads ideally: anything too wooly will fray as you tie knots.
Choose the colours you want to make up the stripes in the bracelet. The number of threads of each colour determine how wide the stripe of each colour is - 1 row = 1 thread. So if you want the stripes even, choose the same numbers of thread for each colour. If you want one band wider, choose more threads of that colour than the other.
The width of the bracelet is determined by how many threads you use - we suggest you start smaller (4 or 6 as we've gone for here) as it is easier.
Cut the threads nice and long - distance from your fingertip to elbow is probably about right. Tie them in a knot at one end as in this photo - and safety pin it to your trousers (not your best pair though!). Then lay the threads out in order of colour or your rows will be all jumbled up. So we're gonna knot white rows first... ⏩
2 - Get the hang of knotting ...
Ok this is tricky at first and don't despair if you make mistakes - you'll get it.
Take the first two threads in your hand - in this picture they are the two white ones to make it easier to see. Hold the RIGHT HAND one taught - pull it nice a tight - and hold it in your right hand. That thread doesn't move, right?
Now loop the LEFT HAND thread over that one to tie a knot - go over, under and through to knot that thread around the right hand one. You can see fit a bit better on the next picture ... ⏩
3 - Technique's everything ...
When you've looped the knot, keeping the right-hand thread taught, pull the left hand one so the knot tightens up to the top of the bracelet ... ⏩
4 - Knot Twice Baby
This thread is now the KNOTTING THREAD for that row ...
Tie a second knot - and you'll see that after two knots, the thread sits to the right-hand side of the taught thread after this so pass that taught one under and pick up the next thread along - the first red one in our example... ⏩
5 - And again ...
Now you're ready to go again - so hold that red threat taught and again tie TWO knots around it with the white one - like you can see here. ⏩
There you go - second set of two knots done and the white knotting thread goes over to the right to knot around the next red one... ⏩
6 - Row 1's a keeper!
Keep doing this until you've finished that first row! Well done you!!! 🙌🏻 ⏩
7 - Second row same as the first ...
Now go back to the left hand side and grab the next thread at that end - this becomes the new knotting thread. In our case its the second white one :) Work your way along the row again - making sure each time you hold the threat you are knotting this around tight, and tie the knot with the knotting thread. ⏩
8 ... and that's your second row done!!
The next row is gonna be red for us - how about you?
Keep going and you'll see the bracelet gradually begin to take shape...⏩
9 - Taking shape ...
Here it is! You can see on ours as we had two threads of white and four of red the red stripe's gonna be wider.
Keep going until you get to the end and the bracelet is as long as you want it (test on your own wrist but remember some people's wrists are bigger!).
When you're done you can leave the threads loose or plait a bit of the spare thread so whoever you give it to can tie it onto their wrist.
Why not give it a go?!
