I spent a lot of my teen years devoted to learning the different
knots used when making friendship bracelets. My mom taught me, and I
taught my daughter. I have used several different materials to make
friendship bracelets, including: embroidery floss, gimp, beads, hemp
leather and wire. Each material lends its own particular style when
making bracelets but the most commonly used material is embroidery
floss.
When I first started making friendship bracelets I had a bit of
trouble learning the knot-patterns. In fact I found the knotting quite
difficult at first, but after a while it became so easy. I could not
tell the difference between the different string and I used it strings
all over the place. Once I got used to the different length it was not
a problem. I ended up tying my own fingers into the bracelets a few
times, when I was distracted or unfocused. Undoing the knots was not
difficult and, while my fingers turned interesting shades of purple, I
haven’t lost a digit that way yet!
There are two standard knots used in making friendship bracelets,
one is the forward knot, and the other the backward knot. This can
resemble a friendship in the ways that too can go forwards and
backwards!
After measuring and cutting your material, group your strands of
material together (two strands each embroider floss color). You will
want to fold the strands in half and tie a knot at the end; you will
work from this end to the other when making your design. A bit of tape
to hold your materials down while you work will also assist you by
keeping your working end still.
The design patterns you can choose from will be suited to you or
your friend’s personality. Remember, everyone will see your hand and
wrist at some point so you want a design you can show off. The common
bracelet patterns are: cable, which is a couple of strands knotted in a
simple line; striped, which is two or more different couple colors
striped in a repeating pattern through the whole bracelet; round
striped, which usually has six different colors each used in a
repetitive pattern with each color wrapped around the other strands;
and finally the wish bracelet with one strand of floss and a bead,
traditionally when the bead and floss fall off the wish you made when
you put it on will come true.
I have made all different types of friendship bracelet styles, and I
don’t know which my favorite is. I had the most fun when doing the
wish bracelet with my daughter, I don’t know what she wished for, but
it fell off three days later and she said it came true. I suppose I
will have to wait until she tells me what it was!
It's a fantastic hobby that has charm and excitement for everyone.
They make fantastic gifts and really give you a sense of engagement
when you are putting one together. There is such a broad range of
crafts available for everyone to do nowadays but I must say I really
enjoy spending my time with my daughter working on these because they
are so much fun.
