Linked Friendship Bracelet

Download the PDF instructions

Friendship bracelets are back in fashion due to popular sites like Pinterest. What used to be for the brownies now has a cool, modern twist as the cords are mixed with chains, bars and beads! One of the big trends for summer 2012 is wearing a stack of 3 bracelets. Why not try adding in a friendship bracelet as part of your stack.

The bracelets range in their difficulty, from simple plaits to more complicated knotting techniques. A variety of cords can be used when creating these bracelets. Thin leathers and cords like our 1mm Shamballa style cords produce smaller, delicate bracelets. Whereas thicker leathers and suede cords, like our 2.5mm beach bead suede cords, give a thicker and more noticeable braid.

I have loved making friendship bracelets for ages, so for a new challenge I decided to figure out the techniques required for a new style of bracelet that uses all my left over Shamballa style cord and bars that look like tiny little weights!

Four strands of one colour or two stands of two different colours creates a gorgeous bracelet, and adding an 8×8 Shamballa style slider bead adds a fab finish and allows the bracelet to be worn with ease. A four strand plaiting technique is used for making the ends and a knotting technique is used around the bars! A while was spent attempting to figuring out the lengths and the knotting but eventually a final bracelet was complete.

Having made several now, each one gets neater as practise makes perfect! I love experimenting with different cord colours, and although making the bracelets is a little time consuming, it is addictive nonetheless. If you would like to have a go at making one of these bracelets, keep reading on for the instructions we have put together. This challenge is not for the faint hearted (not that I want to put you off!) and we are still perfecting these instructions!

Please read through all of the instructions before starting the bracelet.

You can also see the full colour instructions by following this link

You will need:

 4x 1metre Shamballa style cord

30 bars

1 Shamballa style slider bead

If you would like all the products to make this bracelet simply follow this link.

-Gather all 4 cords

-Tie a knot at the end of the cord so that all 4 are tied together. Pin/tape to a surface.

-Do a 4 strand plait for approx.8cm (see below for instructions for this)

-Separate the 4 strands so they don’t get mixed up, starting with the left hand strand do the first knot with the first bar. (see below for instructions on how to do the knots)

-Continue knotting on the first bar, going from left to right.

>-Now add the other bars, adding from the left hand side.
-Don’t add your next bar until you are satisfied with the last, as it is difficult to go back.

Add all 30 bars and then do another 4 strand plait so that it is the same length as the other (8cm)

Hints

*Work from what will be the underside of the bracelet.

*You can combine up to 4 colours

*Once you’ve completed the plaiting and added the first bar you can stop and come back to it later. You must not stop before this.

*Takes up to 2 1/2-3hours (it may take a little longer if you’ve never made anything like this before)

*Practice the knots before you start.

*Knots need to be tight- if they are not tight you will need to go back and re-do the knots. Otherwise your finish piece will not look neat.

*Hold end of bars with thumb/finger so loop doesn’t fall off.

*You need to add the Shamballa Style spacer bead whilst plaiting at the very beginning. It is much easier to do this at the beginning rather than at the end as you would need to undo the end knots.

How to make the knots.

The knots are made on the underside of what is the finished bracelet. These knots are the bulkier side and look like crosses.

Strand 1 is the farthest left hand strand. This is wrapped over and under, then back over the bar to the left of the first wrap. The thread is now crossed over the first loop towards the right and wrapped under the bar. It is then pulled through the cross loop, pull the knot tight.

Now knot strand 2- This is slightly different. The thread is wrapped over and around the bar creating a small loop so the thread can be threaded through once it is wrapped around the bar. Pull tight, the thread should be on the left side to the first wrap of the strand 2. Now wrap around the bar again, going across the first wrap. The cord is pulled through this loop to complete.

Strand 3 and 4 are done in the same way as strand 2. Continue adding the bars in this way until your bracelet is complete.

How to make the 4 Strand Plait.

*Pin the cord to a surface or attach to a clipboard

*For the best result you need to keep the tension tight and complete the braid/plait in one sitting.

*Lie your 4 strands flat

*Take the furthest right hand strand, put it under the 2 strands to the left and then put it over the cord next to it, going back towards the right.

*Now do the same starting with the furthest left hand side cord, taking the cord under the middle of the now 2 right hand side cords and then over the one cord next to it, going towards the left hand side.

*Repeat the above two steps a few times. The braid/plait pattern will begin to form.

*Continue braiding until it is a desired length (we suggest 8cm)

Hint

Looks nice if you use 2 colours!

To see our full colour downloadable instructions click here