Indoor activity
Friendship Bracelet
Weave a colourful knotted bracelet to keep or give to your best friend, using just string and your fingers!
Materials
- Scissors
- String
- Tape
Illustrated Steps
Cut and Tie the Strings
Cut four to six strands of string about 60 cm long. Knot them together at one end and tape the knot to your work surface to hold steady.
Sort the Strands
Spread the strands out side by side and note the colour order. The leftmost strand will be your working strand for the forward knot.
Tie the Forward Knot
Loop the leftmost strand over the next in a figure-of-four shape, pull through, and tighten. Make two knots on each strand before moving on.
Continue Row by Row
Knot row after row — diagonal stripes appear as you work. Tie off when the bracelet is long enough to wrap around a wrist.
What You’ll Create
A traditional knotted friendship bracelet in your favourite colours! Using a forward-knot technique, you’ll weave diagonal stripes across strands of string. It takes practice but once you have the rhythm it’s wonderfully satisfying — and makes a perfect gift.
How to Set It Up
Step 1: Cut and Tie the Strings
Cut four to six strands of string, each about 60 cm long. Choose different colours. Knot them all together at one end leaving a 5 cm tail, then tape the knot to a table or clipboard to hold it steady while you work.
Step 2: Sort the Strands
Spread the strands out side by side. Note the order from left to right — this determines your colour pattern. The leftmost strand will be your working strand.
Step 3: Tie the Forward Knot
Take the leftmost strand and loop it over the strand next to it in a figure-of-four shape. Pull it through and tighten — that’s one forward knot! Make two forward knots on each strand before moving to the next. Repeat all the way across.
Step 4: Continue Row by Row
After one full pass, your former leftmost strand is now on the right. Continue knotting row by row in the same way. Diagonal stripes appear as you work. When the bracelet fits a wrist, finish with a knot and trim the ends.
Have fun!
Try alternating four colours for a chevron or candy-stripe pattern. Add a bead or button to the finished bracelet. Legend says you must wear your friendship bracelet until it falls off naturally for the wish to come true!
Why It’s Amazing
Friendship bracelets date back thousands of years and were popular in ancient Central America. The knotting technique is a form of macramé — also used to make furniture and wall art! Repetitive knotting builds patience, spatial reasoning, and finger dexterity — all useful for music, sport, and art.
Pro Tips
💡 Keep knots firm but not too tight — overly tight knots make the bracelet stiff. 💡 Embroidery thread gives the widest colour choice and best results. 💡 If you lose your place, look at the diagonal stripe pattern to find your working strand.