Making Friendship Bracelets Tie Friends Together With Bright Colors, Patterns And Create Memories
By Anita Smith
In a different time in my life, Christmas crafts were an important part of my Christmas holiday. The past couple of years have been extremely hectic and some old traditions were put aside. This year my daughter asked me to help her with a party for her best girlfriends and we decided that we would teach them how to make friendship bracelets.
So she and I have been making lots of plans for a day of crafts, great munchies, and an opportunity for young girlfriends to make gifts for each other that might possibly become a warm and happy friendship memory.
My family moved to a new town when I was 10 - the age my daughter is now. I entered the 4th grade lonely and a bit apprehensive. At Christmas time one of the girls in my class presented me with a friendship bracelet and that started a friendship that has lasted 25 years.
Friendships between little girls are very precious. That gracious homemade gift broke the ice and my friend and I have giggled together, told secrets and shared heartaches for 25 years. Christmas holiday that year I spent time at her home and she taught me how to make friendship bracelets. This year I'm passing that to my daughter and her friends.
So, we bought colorful yarn (or floss), and she and I have already made a couple so that we can show how pretty they are. There is nothing like working on a project together. I expect the house to be full of girly chatter and laughter, and I can't wait.
My dear friend lives across the country from me, now. We talk by phone very often but I miss her. So, this year, I'm sending her a friendship bracelet - I'm honoring her gift of 25 years ago. This time the friendship bracelet will be one for an adult woman - sterling silver - sitting in a pretty blue box and sent with love and gratitude across the country.
Making a friendship bracelet is inexpensive, relatively simple and fun. Here are some basic instructions - BFF!(best friend forever) Share with a friend.
Things You'll Need
Clipboards
Yardsticks
Scissors
Embroidery Floss
Beads
Step One
Select two colors of embroidery floss for your friendship bracelet.
Step Two
Cut three 27-inch strands of each color to make a total of six strands.
Step Three
Hold the ends of all six strands together and make a knot about 1 inch from one end.
Step Four
Secure the knotted end by clipping it on a clipboard.
Step Five
Separate the colors so you have three strands of one color on the right and three strands of the other color on the left.
Step Six
Pick up the three strands on the left.
Step Seven
Wrap them over and under all three strands on the right, forming a loop.
Step Eight
Poke the strands through the loop and pull tight, forming a single knot.
Step Nine
Pick up the three strands on the right.
Step Ten
Wrap them over and under the strands on the left, forming a loop.
Step Eleven
Poke the strands through the loop and pull tight, forming a knot.
Step Twelve
Repeat steps 6 through 11 until your bracelet is the desired length.
Step Thirteen
Hold the ends of the strands together and make a knot.
Step Fourteen
Trim the ends to about 1 inch.
Step Fifteen
Try on your friendship bracelet.
Tips & Warnings
Select colors that have special significance to you and your friend - your friend's and your favorite colors, the colors of your eyes, or the colors of your birthstones make good choices.
Make specially colored holiday friendship bracelets - pink and red for Valentine's Day; black and orange for Halloween; or black, red and green for Kwanzaa.
Add beads to your friendship bracelet by threading them through the two middle strands.
Beads are a choking hazard for young children.
About the Author:
Anita Smith.
Artist and Southern lady residing in Asheville, North Carolina
http://www.howtomakefriendshipbracelets.blogspot.com
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