Friendship Bracelets Tutorial

The friendship bracelets trend is back in full force and I jumped on the bandwagon this summer, making quite a few.  I noticed quite a few other bloggers making them too and it’s fun just to see how everyone makes them just a little bit differently and the color combinations you put together.  I love the look of the friendship bracelets but one thing that I didn’t like was that I felt like after I tied it on, I was kind of committed to wearing them for at least a week before I got sick of it and tried to un-knot it or cut it off.  I came up with a super easy way to making them kind of like bangles so that you can actually slip them on and off.  I also came up with a really easy way to use your embroidery floss to spruce up old bangles which you’ll find the tutorial at the bottom of this post.

Pretty self explanatory but a few of the essentials to make this project.

  • Scissors
  • Glue (to be used as the very last step)
  • Thin chain – which I used on my middle bracelet above
  • Bangles (I used ones I already had or get this stack of 20 bangles for $5) – for the last tutorial
  • Embroidery Floss
  • Thicker chain to attach to the bracelets

Tutorial 1:
Basically once you are done making your bracelet, take your ends and
knot them through your chain.  I try to leave my ends very long so it’s
easy to slip through the chains.  Double knot it to make sure it’s
secure.  Cut the ends to a shorter length and with a craft glue, dab a
small amount onto the ends and just squish the threads together so that
the frayed ends are glued together.

You’ll notice for the middle one with the chain, I attached a clasp to it because I wanted to be able to open it and wrap it on my arm rather than slipping it on like you have to do with the chain.  What I love about this is that the chain or clasp is always going to be heavier than your bracelet so the chain always stays on the bottom and the bracelet doesn’t flip.
Tutorial 2:
This one is super easy and fast!  Just take a bangle and start wrapping the embroidery floss around.  For the plain
one, I just wrapped it twice in one area and kept the spacing even
between the wraps.  If you do it nice and tight, the thread doesn’t
move.  You don’t even need glue for this one because when you start it,
keep the beginning trail of thread on the underside of the bangle and just wrap
around it which keeps everything in place.  When you are done, just tuck the
end into the already wrapped sections (also on the underside).  For the rhinestone bangle I
wrapped in between each of the rhinestones but I didn’t like it with just one time around so I wrapped the entire thing twice. 
Almost all of the materials that I used in both bracelets were found at a craft store for pretty inexpensive.  The only thing that I bought separately at a jewelry supply store was the toggle clasp for the pink/chain bracelet above.  (And of course the bangles but they were just sitting in my jewelry box.) Overall though I think each bracelet probably cost less than a dollar to make!

Have fun and let me know if you make one! 🙂

Like this post?  Also check out my “Make your own cocktail rings” post for an easy way to turn old earrings into rings!

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  • katattack2000
    October 10, 2011 at 12:15 pm

    This is a great idea! I love your DIY posts 🙂 Very creative and I will definitely be trying to give this one a go 🙂 Thanks for the idea

    katattack2000.wordpress.com

  • KaylaMarieEnglish
    October 10, 2011 at 1:03 pm

    That's awesome, didn't think about it.lol Although I wish I could make those bracelets, I can only do one kind & it's not even any of those. D:

  • Ria
    October 10, 2011 at 1:31 pm

    I love this post!

  • Pauline
    October 10, 2011 at 1:35 pm

    Such a great post! I never realised how easy these are to make, thanks so much for posting! Love the colours you used.

    XO

  • K.M.
    October 10, 2011 at 1:44 pm

    so cute ♥

  • CessOviedo
    October 10, 2011 at 2:31 pm

    Such fun and simple ideas! Great way to spice up simple bangles, I think I have some old ones that could be totally renewed!

    Cess O. <3 The Outfit Diaries

  • Lacey
    October 10, 2011 at 3:05 pm

    Such a great DIY, you are very creative! you made something so simple, totally different, thanks for a great post!

  • Schnelle Couture
    October 10, 2011 at 3:31 pm

    What a great idea! Now that I'm older, I don't like being tied (no pun intended) to wearing them everyday and this is the perfect solution.

  • Diane
    October 10, 2011 at 6:16 pm

    so fun!!!

  • Grace - Stripes and Sequins
    October 10, 2011 at 6:20 pm

    I love this – you did a great job… very creative!

  • yuni.k
    October 10, 2011 at 6:39 pm

    This tutorial layout is so pretty and it matches your blog! 🙂

  • Mai
    October 10, 2011 at 8:15 pm

    I remember my friends and I used to make it when we were in middle school. LOL This is such a great tutorial. Awesome pics too!

  • glamour rouge
    October 10, 2011 at 8:30 pm

    Love this! I'm going to do the last one, wrapping the thread around the bangle as I have lots that I don't use anymore, thanks for sharing! 🙂 x

  • ( elisse )
    October 10, 2011 at 8:50 pm

    Tiffany these are great ideas!! I like how you tie the ends of the embroidery floss to a chain or clasp – maybe something I'll do for Christmas gifts!

    And the next time I'm at a thrift store, I'll rethink some skinny bangles I got, and see if they can be jazzed up as a friendship bracelet!!

  • incredibilmente
    October 10, 2011 at 9:12 pm

    Helo! I love your style! You have very beautiful pics! I will follow you:)
    Big hug & kiss:)

    http://nikandpic.blogspot.com/

  • Emma ♡
    October 10, 2011 at 9:47 pm

    Love the colour combination, really cute.
    I should really get into making them in time for xmas 🙂

    xo Emma

  • Brittany - Try It On Me
    October 10, 2011 at 11:46 pm

    Great tutorial= Brings me back to my childhood friendship bracelet making business! xo

    http://tryitonmegirl.blogspot.com/

  • Natasha xoxo
    October 11, 2011 at 12:52 am

    Such a cute idea! Thanks for posting 🙂

    xo, tasha
    twenty-something blog
    follow me

  • Katherine
    October 11, 2011 at 2:25 am

    Such a cool tutorial – thank you thank you for sharing – totally am going to try these out!

  • Savvy Gal
    October 11, 2011 at 3:20 am

    I love these. My sister could have use this tutorial two weekends ago for my nieces b-day party. : )

  • Vivi
    October 12, 2011 at 1:50 pm

    I really like the bangles concept. Gives it a totally new look. Nice.

  • Lyfe
    October 16, 2011 at 8:32 pm

    great idea i would definately make one , can like your outfit too

  • Lyfe
    October 16, 2011 at 8:33 pm

    i mean i like the outfit too with the plaid shirt