How to Make a Chevron Friendship Bracelet

By
Mollie Johanson
Mollie Johanson
Mollie Johanson
Mollie Johanson is a professional needlecrafter with over 10 years of hands-on embroidery, sewing, and knitting experience. She is the author of “Stitch Love: Sweet Creatures Big & Small." Mollie also designs and sells stitching projects, co-hosts a crafting podcast, and has taught online embroidery courses.
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Updated on 06/15/20
How to Make a Chevron Friendship Bracelet
Mollie Johanson
Project Overview
  • Working Time: 3 hrs
  • Total Time: 3 hrs
  • Yield: 1 bracelet
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $1

Making knotted friendship bracelets is a favorite craft for all ages and with this tutorial you can learn how to make a simple chevron friendship bracelet for yourself or a friend. What's great about these bracelets is that, while they take some time to make, all you need is some inexpensive embroidery floss and tools you have around the house.

This type of bracelet uses two basic knots: the forward knot and the backward knot. The designs come from the way you place the threads and the order in which you knot them. Once you learn this easy chevron design, you'll be able to experiment with using more threads or changing them around to create new patterns!

For example, this tutorial shows the thread placed in a way that makes wide chevron stripes. You can also make thinner stripes, including working with four colors of embroidery floss instead of two. Want to mix it up? Rather than mirroring in the threads on each side, you can make a chevron that alternates the colors or even looks like a braid.

Start here, then look at more friendship bracelet designs for ideas. You can make a set for you and each of your friends and fill your wrists with this fun handmade accessory!

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Scissors
  • Safety Pin

Materials

  • 2 skeins embroidery floss in two colors

Instructions

  1. Cut Your String and Tie a Loop

    Cut two 6-ft pieces of each color. Fold them in half and tie an overhand knot near the fold to make a loop. The loop should be around 1/2" long.

    Fold and knot the embroidery floss
    Mollie Johanson

    Use the safety pin to secure the loop and knot to a fabric-covered surface. A favorite place for this is on your jeans as you wear them. You can also use tape on a counter or clip it to a clipboard.

    Spread the threads out and arrange them with two matching threads on each end and four matching threads in the middle. This makes a bracelet with wide chevron stripes like the sample. You can also place the threads so they alternate colors, still starting with matching colors at the outside.

    Secure the knot and spread out the threads
    Mollie Johanson

  2. Begin Knotting Your Bracelet

    Working with the first thread on the left side, make a 4 that goes over the second thread.

    Make a 4 to start a forward knot
    Mollie Johanson

    Next, bring the first thread under the second and through the 4 shape. Pull the thread up to tighten this first half of the knot. Make another 4 and tie it to complete the first knot.

    This is called a forward knot.

    Repeat this step to make a forward knot on the third and fourth threads.

    Bring the floss up through the 4 to tie the knot
    Mollie Johanson

  3. Continue Knotting the Bracelet With a Backward Knot

    Working with the first thread on the right side, make a backward 4 that goes over the next thread.

    Make a backwards 4 to start a backwards knot
    Mollie Johanson

    Bring the first thread under the second and through the backward 4 shape. Pull the thread up to tighten this first half of the knot. Make another backward 4 and tie it to complete the first knot.

    This is called a backward knot.

    Repeat this step to make a backward knot on the next two threads.

    Bring the thread through the backwards 4 to finish the knot
    Mollie Johanson

  4. Continue Forwards and Backwards Knots

    With the two threads in the middle (which both started at the outside), tie either a forward or a backward knot. Both produce the same look, but it's best to be consistent through the whole bracelet.

    Knot the two center threads
    Mollie Johanson

    You should now have a V-shaped row of knots.

    One row of knots on a chevron friendship bracelet
    Mollie Johanson

  5. Repeat Steps Two Through Four to Continue Your Bracelet

    Repeat steps 2 to 4 to add rows of knots. Be sure to keep the threads spread out and organized as you work. This prevents them from getting tangled or changing the color order.

    As you work, you should have two rows of the first color and two rows of the second color. Keep working in this order to make the wide stripes.

    Repeat the process to add rows of knots
    Mollie Johanson

    Tip

    Tying tight knots keeps your bracelet looking smooth and even.

  6. Braid the Last Several Inches of Thread

    When your bracelet reaches the length you need, separate the two halves of the threads.

    On the first side, hold two threads together and use the other two as individual threads. Braid the threads for 3 to 4 inches and then tie a knot and trim the ends. Repeat with the second half of the threads.

    End the bracelet by braiding the strands
    Mollie Johanson

    Use the braided ties and loop to tie your bracelet on your or a friend's wrist!

    Want to make a thicker or wider bracelet without changing the steps? Use thicker perle cotton embroidery thread or jewelry-making cord!

    Tie the braided strands through the starting loop
    Mollie Johanson