Chan Luu Single Wrap Macrame Bracelet

Chan Luu bracelets are just so cool! What's great about them is that they use simple macrame techniques to produce different results, this time with the addition of beads! This tutorial adds on to my previous Square Knot Friendship Bracelets, but utilizes the beads in a different way; on the outside of the knots as opposed to the inside. What you get is a totally different result!

These would be awesome friendship bracelets!

Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are 3mm glass gemstone beads, cotton thread for knotting, scissors, tape, and a bead and crimp for closure.

Step 2: Start the knots.  Cut one length of your cotton thread about one and a half times the length of your wrist. Tape at the top to your table. Cut one length of cotton cord that is about four times the length of the thread you just cut; this will be your knotting thread. Start to knot, just like how we started in my Square Knot Bracelet Tutorial.

Once you have a couple of square knots, take either side of the thread and add beads to these threads. The number of beads will depend on how one you want this bracelet. Once you've added all your beads (make sure there's an even amount on each side), tie knots at the end of these threads to hold the beads on.

Now, you will do a square knot with the beads on the outside (instead of the inside like in the Square Knot Bracelet Tutorial). 

Take two beads right up to the last knot. 

Make a square knot, making sure the beads are caught in the knot and lie right on either side of the center thread. Tie one more square knot to hold the beads in place tightly.

Step 2: Continue this method.

Once you have gotten one square knot set, continue to knot in this way, until your bracelet is as long as you need. To finish, add the bead and crimp to one end, crimp to close. Make a loop with the other end (big enough so the bead fits snugly), and crimp close. This is also explained in the Square Knot Bracelet Tutorial.

You're finished! See how easy that was?

One with bead closure, one with clasp. You choose!

If you share/use/post this tutorial, please link back to me. It is much appreciated!

Frieda and Nellie Friendship Ring

These are my kind of friendship bracelets; they've got major sparkle! I love how Frieda and Nellie incorporate gems into their designs, which adds another dimension to these bracelets; it instantly makes them more elegant!

I knew I could make a tutorial for these. However, I didn't want to spend hours knotting to make a bracelet, so I made a ring! What's great about making rings is that they come together way quicker than a bracelet, which means you have time to make more!

The contrast between the soft cotton thread and shiny gem is sure to catch eyes! All of your friends will want one.

This tutorial is a bit more tedious, but it's all about getting the knot pattern. Once you've got it, it'll get much easier!

Let's begin.

Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are scissors, four colors of embroidery floss, tape, and a gemstone with a setting; I got mine from a broken necklace. 

Step 2: You will need to cut two 3' lengths of each color of thread. This should be enough thread for you, I had some left over at the end. If you have a bigger ring size use a little more thread though.

Tie all the lengths together at the top with an overhand knot. Tape down.

For the sake of this tutorial, I will label threads R (red thread) G (green thread) Y (yellow thread) and B (blue thread). If you are using different colors, just assign these names to them as well to not confuse yourself!

 Arrange the threads: R, G, Y, B, 2B, 2Y, 2G, 2R.

Step 2.5: Take R, bring over G, then behind G and through that loop to the left and front (second pic). Pull tight to make a knot. Now, take R, bring over G but bring thread to the right and front (third pic). Pull tight again. It should look like the last pic, with the thread naturally ending up on the left side of G again.

Step 3: Now, you will be doing this same sequence but with 2R and 2G. Take 2R, bring over then behind 2G but bring thread to the right and front. Pull tight. Take 2R, bring over then behind 2G but bring thread to the left and front (second pic). This is the exact same thing you did in the last step, but the directions are reversed. Pull tight. You should have the last pic, with 2R naturally falling to the right of 2G. 

Step 4: Take G, bring over and then behind Y, through that loop to the left and front. Repeat.

Take 2G, bring over and behind and through the loop 2Y to the right and front. Repeat.

Take G, bring over and behind and through the loop B to the left and front. Repeat.

Take 2G, bring over and behind and through 2B to the right and front. Repeat.

Step 5: You should have something that looks like this first pic. Then, take G, bring over and behind 2G to the left and front. Repeat.

You should have one complete chevron, looking like a V-shape. See the last pic?

Step 6: Now, we will repeat steps 2.5 through 5. However, instead of knotting the G's all the way across the other threads, since the yellows are next to the outer red thread (you will NEVER knot reds across any other threads than the one next to them; they are your outlines for your ring), we will knot across the threads with yellows. Start by knotting R and 2R in the way of step 2.5, but knotting on the yellows next to them instead of greens. Continue with the steps, but use Y and 2Y in place of G and 2G. 

You will be knotting both Y's over blues first, then greens. Remember to finish the yellow chevron in the manner of Step 5. Your completed chevron should look like the first pic.

Keep repeating steps 2.5 through 5, changing out the color names as needed. Your next chevron will use the reds to outline (as always), then the blues to knot the chevron (second pic).

Then, it will be back to reds for outline and green for the chevron. 

Keep with the pattern until you are at about halfway of the length you need for the ring.

Take the two center threads (in this case, it's greens) and thread on your gem, through the bottom of the setting. Look at the last pic for reference.

Step 7: Take R, bring over and behind Y to the left and font, pull tight to make a knot. Bring R over and behind Y to the right and front, pull tight. 

Take Y, bring over and behind B then thru loop to left and front. Repeat.

Take R again, but now over and behind B to the left and font, pull tight to make a knot. Bring R over and behind B and thru loop to the right and front, pull tight. 

Take B, bring over and behind Y then thru loop to left and front. Repeat. You should have something looking like the last pic.

Step 8: Now repeat step 7, but working with 2R, 2Y and 2B. This is how the knots will go.

Take 2R, bring over and behind 2Y to the right and font, pull tight to make a knot. Bring 2R over and behind 2Y to the left and front, pull tight. 

Take 2Y, bring over and behind B then thru loop to right and front. Repeat.

Take 2R again, but now over and behind 2B to the right and font, pull tight to make a knot. Bring 2R over and behind 2B and thru loop to the left and front, pull tight. 

Take 2B, bring over and behind 2Y then thru loop to right and front. Repeat. 

Yours should look like the first pic.

Repeat steps 7 and 8 until you have long enough knotted pieces so that the gem can be encased (second pic.) 

Now, to close in the gem, continue with our original chevron knotting pattern, which starts back in Step 2.5. Remember, you may have to substitute the color names depending on what thread you end up re-beginning the chevron with, but always knot the thread to the one directly next to it.You will be back to knotting chevrons just like before, which will hold the gem in place (pic 3 and 4).

Keep with the chevron pattern till the ring is long enough to fit around your finger. Once long enough, overhand knot all threads to secure.

Step 9: Finishing. Tie both ends together, cut, and glue this knot.

The finished ring!

If you share/use/post this tutorial, please link back to me. It is much appreciated!

Pura Vida Braided Friendship Bracelets

These bracelets are a cinch to make. From site Pura Vida, which donates proceeds of every sale to various causes, these friendship braids are bright, colorful, and good for the world! Make your own by using recycled blue jeans and old t-shirts, which is good for the earth in another way.

Simple, cute, and a great way to upcycle.

Plus, this is literally a two-step tutorial. What could be better?

Let's go.

Step 1: Gather materials. I used old blue jeans, and two old t-shirts; a tie-dye one and a plain grey one. I cut thin strips out of all three. You can use a combination of any old clothes you have, and can cut the strips as thin/wide as you want for different thicknesses of bracelets.

Tie them all together at the top, leaving room at the end to tie on your wrist. Tape the group down to your table.

Step 2: Braid. Knot the end when it's long enough to tie on your wrist. Cut two of the threads shorter and leave one longer; this is the strip you will use to knot around your wrist, as shown in the last picture. The knot would be too bulky if you tied all 3 strips together!

Tie on, and make some more for your friends!

Different widths!

If you share/use/post this tutorial, please link back to me. It is much appreciated!