How to Make a Cardboard Loom Bracelet
The knot on this cardboard loom bracelet is a repeated pattern, so once you've made 1 or 2 knots you can easily do the rest! And you'll never lose track of where you are in the pattern, so you can set the bracelet down and come back to it another day.
Yield: 1 friendship bracelet
Cost: $1
Equipment
- Cardboard
- Ruler (optional)
- Painter's tape (optional)
Materials
- Embroidery floss (7 colours)
Instructions
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials
Step 2: Choose your embroidery floss
- Cut 7 pieces of embroidery floss to be 20 inches each.
- Line up the floss and tie them together in a knot, about 2-1/2 inches away from one end.
Step 3: Make the cardboard loom
- Trace a circle onto a piece of cardboard and cut it out.We traced a small bowl (3-1/2 inch diameter), but you can also use a geometry compass.
- Draw 8 lines along the outside of the circle, equally spaced apart. The lines should go about 1/3 of the way to the center.We find it easiest to start by making lines at "3 o'clock" and "9 o'clock". Then make more lines at "12 o'clock" and "6 o'clock". Finally, make 4 more lines in-between these marks.
- Make a hole in the center of the circle large enough for your knot to push through.We made the hole with the tip of our mechanical pencil, pushing the lead inside the pencil first. You can also use a small scissor tip or a small screwdriver head.
- Then cut through the pencil lines, creating 8 notches around the outside of the circle.
Step 4: Start your friendship bracelet
- Insert the connected embroidery floss through the hole in the cardboard loom.We pushed the knot through the hole with our pencil. The knot will be on the back of the loom.
- Separate the embroidery floss and insert 1 strand into each notch around the circle. Hold the loom with the empty notch facing you.
- Count 3 to the left of the empty space. Lift this strand of floss up from the notch.
- Bring the strand you're holding down into the empty slot.
- Rotate the loom counter-clockwise so the empty space is in front of you again.
- Repeat the same action. Count 3 to the left of the empty space and lift this cord. Bring it down into the empty notch.
- Again, rotate the loom so the empty space is in front of you.As you work, run your fingers through the strands to keep them separate, or else they may tangle.
Step 5: Continue knotting the bracelet
- Continue this same pattern, rotating and moving the 3rd cord down into the empty slot.Eventually you'll see the bracelet forming. We find it helpful to hold the bracelet between 2 fingers, allowing you to create gentle pressure on the cords, pulling them down as the knots form.
- Continue the same steps until the bracelet is long enough to go around your wrist.
- Remove each piece of floss from the notches around the loom.
- Pull the bracelet out of the loom and make a knot at the end of the knotted part.
Step 6: Finish off the bracelet
- Tape one knot of the bracelet to your working surface.
- Separate your cords into 2 sections. One side will have 3 cords and the other will have 4.Make a simple braid with the 3 cord section and make a knot at the end.
- Repeat, making a braid with the 4 cord section. To do this, keep 2 of the cords together and braid with the other individual strands. Make a knot at the end.Then cut the excess thread near the knots.
- Remove the tape and pick up the bracelet. Arrange the loose cords neatly and place them in-between the 2 braided ends.
- Tie the braids in a knot around the loose cords.
- Try on the bracelet and determine how long the loose cords need to be. These cords should slide through the braided knot to adjust the size.Keep the bracelet loose, at the largest length you need, and make a knot at this point.
- Cut off the excess loose cord outside the knot.
- Your cardboard loom bracelet is complete!
Video
Notes
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