This post was most recently updated on April 5th, 2023
These are the easiest friendship bracelets you’ll ever make for kids of all ages! Wear all 3 together for a fun look. If you can braid or tie basic knots, you can make these bracelets. Perfect for summer camp, youth activities, or craft afternoons with friends and great for beginners. This post contains affiliate links.
You might also like these acrylic dog tag necklaces, fluffy flip flops, or nail polish washer necklaces. I just finished the post on our yarn rainbow keychains that we’re making at camp this year as well. Oh, and one more! If you haven’t tried adding temporary tattoos to soap bars you’re missing out!
Watch our step by step video!
Hi everyone, it’s me again. Your friendly girls camp craft coordinator sharing the latest project info, haha. If you’ve missed the tutorials that I’ve created for girls camp so far you can catch up here, and here. I wanted an easy craft that the girls could do as they visited with friends, and friendship bracelets fit the bill. I saw these cute bracelets on The Shirley Life (Instagram) and loved how simple they were. I’ve learned that DIY jewelry is always a hit at girls camp.
Easy Friendship Bracelet Tutorials for Beginners
I used to make friendship bracelets when I was a kid. The kind you safety pin onto your pants, loop and fold the strands, then weave strands of embroidery floss in and out, using your fingertips, to create fun designs. I thought about teaching the girls how to make those ones but then remembered that I’ll have 120 girls coming through the craft area each day, with bad cell service (a YouTube video tutorial wouldn’t be an option) and multiple crafts going on so I scrapped that idea and came up with the easiest friendship bracelets EVER that they can make 100% on their own for their best friends. I’ll leave extra thread out for the girls who want to make the fancy stuff with a candy stripe or chevron bracelet pattern. The kind that requires a piece of cardboard with slots and fancy knots. I picked up a few cardboard circle templates from Michael’s so we’ll have all bases covered.
Friendship Bracelet Tradition
Friendship bracelets are usually a gift from one bff to another. These bracelets don’t have fittings or clasps of any kind. You tie them on. Over time the bracelets may loosen slightly making them easy to slide on and off, but the friendship bracelet tradition is to wear them until they are worn out and fall off.
Friendship Bracelet Supplies
- embroidery floss or craft thread: I used the craft thread that is sold next to embroidery floss. It comes in a single strand that can’t be separated like embroidery floss. You can purchase both kinds in bags with a large quantity of colors, perfect for making bracelets.
- beads
- scissors
I’ll have the craft thread pre-cut in 14″ lengths. You really only need about 12″, but an extra inch or two makes tying the bracelets onto wrists a bit easier and they can always trim off the excess. Then they’ll select 6 strands of floss to make the braided, and the loose strand bracelet and 1-2 strands of embroidery thread or craft thread to make the beaded bracelet.
Check out our video above for a step by step visual!
They are meant to wear together to create color and depth and take between 3-5 minutes (each) to make. Can’t beat that!
Easiest DIY Friendship Bracelets Tutorials
Easiest Friendship Bracelets
Equipment
- scissors
Materials
- embroidery floss or craft thread cut into 14" lengths
- beads
Instructions
- You can use embroidery floss or craft cord (that is sold right next to the embroidery floss). I used craft cord (it doesn't seperate into strands like pieces of floss).
Loose Strand Stripes Bracelet
- Gather 6 strands of thread and tie a knot on each end. The thread color order doesn't matter and you can use different colors of thread or keep it solid.This style resembles the bracelets made in Central America that are so popular right now!
Braided Bracelet
- Gather 6 strands of different colored thread. Tie a small knot on one end. Tape the end of the bracelet to a flat surface. Divide the thread into 3 sections (2 strands per section) and braid using a basic simple braid. Tie a knot on the other end. Remove tape from the end of the bracelet.
Beaded Bracelet
- Gather 1-2 strands of thread. Thread them through letter beads. After you've spelled out a word, tie a knot close to the first and last bead.
Finishing Bracelets
- There aren't any clasps, fittings, fancy knots or charms. You simply tie the friendship bracelet onto your wrist (it's easier to have a friend tie it on for you!).
Video
Notes
Got buttons? Here are 3 easy button bracelet tutorials from wikiHow.
I love making bracelets, but I don’t know how to make every single one in the world. So I came to this site and it showed me everything I needed to know. I also learned how to make a different kind of bracelet.