Materials:
Five colors of DMC 5 Pearl Cotton Embroidery Thread
Hook and eye
Needle and thread
Sewing machine
Alternative: jewelry fixings to clasp strands, jump ring, clasp
In the first step, strand 1 moves to the right over strand 2 and strand 3 moves over strand 4. You end up with the order below, 2 1 4 3 5. Note that 5 stayed where it was.
Next, move strand 4 over 1 and strand 5 over 3 to the left. Strand 2 stays where it is.
Then, go back to the left side. Strand 1 goes to the right over 5 and strand 2 goes to the right over 4.
Now, back again from the right, 5 goes over 2 and 3 goes over 1. And, so on.
Here is the numerical pattern:
1 2 3 4 5
2 1 4 3 5
2 4 1 5 3
4 2 5 1 3
4 5 2 3 1
5 4 3 2 1
5 3 4 1 2
3 5 1 4 2
. . .
Do you see how each number moves across the pattern diagonally and then hangs out at the edge for two turns and moves back the other direction? Look at one number, the 1, for example, you can see how it is moving to the right with each step and then stays to the right for 1 step and then moves back again. Each strand goes through this process. You could use tape to label each strand and follow this pattern if that helps you.
Or, if you are more visual – try this. My mantra while I do this is two to the left, two to the right, two to the left, two to the right. See the strand farthest-most to the right, and the strand in the middle? I’ve put arrows on them. These two go to the left, over the adjacent strand. The strand farthest to the left, stays where it is.
Then, you do the same on the opposite side. The strand to the farthest most left and the middle strand each move over one strand to the right. The farthest right strand stays where it is.
You repeat that over and over. The two with the arrows move to the left.
Then, move the two with the arrows to the right.
Continue with the braid until you get to an inch or so past desired length.
Alessandra says
nice!!!!
thank you, happy weekend, xxx
Alessandra
palak says
Love it! I’ll be filing this away for Rakhi next year!
jmyersa says
Lovely! Would be perfect as part of a gift tag on a present!
Jody @ apinchofcharacter.com
anne says
Good idea Jody! I think that would be beautiful. Or a as a “ribbon” once around a present. I might just do that!
xo
Meghan Elizabeth says
very cute and easy <3
Pat C. says
Thanks for the great tutorial(s)! I haven’t mastered a 4-strand braid yet, but I’m game to give this one a try! xoxo
Marie @ www.scissorsandspoons.com says
Hi, I just found your blog via craftgawker and love it! I just bought some beautiful handmade ribbon and have been thinking about making into into bracelets and I have found inspiration on your site.
Your newest follower,
Marie
Ashley says
This would make for a great friendship bracelet 🙂
Feltland says
Thanks for showing us how to make it – what a great bracelet !!! … ^__^
beki says
I love this! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
anne says
Thanks Beki! I’m so glad you like it!
Steve Finnell says
you are invited to follow my blog
Brittany says
Oh Anne, I’ve been thinking about something Michael can make for his classroom Valentine’s Day party, and this may be it! We’ll have to get an early start, though; twenty-four bracelets is a LOT of braiding. 🙂
Brittany says
We tried it today and the project is a hit! Thanks again for the great idea.
Anonymous says
Amazing, but could there be a different way to end it?????????
anne says
Absolutely. If you look in your jewelry findings section of your craft store, you can find a wide clasp that can clamp down. They are called “ribbon clamps.” These can close down over the whole braid. Make sure you use one that has teeth that are closer together. I would maybe stitch it first and then use the clamp. Or, I would use glue with the clamp so that the strands don’t pull out. Good luck!
Lily Ruth's Mama says
I loved learning this braid – thank you! I wanted to share that I ended up thinking of it in a different way once I found my groove. I thought of the strands as 1-5 in each direction as in: starting on the right, 1 over 2 then 3 over 4. Then the numbering starts on the left regardless of the color – 1 over 2 then 3 over four. So my “pattern” was the same each time. It just started on a different side each time. My mantra became “RIGHT: 1 over 2, 3 over 4. LEFT: 1 over 2, 3 over 4.” Over and over and over… 🙂
I used this as the band to a bracelet for my dad. I made a dreamcatcher in a small silver hoop, then attached the threads for the braid. I stopped the braid just before the circumference that I needed, divided the threads in half and braided each half separately making 2 tails. The tails then tie to the dreamcatcher completing the bracelet. The 5 strand braid is a great complement to the size of the dreamcatcher! Thanks again for the tutorial!!
anne says
Lily, thanks so much for sharing. The dreamcatcher bracelet sounds awesome!
Anonymous says
Very nice way of making your own bracelets. I’ve just made one like this for myself and it’s simple, but looks very cool. Thanks for this nice tutorial and sorry for mistakes, i’m from Lithuania, I’m only 13, so I’m not very good at English 🙂
Thanks and good luck everyone! <3
anne says
Thanks so much for your comment. I’m glad you are enjoying the tutorial. You seem excellent at English, if you ask me! Thanks for taking the time to share with me.
Anne
Unknown says
Wow. So detail, I luv it!. Thanks 🙂
Rose says
soooo nice… love it
Janny says
Hi Anne… thank you for the tutorials. May I ask.. from 24-inches thread, how long did the bracelet come through? Do I need to spare just a few inches or much longer thread?
Btw, greetings from Indonesia 🙂
flaxandtwine says
Hi Janny, I can’t remember exactly how long, but I think that was plenty to make an adult size bracelet plus some!
Diane says
Can this be made with leather shoe string. I have a cross that needs to be on this. How do I go about incorporate the cross.
flaxandtwine says
Hi Diane, Yes, you can use leather shoe string. I would get a jump ring and attach it through the lowest strand on the outside of the braid when you hang it around your neck and then attach the cross to the jump ring. Good Luck!!