About

Cost
$ $ $ $ $
Difficulty
• • • • •
Time
2h30

Show your support on your wrist :)
Everyone is somehow affected by either cancer, disabilities, suicide, or a medical condition. Wear this bracelet proudly to show that you are strong and support the battles of the people in your life.

You'd be surprised how many things are represented by a ribbon. If you search "awareness ribbon meanings" you'll find a huge chart of all of them. Here I'm making purple for pancreatic cancer.

Note: This tutorial is not a basic explanation of how to make this sort of friendship bracelet. It is written for those who have done this kind before (with knots shaped like 4's). But don't worry, it's easy to learn, and there's almost definitely a starter tutorial on CO+K somewhere.

Another note: When I say knot, I mean double knot. Always tie two. Also, when you're tying to the right, the knots look like 4's, and when you are tying to the left, they are backward 4's.

Last note: This is my first in-depth how-to, sorry if I'm confusing!

Posted by Sarah D from La Cañada Flintridge, California, United States • Published See Sarah D's 31 projects »
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You Will Need

  • How to braid a friendship bracelet. Awareness Ribbon Friendship Bracelet - Step 1
    Step 1

    You'll need three white strands (black would probably look really cool too) and one strand in your ribbon colour. The perfect length is twice as long as your arm for each strand. The ribbon-coloured strand should be about eight inches longer than that. Fold them in half together and tie a knot in the middle, making a loop.

  • How to braid a friendship bracelet. Awareness Ribbon Friendship Bracelet - Step 2
    Step 2

    Arrange your thread so that the purple strands are on the outside and the six white strands are on the inside.

  • How to braid a friendship bracelet. Awareness Ribbon Friendship Bracelet - Step 3
    Step 3

    Yes, this is a horrible photo. I'm sorry. If you're on a laptop, tilt your screen way back and it'll be more visible.

    If you've made chevron bracelets, this will be easy. The first four rows are upside down chevrons. First, make a knot with the two middle white threads. Then take the new right-middle thread and tie a knot on each string to the right of it, and take the new left-middle thread and tie a knot on each string to the left (in order, of course!). The first row is always weird shaped but it should look something like a ^.

  • How to braid a friendship bracelet. Awareness Ribbon Friendship Bracelet - Step 4
    Step 4

    Make three more of these rows, starting in the middle and working outward. The fourth row should be your ribbon colour.

  • How to braid a friendship bracelet. Awareness Ribbon Friendship Bracelet - Step 5
    Step 5

    The next row is similar: Tie a knot in the middle, but instead of tying all the way to the edges, you only tie on two strings in each direction. In other words, stay away from your ribbon colour threads. (make a total of five knots instead of seven.)

  • How to braid a friendship bracelet. Awareness Ribbon Friendship Bracelet - Step 6
    Step 6

    Another bad photo >:(
    For this row, tie a knot in the middle, and then tie a knot on one string on either side. (a total of three knots. see what's happening?)

  • How to braid a friendship bracelet. Awareness Ribbon Friendship Bracelet - Step 7
    Step 7

    Tie a knot with the middle threads. You should have a nice diamond shape.

  • How to braid a friendship bracelet. Awareness Ribbon Friendship Bracelet - Step 8
    Step 8

    Using the ribbon colour thread on the left, tie a knot the three strands to the right, moving downward and to the centre. Do the same thing with the strand on the right, tying your way down to meet the other coloured strand. Tie a knot in the centre.

  • How to braid a friendship bracelet. Awareness Ribbon Friendship Bracelet - Step 9
    Step 9

    With the white thread farthest to the left, tie a knot on each of the two strings to the right of it.

    With the NEW white thread on the far left, tie a knot on the strand next to it.

    You should have what looks like a very tiny white triangle.

  • How to braid a friendship bracelet. Awareness Ribbon Friendship Bracelet - Step 10
    Step 10

    With the left-middle coloured thread, tie a knot on each white thread to the left.

  • How to braid a friendship bracelet. Awareness Ribbon Friendship Bracelet - Step 11
    Step 11

    Do the same on the right side: two knots inward, one knot inward, three knots outward. Your first ribbon is finished!

  • How to braid a friendship bracelet. Awareness Ribbon Friendship Bracelet - Step 12
    Step 12

    Now you can start making more white ^'s. (Go back to step 3 for details on this.)

  • How to braid a friendship bracelet. Awareness Ribbon Friendship Bracelet - Step 13
    Step 13

    That's it! Make enough ribbons to fit your wrist (seven is usually good for me). To finish, weave the ends into two braids. Put one through the loop and tie them together to keep your bracelet on.

    I'd love to see your version! :)

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Comments

Dark Rose
Dark Rose · 4 projects
I like the meaning behind your bracelet, it's nice Happy
Reply
Artisticlover
Artisticlover · 1 project
if i wanted to do the jiggsaw puzzle for atisum or rainbow for gay/bi/lesbian/ect rights how would i do tht?
Reply
Elizabeth H.
Elizabeth H. · U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado, US · 1 project
Thanks so much Happy and I will definitely post a version! I'm not sure when I'll get to it exactly, but I will as soon as I have time.
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Sarah D
Sarah D · La Cañada Flintridge, California, US · 31 projects
I think an anklet would take 8 or 9 ribbons to go all the way around, so you could make each strand about 8 inches longer. Or you could use the same length of string and make the braids on the end very long to make the extra distance. If you do make it, post a version? Happy
Reply
Elizabeth H.
Elizabeth H. · U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado, US · 1 project
This is such a great idea!! Happy thanks so much for the tutorial! I'm hoping to make this sometime soon.

A quick question, to make this an ankle bracelet would the length you have listed be okay?
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