A Friendship bracelet is a piece of jewelry that is sometimes made by hand out of cotton or wool that has been woven or plaited. Friendship bracelets are a way to show how close you are to someone or how much you care about something. This is true whether you just want to show someone you care or want to show how much you care about a cause.
All you have to do is show how much you care. Read about the history of the friendship bracelet below, and then check out our beginner’s guide to friendship bracelets to learn more about this small accessory that you might already have.
How friendship bracelets came to be
The first friendship bracelets were made by Native Americans in Southern and Central America. They used a series of knots, called macramé, to make colorful bracelets.
The idea behind the bracelet was that the person who got it would tie it around their wrist and then make a wish. The bracelet was then meant to be worn constantly until the threads broke and the bracelet fell off. Only then would the original wish of the person wearing the bracelet come true. Bracelets made with macramé have been found that date back to 481 BC. In the 1970s, they became popular again in the United States. In the 1980s, they were used to bring attention to the disappearance of Mayan Indians in Guatemala.
Friendship bracelets come in many styles.
- So, how many kinds of friendship bracelets are there? Since then, these colorful friendship bracelets have become very popular all over the world. They have also changed into many different styles that represent a wide range of political and social causes. Of course, they still mean friendship, but recently, celebrities have been using them to show their support for causes that are important to them, and the effect has been huge.
- Traditions from the history of friendship bracelets are still a part of our lives today, along with political issues. For example, at an Indian wedding, guests have to wear a thin friendship bracelet made of simple string and beads, and they have to keep wearing it until it falls off. If they take it away before it wears out on its own, it will be bad luck for the new couple.
- Now, many jewelry brands have made their own versions of these bracelets, making designer friendship bracelets and other jewelry. What began as a simple sign of friendship made of thread can now be sold for a lot of money because it has pearls, gold, silver, beads, and stones on it.
- Adding knotted thread or leather to precious metal or semiprecious stones can make a friendship bracelet look instantly more modern and casual. Beads or stones on friendship bracelets will attract more and younger customers, which will help brands move into new markets.
- From a practical point of view, the fact that friendship bracelets can be adjusted is a great selling point. With so many colors to choose from and pretty packaging from many brands, it’s not hard to see why these friendship jewelry items are so popular.
How to Make a Friendship Bracelet
Want to know how to make your first friendship bracelet? Just follow these five easy steps in our guide to making a friendship bracelet:
Cut about 5ft. of two strands of embroidery thread. Then, fold both of them in half and tie a knot in the middle to make a loop. Stick the loop to a table or other hard surface with tape to keep it still while you work.
Set one color as cord one (the holding cord), and the other as cord two. If possible, use two different colors.
Next, make a half hitch with cord two. This is done by moving cord two under cord one, then back over cord one higher up the bracelet, and ending under cord two again. Pull cord two to tighten the hitch and leave it on the right side of the bracelet.
Use cord two as the holding cord for the second knot. Then, use cord one to tie a half hitch, just like you did in the last step, but pull to the left of the bracelet.
Once you’ve pulled cord one to tighten the hitch, repeat steps 1 and 2 in turns until the rest of the bracelet is made, and then tie a simple knot to finish.
Note: You can make a unique gift for friends or family by adding beads or stones to your friendship bracelet thread.
And that’s how to make your first friendship bracelet!
Putting on friendship bracelets
Even though some designer friendship bracelets have high prices, manufacturers have been able to cut costs by reducing the amount of metal or stones used in the pieces by adding a woven or knotted element. This usually happens when metal prices are unstable and retailers and manufacturers are looking for ways to cut costs on materials. The style of friendship bracelets has turned out to be the best way to do this, and it has helped bring mixed-media jewelry to the forefront.
A mix of different colors and materials creates a casual, bohemian style that is unique to the person who wears it. This meets the need for individuality. The person who wears your personalized friendship bracelet will want it to look like a collection of hand-picked treasures from faraway lands, not a mass-produced item that can be bought on any high street.
Friendship bracelets are worn
The last part of our guide to making your first friendship bracelet is how to wear it. This is another important part of how well a friendship bracelet turns out. People often wear rings, bracelets, and necklaces stacked on top of each other. This is now a classic look that goes well with the idea behind any friendship bracelet.
Making a friendship bracelet is a popular way for both jewelers and people to show their interest in something. It’s cheap, easy, useful, and fun.
Find all the jewelry supplies you need online at McGee Company today to make your own personalized friendship bracelets with beads or precious stones.
Now you know how to make a friendship bracelet, it’s time to get creative. You can go online today and find all the jewelry supplies you need at McGee Company. Check out all of our beginner’s guides on our blog if you’re just starting out in the art of jewelry making.
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