How to Make a Chinese Friendship Bracelet

Choose the thread. You can use embroidery thread, plain thread, or any other medium to heavy gauge thread.You will need three strands (but once you learn the technique, you can try with more than three).Choose contrasting colors, such as red, blue and white, or green, pink and white, to better show off the workmanship of the bracelet.

Cut the thread. Better to cut threads that are longer than necessary than too short.Remember that you can always add more if necessary.Wrap the thread at least three or four times around your wrist or ankle.This way you should have more or less the length you need.If your friends' wrist or ankle is larger or smaller, adjust accordingly.

Start your bracelet. Knot the three threads together in a double way, so that they do not separate.This will be the first knot of your bracelet.

Attach the bracelet. As soon as you tie the knot, you'll need to secure the bracelet in some way so that subsequent knots maintain even tension.You can secure the knotted end with a little tape on the table, countertop, chair.You can also secure it with a tack.Or even use a safety pin to pin it on a pillow, or on the knee of your jeans, or even make a ring with the threads and pass it around a toe.Alternatively, you can ask another person to help you by holding one end in place.

Wrap the first color. Hold two strands in one hand and the third in the other.Pass the single strand over and around the other two (it will look like a 4).

Pass the thread inside the ring. Take the end of the 4 by passing your hand through the loop formed by the single thread and pull the end.When you tie the knot, pull the two threads vertically (down) or parallel to your legs or the table.Instead, pull the single knotted thread horizontally or perpendicular to your legs or the countertop.The knot will rise upwards, until it reaches the starting knot.

Continue knotting. Repeat the previous step 10-15 times, then change the colors.You can also not change color, but in this case remember to cut the thread you want to use longer than the others.As you proceed with the making, check that the knots are well aligned and form a precise spiral around the bracelet.

Stop when the bracelet is long enough. When the bracelet reaches the right length to wrap around your wrist or ankle without being too tight, you can stop.