Learn how to make a Round Friendship Bracelet using a DIY cardboard loom with this step-by-step tutorial! It's an easy craft for kids and the braided round bracelet makes for a perfect friendship gift.
DIY Round Friendship Bracelet
This round friendship bracelet is the bomb!
This is exactly the kind of craft I would’ve flipped over when I was young. That's still true and I hope it's true for you and your kids!!
A round braid to make a round friendship bracelet is formed so easily with this round cardboard loom.
The best string for your friendship bracelet
I had something special happen lately. My five year old friend, Claire, sent me some yarn to use in my house for a decoration. Wasn't that sweet and thoughtful?
Well, I separated the yarn into colors to think about what I might want to do with them. This isn’t exactly for my home, but it’s a perfect way to use the colored yarn. I'm going to make a round friendship bracelet for Claire!!
You can use the same string as for any other friendship bracelet. But with this loom you'll turn them into a wonderful round braid instead of a flat one.
You could use yarn like I did, embroidery thread, or a thicker crochet thread.
Choosing a color combination
The round friendship bracelet uses seven strings to do the weaving. Because of Claire I have seven different colors of yarn to use.
You don’t have to use seven different colors of thread. You could use a combination of any colors you would like to create your own color scheme.
But you do need seven strings.
As I mentioned, I used seven different colors for my round friendship bracelet. You can do that too if you want.
But, you could use sets of two, two, two colors, and one of a fourth color if you’d like. Or, you can also make them all out of the same color if you’d like. I’m eager to see what you come up with!
Your bracelet shape will be the same, but will have different patterns. The pattern depends on what color combination you choose.
Note: If you would like to watch the full length video and follow along, here is the video link on YouTube- DIY Round Friendship Bracelet With a Cardboard Loom Full Length Tutorial.
How to make a friendship bracelet circle loom
The friendship bracelet round loom is made from cardboard.
This cardboard came out of some packaging, but a piece of cardboard from a cereal box or a shipment box would work as well.
Note: I do think that cereal box cardboard is getting lighter and lighter so it may be a little bit frustrating if the cardboard circles get floppy. But I think you or your kids can figure that out if that is what you have available to use.
Use the top of a drinking cup to draw a circle on a piece of cardboard to make your circle cardboard loom for this craft.
The cup that I used to trace around was a plastic Solo drinking cup. The size of the circle worked very well. If the cardboard disc gets too small, it may be more challenging for younger kids.
So use a pencil or pen to draw the circle around the top of your drinking cup onto the cardboard. Then cut out the circle with your scissors.
Create slits in the circle loom
Take a ruler and find the center or midpoint of your circle. It does not have to be perfect but get as close as you can.
Use the ruler to draw lines across the cardboard circle with your ruler. Draw one line that goes across your circle, through the center.
Draw a second vertical line that goes through the center point and intersects the first one. It is perpendicular to your first line.
These two lines divide your circle into four equal sections. Again, they do not have to be perfect. Just get as close as you can.
Continue touse the ruler to draw two more lines that divide the four sections into halves. So it would be two diagonal lines that also go through the center of your circle.
Now your cardboard circle is divided into eight sections.
Well, look here. I always said I’d never use my geometry. And here I am using geometry terms. I apologize to my geometry teacher in high school 🙂
The next step is to cut slits from the outside edge inward for about ¾ of an inch. Do this on each of your eight lines.
Poke a hole in the center of the cardboard
To finish your cardboard loom, use your pencil to poke a hole in the center.
Push the lead of the pencil down and through carefully so you don’t hurt your hand underneath. Sharpen the pencil so it goes through more easily if necessary.
Note: You can use other items to make this hole if you would like, but I recommend the pencil as it’s safer than a scissors.
Push the pencil through partway up the lead. I pushed mine through a too far and the hole got too big for this craft. It still worked, but was just a little more challenging.
This completes your cardboard loom that you’ll use to make your roundfriendship bracelet!
Easy Peazy!
Cutting the string to make a round bracelet
Now we’re going to cut the yarn or embroidery floss into pieces to use for weaving.
We need seven strings, each cut to about 30 inches long. If you don't have a ruler handy, that's about the length from your nose to the end of your outstretched arm.
Now I will tell you that I ended up making two short friendship bracelets from this length of yarn. So you can experiment with that and would probably be able to cut it a bit shorter if you would like. But this is a good starting point.
Tie the strings together
After you cut each of your seven strings to 30 inches long, gather them up into your hand by one end of each string.
Tie a simple knot about 2 inches from the end of your seven strings which ties them all together.
This knot is an overhand knot like you see in the photos and video.
Pull your overhand knot up tight. This is one end of your friendship bracelet.
Adding your string to the loom
Draw the seven pieces of string up through the hole in the center of your cardboard loom.
Note: It doesn’t really matter which side of the loom is the top or the bottom. It will work the same way from either direction.
I used the points in my scissors to help get the threads through the hole, but you could also use the point of your pencil.
Draw the strings all the way through the hole. The knot will be next to the loom and the loose string will be coming out of the other side of the loom.
Take one of the strings and pull it out to a slit on the edge of the cardboard loom- pull it down through that slit.
Take the second thread and pull it out and down through the next slit.
The third thread goes through the third slit and so forth until all seven strings go out from the center and down through a slit.
The extra string will fall down underneath the cardboard loom.
It kind of looks like a flower! With all the threads coming up through the center and fanning out and down through the slips.
This is now the top of the weaving. The knot and extra string are on the back of the cardboard loom.
You will notice that there’s one empty slit left because there’s seven strings and eight slits. Don't worry, that is the way it’s supposed to be.
The round braid friendship bracelet pattern
Now we will begin the weaving or braiding, whichever you want to call it. This is where the magic begins!
I’m going to explain the weaving pattern to you. It may be helpful to watch it on the video as well as seeing it in the photos here. Especially for a younger child.
There is a pattern that you will repeat in weaving the round friendship bracelet until it's the length you would like it to be.
Hold the loom with the flower looking part up and the rest of the threads dangling below.
Bring the empty slit towards you.
Hold the loom in your left hand.
Note: If you are left-handed, hold the loom in your right hand if that's easier. I’m going to give the instructions for right handed person. You will just reverse it and go the opposite direction from these instructions.
Weaving the friendship bracelet
With the loom held in your left hand and the empty slit towards you, take your right hand and count three strings to the right of the empty slit.
1st string, 2nd string, 3rd string... Take the third string out of the slit and bring it towards you. Put it down into the empty split.
Turn the loom so that the empty slit is in front of you again. This kind of turns the cardboard loom in a clockwise directions for a right handed person.
Note: For a left handed person count strings to the left and then turn the loom counter clockwise to get the empty slit in front of you.
Now again, hold the loom in your left hand, empty slit in front of you. With your right hand count up three threads.
1st string, 2nd string, 3rd string. Pick up that third thread, take it out of its slit, bring it down into the empty slit right in front of you. Turn the loom clockwise till the empty slot is in front of you.
Repeat, repeat, repeat!!
And that’s all there is to the weaving pattern.
Seeing the round friendship bracelet form- cool!
At first, it looks like nothing is happening!
But in just a few turns, you will need to reach underneath the loom and gently tug the little knotted section in the center of the loom. Because the round friendship bracelet is beginning to form!
That will pull the already woven part down out of the way of the weaving that you’re doing on the top of the loom.
So every two or three times you move a thread to an empty slot you’ll need to reach underneath the loom and give a little tug to the simple braid that is being woven.
It doesn’t take very long for you to start noticing a half inch, an inch, 2 inches of bracelet forming underneath the loom!
Weave till the desired length. It's magic!!
I don’t mean to be silly, but it really did feel like magic to me!
It’s such a simple weaving pattern. I think even the youngest child could do this with a little help.
Continue your weaving pattern until the length of the bracelet underneath the loom is the length that you would like. It needs to be long enough to go around your wrist or your friends wrist of course.
If you are wanting the free pattern for a traditional friendship bracelet with a chevron pattern, here is the link to that post: Chevron Macrame Friendship Bracelet.
Tie off your round friendship bracelets
When the desired length is accomplished, it’s time to take it off the loom and tie it off.
Gently pull each of the strings out of the slits on the loom. Pull the bracelet downwards so that the extra thread comes down through the center of the loom and off of the loom.
Set the cardboard loom to the side for now. You can use it again later for another round friendship bracelet if it's in good shape.
Tie an overhand knot on the end of the bracelet in the location right where the weaving stops. It will look just like it did on the other end of the bracelet when you are done.
Pull the knot tight.
Tie Closure
If you would like to use the thread ends to tie your bracelet, you can leave 2-3 inches of thread on the end of the bracelet and cut off the rest.
Use the two sets of threads to tie your friendship bracelet onto your wrist or onto your friend's wrist.
Knot Closure
Or you can try making a little closure for your bracelet.
This is done by tying a second overhand knot about ⅜ of an inch from the one that you just made.
This leaves a small amount of space between the 2 knots. Pull the knot from the other end of the bracelet through this small space and use this as a closure for your bracelet.
After tying the second knot, you can trim the threads from both end of the bracelet to be about a half an inch from the knots. Because you won’t be using those threads to tie the bracelet, you’ll be using the little closure that you just made.
Either way works well
Giving away a friendship bracelet
I had enough string left over to make a second bracelet. My first bracelet is for Claire. The second is for me!
I’m going to put the friendship bracelet in the mail today. I hope that she enjoys it.
I didn’t exactly use the colored yarn for my house, but I sure loved making this bracelet with all the beautiful colors of yarn that Claire gave me.
Claire, thank you so much for your thoughtfulness.
A round friendship bracelet for your besties
I hope all of you have fun making a round friendship bracelet that you can wear or give to your best friends.
I really enjoy learning how to make a different shaped friendship bracelet and hope that you do too.
Be sure to attach pictures of what you’ve made so we can all see the color combinations you chose and how they turned out! We all get more ideas that way.
Again, if you would like to watch the full length video and follow along, here is the video link on YouTube. DIY Round Friendship Bracelet With a Cardboard Loom Full Length Tutorial.
Thanks for being my friend at Welcome To Nana’s!
Once you've made your circle loom, it's time to create some friendship bracelets! Follow the steps to weave the round bracelet pattern with your yarn. It's easy once you get the hang of it. Simply weave until your bracelet has reached the length you'd like, then remove and tie it off.
Leave 2-3 inches of thread on the end of the bracelet for a tie, then tie your friendship bracelet onto your wrist or onto your friend's wrist. You can also try making a little closure for your bracelet. Tie a second overhand knot about ⅜ of an inch from the one that you just made. This leaves a small amount of space between the 2 knots. Pull the knot from the other end of the bracelet through this small space and use this as a closure for your bracelet.
More string or yarn crafts?
If you would like more crafts using yarn and string, check out these ideas:
- Chevron Macrame Friendship Bracelet.
- Easy Pom-pom Bookmarks
- How to Make a Cute Bird from Yarn
- Paper Plate String Art
Enjoy!
If you try this craft, let me know! Go ahead and leave a comment, rate it, and tag a photo with #WelcometoNanas wherever you post.
Come join the fun at https://welcometonanas.com
Supplies for DIY Round Friendship Bracelet with a Cardboard Loom
- Yarn, Embroidery floss, or Crochet thread. (Seven strands 30 inches each)
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Cardboard
- Drinking glass like a plastic Solo cup
- Ruler
DIY Round Friendship Bracelet with a Cardboard Loom
Equipment
- Scissors
- Ruler
Items Required
- Yarn, Embroidery floss, or Crochet thread. (Seven strands 30 inches each)
- Pencil
- Cardboard
- Drinking glass like a plastic Solo cup
- Scissors
- Ruler
Instructions
- The friendship bracelet round loom is made from cardboard.Use the top of a drinking cup to draw a circle on a piece of cardboard to make your circle cardboard loom for this craft.So use a pencil or pen to draw the circle around the top of your drinking cup onto the cardboard. Then cut out the circle with your scissors.
- Take a ruler and find the center or midpoint of your circle. It does not have to be perfect but get as close as you can.Use the ruler to draw lines across the cardboard circle with your ruler. Draw one line that goes across your circle, through the center.Draw a second vertical line that goes through the center point and intersects the first one. It is perpendicular to your first line. These two lines divide your circle into four equal sections. Again, they do not have to be perfect. Just get as close as you can. Continue touse the ruler to draw two more lines that divide the four sections into halves. So it would be two diagonal lines that also go through the center of your circle.Now your cardboard circle is divided into eight sections.Well, look here. I always said I’d never use my geometry. And here I am using geometry terms. I apologize to my geometry teacher in high school 🙂The next step is to cut slits from the outside edge inward for about ¾ of an inch. Do this on each of your eight lines.To finish your cardboard loom, use your pencil to poke a hole in the center.
- Now we’re going to cut the yarn or embroidery floss into pieces to use for weaving.We need seven strings, each cut to about 30 inches long. If you don't have a ruler handy, that's about the length from your nose to the end of your outstretched arm.After you cut each of your seven strings to 30 inches long, gather them up into your hand by one end of each string.Tie a simple knot about 2 inches from the end of your seven strings which ties them all together.
- Draw the seven pieces of string up through the hole in the center of your cardboard loom.Draw the strings all the way through the hole. The knot will be next to the loom and the loose string will be coming out of the other side of the loom.Take one of the strings and pull it out to a slit on the edge of the cardboard loom- pull it down through that slit.Take the second thread and pull it out and down through the next slit. The third thread goes through the third slit and so forth until all seven strings go out from the center and down through a slit. The extra string will fall down underneath the cardboard loom.You will notice that there’s one empty slit left because there’s seven strings and eight slits. Don't worry, that is the way it’s supposed to be.
- I’m going to explain the weaving pattern to you. It may be helpful to watch it on the video as well as seeing it in the photos here. Especially for a younger child.Hold the loom with the flower looking part up and the rest of the threads dangling below.Bring the empty slit towards you.With the loom held in your left hand and the empty slit towards you, take your right hand and count three strings to the right of the empty slit.1st string, 2nd string, 3rd string... Take the third string out of the slit and bring it towards you. Put it down into the empty split.Turn the loom so that the empty slit is in front of you again. This kind of turns the cardboard loom in a clockwise directions for a right handed person.Now again, hold the loom in your left hand, empty slit in front of you. With your right hand count up three threads. 1st string, 2nd string, 3rd string. Pick up that third thread, take it out of its slit, bring it down into the empty slit right in front of you. Turn the loom clockwise till the empty slot is in front of you.Repeat, repeat, repeat!!And that’s all there is to the weaving pattern.But in just a few turns, you will need to reach underneath the loom and gently tug the little knotted section in the center of the loom. Because the round friendship bracelet is beginning to form!That will pull the already woven part down out of the way of the weaving that you’re doing on the top of the loom.
- Continue your weaving pattern until the length of the bracelet underneath the loom is the length that you would like. It needs to be long enough to go around your wrist or your friends wrist of course.When the desired length is accomplished, it’s time to take it off the loom and tie it off.Gently pull each of the strings out of the slits on the loom. Pull the bracelet downwards so that the extra thread comes down through the center of the loom and off of the loom.Set the cardboard loom to the side for now. You can use it again later for another round friendship bracelet if it's in good shape.Tie an overhand knot on the end of the bracelet in the location right where the weaving stops. It will look just like it did on the other end of the bracelet when you are done.Pull the knot tight.
- Tie ClosureIf you would like to use the thread ends to tie your bracelet, you can leave 2-3 inches of thread on the end of the bracelet and cut off the rest. Use the two sets of threads to tie your friendship bracelet onto your wrist or onto your friend's wrist.Knot ClosureOr you can try making a little closure for your bracelet.This is done by tying a second overhand knot about ⅜ of an inch from the one that you just made.This leaves a small amount of space between the 2 knots. Pull the knot from the other end of the bracelet through this small space and use this as a closure for your bracelet.After tying the second knot, you can trim the threads from both end of the bracelet to be about a half an inch from the knots. Because you won’t be using those threads to tie the bracelet, you’ll be using the little closure that you just made.
Shelly says
Little ones can do this too! 4 year old granddaughter made a bracelet with us!!