Cool Crafts for Kids: Bracelets and other Wristbands

Written by Michele Wheat

Wearing baubles around the wrist has been popular for a long time. It's impossible to pinpoint exactly when a person first discovered how pretty it was to tie something around their wrist. Scientists have found evidence of people wearing bracelets in ancient times. People wore bracelets made out of different things, including gold, silver, copper, bronze, and even vines and grasses. Some styles were very fancy, with lots of carving and details. Other bracelets were simple. Some people even thought that wearing charms around the wrist would help keep evil spirits away.

Lots of new styles and twists have changed the designs of modern bracelets. People like making their own bracelets out of different things, such as string, ribbon, rubber bands, and even parachute cord. Parachute cord is a nylon rope that might also be called "paracord." A wristband made out of paracord is sometimes called a survival bracelet because people can unwind the paracord and use it in the wilderness. People also like making friendship bracelets and giving them to their best friends. Some bracelets are easy to make, while other patterns take practice. By learning basic knots, you might be surprised at the wristbands you can make for yourself or to give away as gifts.

Visit these websites to see some of the bracelets you can make and instructions for different patterns:

  • Friendship Bracelet Instructions (PDF): You can make stripes in a friendship bracelet by using groups of strings in different colors. Weaving the strings in and out will eventually create a fancy pattern.
  • Knotted Friendship Bracelet (PDF): The tradition of friendship bracelets states that friends wear them until they fall off. Use colorful embroidery floss to make a friendship bracelet with chevron stripes.
  • Friendship Bracelets: Tying knots in different ways will make different patterns in bracelets. After learning how to read and follow patterns, you can make many different styles of friendship bracelets.
  • Make a "Sisters 8" Friendship Bracelet (PDF): Cut eight different strands of embroidery floss, each 24 inches long. Tie the strands together and tape the knot to a flat surface. You can then twist them together to make a (wristband).
  • Celtic or Overlapping Friendship Bracelets (PDF): Use special tools called shuttles to make a colorful bracelet.
  • The Weave Wheel (PDF): A Weave Wheel is one tool for making a friendship bracelet. Slip strings into the notches on the wheel and weave them by following the directions.
  • Project: Friendship Bracelets: Choose four different thread colors and follow easy directions to make a friendship bracelet. When fashioned from sophisticated colors and luxurious strings / yarns with metallic accents, these knotted bracelets become great adult accessories as well.
  • The Basic Diagonal Stripe Friendship Bracelet: Make a friendship bracelet with diagonal stripes in four different colors. Each stripe just involves tying knots with the different strands of string.
  • Rainbow Loom Bracelets: A special loom has pegs for holding rubber bands. Choose bands in different colors and follow the instructions to make fun bracelets both with and without beads.
  • Rubber Band Bracelets and Necklaces: You don't even need a loom to make a rubber band bracelet. Use a pencil and small rubber bands to make a chain. Add beads to your bracelet if you wish.
  • How to Make a Paracord Survival Bracelet: To make a paracord bracelet, you will need paracord, a buckle, and scissors for cutting the cord. To make sure the paracord does not unravel, ask an adult to help you melt the ends with a lighter.
  • Paracord Bracelet: After knotting paracord into a bracelet and attaching it to a buckle, you can wear it around your wrist. Paracord comes in many different colors.
  • Paracord Bracelet Instructions: If you can tie knots, you can make a survival bracelet out of paracord. Make different types of bracelets depending on how tightly you tie the knots and how close together you make them.
  • How to Make a Fishtail Paracord Bracelet (PDF): Make a fancy bracelet by choosing two different colors of paracord. By weaving and tying the cords together, you can make a different type of bracelet.
  • Paracord Survival Bracelet Instructions (PDF): A paracord bracelet usually contains more than two yards of rope that could be useful in a survival situation.