Friendship Bracelet Tutorial 4: The Other Knots

I went with a friend to a place they called Green Acres to see a Grateful Dead cover band. I think I may have sold some of my works, but what really changed things for me was a gal Cindy who had a bracelet that she loved dearly. She had worn it till it had fallen apart and asked if I could make a copy of it. Sure of my skills, I agreed. Back home though, I discovered something strange was going on. I couldn’t get my two knots to do what I was seeing in this work. Having strong beliefs in integrity and not about to let this person down, I kept trying to find what was different. Why wasn’t what I knew working to make this pattern? Then…an epiphany! There were two more knots that I had never considered. I sat back down to see if again my subconscious had found the answer and sure enough, I was able to make her replacement bracelet. She was delighted and I had gained new skills.

Before I explain these last two knots, let me recap the previous two lessons.

Tying these, the same knot twice will carry the traveling string from the left side to the right.

Tying these, the same knot twice will carry the traveling string from the right side to the left.

Assuming you have practiced the previous steps this lesson will require very little to explain how to make these last two knots.

If your traveling string is on the left of the one you’re tying to and you need it to be back on the left side after the knot is finished, you first tie the forward knot (once) and then the backward knot (also once). This will make a corner for making diamonds within diamonds or make for a number of patterns you couldn’t do without it.

I would think this last one would go without saying but if your traveling string is on the right of the one you’re tying to and you need it to be back on the right side after the knot is finished you first tie the backward knot (once) and then the forward knot (also once).

And there you have it. All four knots used in friendship bracelet making. If you check out the gallery, you will see a lot of examples of things I’ve made with these four knots and perhaps you may find inspiration.