Blindsided Bracelet Challenge: Exploring Pattern #134654 with AWOL!

Hello everyone, it’s Kevin, also known as AWOL, and welcome to another Blindsided Creation! In today’s video, we’re diving into bracelet pattern #134654, sent in by our fantastic community member, Minute_Craft. This is one of those thrilling challenges where I attempt to create a bracelet pattern without having seen it beforehand. Join me on this adventurous journey as we navigate through the unique design and bring it to life!

Introduction to Pattern #134654

Pattern #134654 from braceletbook.com immediately catches the eye with its intricate X and diamond designs. I’ve never seen this pattern before, so it’s a fun and exciting challenge to decode and recreate it.

Key Elements of the Design

• X in the Middle: Initially, the most striking feature is the big X right in the middle. Deciding between two possible positions for this X, I leaned towards placing it centrally, flanked by diamonds on either side.
• Diamond Shapes: The pattern incorporates darker and lighter shades to form large diamond shapes, adding depth and interest to the design.
• Color Usage: With four colors at play, the pattern has a bluish dark shade, two greens, and an off-white color. Each color’s placement and sequence create a visually appealing and harmonized effect.

Creative Process

1. Pattern Setup: I started by copying a large portion of the pattern for better analysis. Rotating it 90°, I explored different placements for the X in the middle. Deciding to place the X centrally allowed for a symmetrical and balanced look.
2. Layering and Moving Elements: I worked on different layers to manage the pattern’s elements, ensuring each part was correctly aligned before finalizing placements.
3. Identifying Color and Strings: Carefully picking the shades, matching the pattern’s bluish and greenish tones, and arranging them appropriately to achieve the desired effect.
4. Adjusting Segments: Fine-tuning segments and altering where necessary to ensure that lighter shades and darker blues blended well to form cohesive designs.

Color and Knot Management

• String Arrangements: The dark and light shades are cleverly played to create both standout and subtle elements. The light color string needed careful management due to its significant usage in creating the diamond shapes.
• Handling Overlaps: Strategically adjusting knots and ensuring no overlaps or misalignments, thus maintaining the integrity of the design.
• Symmetry and Balance: Ensuring that each segment aligns perfectly with its counterpart to achieve a balanced look on both sides.
  

This is the pattern I took inspiration from.

And here is my pattern. Click it to get the PDF in higher resolution.

If you like this pattern and would like to support my work >>>

Hello everyone, it’s Kevin, also known as AWOL! Welcome back to Blindsided Creations. Today, we’re diving into bracelet pattern #134654 from braceletbook.com, sent in by the amazing Minute_Craft. In this special Blindsided Creation, I took pattern #134654 and heavily modded it, turning it into a unique, captivating piece.

Introduction to Pattern #134654
Pattern #134654 is known for its intricate X and diamond designs. I decided to modify it substantially, making it less repetitive and more engaging. Holding the bracelet in my hand as I speak, I’m excited to share the unique changes I made and why they make this bracelet so special.

Modification Highlights

• Breaking Repetition: By modifying the pattern, I created distinct areas within the bracelet, making the crafting experience more dynamic and enjoyable.
• Segment Success: Segmenting the bracelet helped manage the pattern more efficiently, even with a few hiccups along the way, such as reversing knots mistakenly while watching a movie!
• Color Play: With 16 strings, managing the colors was crucial, especially since light colors were used more frequently. Interestingly, the light green string I used was slightly thicker due to its lower quality, adding a unique texture to the bracelet.

Crafting Techniques and Tips

• Handling Different String Textures: The bracelet combined standard cotton strings with silky strings, adding a sheen to the finished product. While silky strings don’t tie knots well on their own, pairing them with similar-colored cotton strings worked wonderfully.
• String Management: Though concerned about the length of the light-colored threads, they held up well. Ensuring consistent tension is key, especially when dealing with strings of varying thicknesses.
• Creative Adjustments: If you’re using strings of different textures or qualities, always test your knots to ensure they hold. The contrast between the glossy and matte finishes in the bracelet created an appealing visual dynamic.

Challenges During Crafting

• Quality of String: Cheaper strings from bulk buys sometimes come with inconsistencies. In this case, the lighter green string being slightly thicker meant I had to adjust my knotting technique to maintain pattern integrity.
• Silky Strings: Using silky strings presented a challenge due to their smoothness, but they added a beautiful sheen that made the bracelet stand out. Mixing them with cotton strings helped achieve a balance.

Viewer Interaction and Support
Thank you to my Patreon supporters and YouTube members! Your contributions help me purchase materials and keep experimenting with new techniques.