Designing an 18-String Bracelet Pattern — This One Got Complicated!
Today’s bracelet design challenge started with a simple problem:
I had kumis already made with 18 strings, and I needed to find a pattern that would actually use them.
So I went digging and found a much more complex pattern than the last one we tried—and decided to see if we could make it work with the same earth-tone color palette.
This design has a lot going on:
• repeating diamond shapes
• strings weaving around the pattern’s “dots”
• layers that overlap in unusual ways
• a center section that needed a custom adjustment
Unlike the last bracelet, this one looks like it might be difficult to segment knot, so it may end up being easier to tie row by row instead of breaking it into sections.
As we work through the pattern, I also map the underlying string paths, which is one of the most important tricks when designing bracelet patterns. Knowing where the strings travel lets you:
- verify colors are appearing in the right places
- catch mistakes early
- design the center of the bracelet intentionally instead of by accident
For the middle section, I experimented with a zigzag flow through the center just to see what kind of effect it would create. It might make tying the bracelet a little trickier, but sometimes those little design changes are what make a bracelet really interesting.
Once one section of the pattern is built, the rest is completed by mirroring the design, which reveals a really cool effect in the center. The pattern almost looks like cascading diamonds or a waterfall effect running through the middle.
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Today we’re tying Pattern 3903 from friendship-bracelets.net, and this one turned out to be a bit more of a challenge than I expected.
At first glance the pattern looks fairly simple, but once you start working through it, you realize what’s happening: it feels like a small pattern that has been repeated three times across the width. That “triple-wide” structure makes the design look great, but it also makes segment knotting a lot harder, so most of the bracelet ended up being worked back and forth across the rows.
Because of that, this bracelet took about 1 hour and 40 minutes to complete—longer than the previous bracelet even though they used the same 18-string setup.
A few interesting things about this pattern:
• The strings get used much more evenly than the previous bracelet
• The repeating sections create a strong zigzag visual rhythm
• Tight tension is important to keep the design from getting wavy
• The center section was modified to flip the pattern with a small diamond
That center modification creates a subtle light and dark diamond that flips the direction of the pattern. It’s not immediately obvious when you first look at the bracelet—but once you notice it, it becomes a really cool detail.
Another fun surprise is the back side of the bracelet, which actually turned out pretty interesting visually as well. Usually the back isn’t meant to be seen, but this one has a neat look to it.
Color-wise, I stuck with earthy browns, which give the bracelet a sort of tribal-style feel. The pattern would definitely work with brighter colors too, but the darker tones give it a strong, bold look.
Because of all the zigzags, I had to tighten the knots more than usual to keep everything looking clean and straight. That means this pattern probably sits somewhere between intermediate and advanced difficulty.
Huge thanks to my YouTube Members for helping keep this channel going. Their support helps cover things like floss, equipment, and editing so these bracelet experiments can continue.
If you try this pattern yourself, feel free to share your work over on Discord—we’ve got sections for works-in-progress, finished bracelets, pattern questions, and even pet photos.
More bracelet tutorials and patterns:
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And as always…
Don’t get your strings in a bunch.
