Planning a Long Zigzag Bracelet Pattern from Start to Finish

Getting the starting string order right can be one of the trickiest parts of designing a friendship bracelet. In this video, I map out a long, skinny zigzag pattern to figure out exactly where every string belongs before I ever tie a knot.

Along the way, I explore different color arrangements, explain why some choices create thicker-looking stripes, and show my process for following each string’s path through the design. This approach makes it much easier to create bracelets that look like the pattern continues seamlessly instead of simply starting at row one.

I’m also using this pattern to estimate how much string I’ll need so I can make this bracelet the same length as my previous project.

Once the pattern is complete, I’ll have it available on the website for anyone who wants to make one themselves.

⭐ Topics covered:

• Planning a continuous zigzag friendship bracelet
• Determining the correct string order
• Following string paths through a pattern
• Choosing between different color layouts
• Estimating bracelet length before tying

A huge thank you to my YouTube Members for helping make these videos possible. Your support helps provide the string, equipment, lighting, and everything else that goes into creating tutorials like these!

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

I’ve been making this classic zigzag friendship bracelet since the late 1980s, and it’s still one of my favorite designs. In this video, I tie the elongated version of the pattern and share a few observations that surprised me along the way.

One of the biggest surprises? This petite 12-string bracelet—made from just six strings folded over—took me 1 hour and 40 minutes to complete. Even though it uses fewer strands than many of my thicker bracelets, the finer strings require more precision, adding significantly to the knotting time.

I also talk about:

• Why this pattern feels so intuitive after years of making it
• How it’s related to the classic Arrowhead (Pattern #28)
• Tips for keeping your work neat by knotting close to the clip
• Why string usage wasn’t as even as I originally expected
• Ideas for future experiments with uneven string consumption

If you’re comfortable making zigzags and directional knots, this is a great project to step into intermediate friendship bracelet making.

A huge thank you to my YouTube Members for helping keep these tutorials coming. Your support helps provide the materials, equipment, and time needed to continue creating new patterns and videos!

👍 If you enjoyed this video, please leave a Like, subscribe, and tell me in the comments:
What’s a bracelet pattern you’ve been making for years and never get tired of?

🌐 Find more friendship bracelet tutorials and patterns at:
https://akaawol.com

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