Semi-Permanent Braided Bracelet

Intro: Semi-Permanent Braided Bracelet

This braided bracelet is quick and fairly easy to make - all you need is a piece of string or rope and maybe 10 minutes. I say it's "Semi-Permanent" because in order to take it off you will have to untie the braid.

If you know how to braid and want a quick video, here you are!

STEP 1: Learn How to Braid

If you know how to braid, congratulations! - move on to step 2.

If not, there's an instructable about it here and I will cover it briefly in pictures.

Braiding is basically putting 3 ropes side-by-side, and alternately taking each outside rope over the middle rope.

I remember what to do because there are always two ropes that are close together in a 'V' shape and one that is all alone(Picture 2). The lonely rope wants to be with the others so he goes over the middle rope, splitting the other 2 apart, making a new 'V' shape(Picture3).

STEP 2: Preparation or Something

Materials:
- 1 meter* of rope / string / hemp
- Large paper clip

First, wrap your rope around your wrist 3 times. You want one short, loose end on the top of your wrist and the longer loose end dangling down between you and your wrist (see picture). Clip the paper clip over all three loops so they don't move. Make sure that the loops are a little loose because the bracelet will tighten a bit as you braid it.

*1 meter(3 ft) of rope might be too much but it's better to start with too much and cut some off than to not have enough

STEP 3: Circular Braiding

So this is very similar to normal braiding, just with loops instead of separate ropes.

Start with the long loose end (which should be on the outside) and bring it over the middle loop(Picture 1), and then under the other outside loop(Picture 2). Then bring the loop on the left over the center loop(picture 3). Continue until you come back around to the beginning again.

If you get confused after the first 3 braids, just watch the video over and over - I start and end at the same point.

STEP 4: Finishing Up

After going all the way around, you should come back to the beginning (that's how circles work!). All you have to do now is poke the longer rope through the same hole that the beginning end comes out of.
If you don't like the ends sticking out like that you can either cut them off or have them follow the same braid further.

Comments

[transplendent]

You should really add some tags like "turk's head" or "sailor knot." I made something similar, only I wrapped it around an ordinary soup can and kept knotting to make it triple stranded. Then, to make it permanent, I cut the cords and used school glue on the inside to hold them in place. After thorough drying, it's a great bangle!

[Strombergundy]

Thanks, I had no idea. I will tag it now.

[pcisek67]

Thanks this is awsome!

[Typogoddess]

yay! haha photoshop guys unite!!!!

[Phatoon]

Why do u have it???

[Phatoon]

oh yeah

[diy man101]

if you hay a certain type of rope you could mealt the ends down or just glue them

[sthealthraider]

Its a turks head knot

[ChaplainAugustus]

Any ideas how to make this permanent? This looks awesome but it´s pretty annoying that you always have to tie and un-tie it...

[Strombergundy]

One simple solution (which I think jackfr0st said he did) would be to use material like climbing rope so that you could melt the ends together. Just be super careful!

[ChaplainAugustus]

Ok thanks :D

[Ebzent]

if you want to look up more variations of this, the knot being tied is a Turk's Head, knot # 1303 in The Ashley Book of Knots.

[capt. caveman]

I just made out of spare time with twine which works as well

[acloer]

this is awesome!!! i cut strips off of a white t-shirt and twisted them so they kinda stayed in a rope form and made the bracelet with that....it is kinda strechey so i can take it off and put it back on without having to untie it or cut it!!!

[aoriodoragon]

thats a good idea man! good thinking

[Strombergundy]

Nice! It can really be a pain having to untie it everytime you want to take it off.

[yellow elephant]

I did this with the ultimate material.....DUCT TAPE!!!

[tervnut]

great tutorial - but how do you finish it off so it stays? This part eludes me :) ... thanks!

[Strombergundy]

With mine, I left it as you can see in the last picture with the loose ends poking out on opposite sides. - The loose end that you started with should be sticking out of a 'hole', when you finish, put the other loose end into the same hole. So both the beginning and the end will be in the same hole, but they will be pointing in opposite directions.

It kept together for me, but I imagine it depends on what material you use. If you use a smoother rope, You could either melt the ends together (if it melts) or just tie it off with a Sheet Bend or a Square Knot.

Let me know if it doesn't work, or if you have anymore questions.

[tervnut]

Excellent, thanks for the details.