A Beginner’s Guide to Reading Friendship Bracelet Patterns

The best tutorial for understanding patterns, knots, and symbols

Co-authored by Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: February 6, 2023 References

Parts of a Pattern

|

Basic Knots

|

Following a Friendship Bracelet Pattern

|

Where to Find Patterns

|

Tips

So, you’ve been making friendship bracelets for a while now. You’ve mastered the candy stripe, chevron, and ladder patterns, and now you want more of a challenge. Well, you’ve come to the right place! There are thousands of friendship bracelet patterns to choose from, and once you learn how to read these patterns, your options are limitless. We’ve put together this pattern-reading guide to get you started, so grab your thread because it’s time to knot!

Things You Should Know

The vertical lines labeled with letters at the top of the pattern represent your strings, and the numbers on either side of the pattern indicate rows of knots.
Move from left to right when reading a friendship bracelet pattern.
Work with 2 strings at a time, as friendship bracelet patterns use pairs to create knots.

Section 1 of 4:

Parts of a Pattern

1
StringsThe lettered and/or colored vertical lines at the top of the pattern represent your strings. You’ll need the exact number of strings listed to complete the pattern. If you’d like your bracelet to look exactly like the pattern, stick to the colors shown.^{[1]
X
Research source}
2
RowsOn either side of the pattern, there will be a line of numbers. This indicates which row of the pattern you’re on. You’ll start the bracelet by reading row 1, then row 2, and so forth.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- The thicker a bracelet is, the more rows the pattern will have.
Advertisement
3
Knot SymbolsThere are 4 basic knots used to make friendship bracelets, each represented by a circular symbol on your pattern. The arrow shows the direction and type of knot you’ll make. The color of the circle shows which string you’ll be knotting with, and the colored line under it represents the string you’ll be knotting over.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- The knot symbols are as follows:
  - Forward Knot: Right arrow
  - Backward Knot: Left arrow
  - Forward-Backward Knot: Arrow to the right and back
  - Backward-Forward Knot: Arrow to the left and back
- Not all strings will have a knot symbol on each row. This just means that you’ll skip knotting that string.
4
Pattern RepeatMost patterns include one reiteration of the pattern, ending with the same beginning string pattern. When you reach the end of a pattern, check to make sure your strings are in the right place and continue knotting from row 1.^{[4]
X
Research source}
5
Pattern PreviewMost bracelet patterns typically include a pixelated version of the final product along with the pattern. This way, you’ll know what the design will look like.
- Each pixel or square in the preview represents a knot.

Section 2 of 4:

Basic Knots

1
Forward KnotA forward knot moves a left string to the right while making a knot of the left string’s color. To make this knot, hold the right-handed string taunt. Then, create a 4 shape over the right string with the left string. Thread the left string through the 4’s loop and pull upwards. Repeat the 4 shape, thread, and pull, and you’ve created a forward knot.^{[5]
X
Research source}
2
Backward KnotA backward knot moves a right string to the left while making a knot of its color. Make this knot by holding the string on the left taunt. Then, create a backward 4 over the top of the left string with the right string. Bring the right string through the 4’s loop and pull the knot upwards. Repeat this motion to make a backward knot.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- A backward knot is just like it sounds—a “backward” version of a forward knot!
3
Forward-Backward KnotA forward-backward knot is half of a forward knot and a backward knot. To make this knot, make a 4 over a right string with a left string and pull the string through the loop. With the same string, create a backward 4, thread the end of the string through the loop, and pull.^{[7]
X
Research source}
4
Backward-Forward KnotA backward-forward knot makes a knot of its color without changing its position. Create this knot by making a backward 4 with a right-handed string over a left-handed string and pulling the string through the loop. Then, create a regular 4 with the same string, and thread it through.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Think of it like half of a backward knot and half of a forward knot.

Section 3 of 4:

Following a Friendship Bracelet Pattern

1
Arrange your strings as they appear in the pattern. Measure your string and cut it to your desired length. Then, tie the strings together with a simple overhand knot or create a loop (this only works if you have an even number of strings). Tape or clip the knot to your work surface, and position your strings in the order they appear in the pattern.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- For example, say you have an ABBAABBA chevron pattern that’s purple and yellow; you want 6 strings with 3 being purple and 3 yellow. Then, position them as follows: purple, yellow, yellow, purple, purple, yellow, yellow, purple.
- Most friendship bracelets require strings at least 36 in (91 cm) long.
- If your strings are a bit tangled, no worries! Tug on them under the knot until they lay in the correct position.
- A friendship bracelet loom can help you order and keep track of your strings, especially if you’re a beginner.
2
Create the first knot on the left-hand side of row 1. Take the first pair of strings and make the knot indicated in the first left-hand circle of row 1. Remember to create the knot with the same color string as the knot symbol.^{[10]
X
Research source}
- To continue our example, create a forward knot with the outermost purple string over the yellow string next to it.
3
Make a second knot with the second pair of strings in row 1. Let go of the string you just knotted and move on to the next pair of strings. Take the left-hand string and knot it over its pair as indicated in the knot symbol.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- In our example, you would take the third yellow string and make a forward knot over the second purple string.
4
Continue knotting each pair of strings until you reach the end of the row. The number of pairs depends on the pattern, so keep knotting from left to right until there’s nothing left to knot in row 1. Just remember to make the knot with the color string represented in the knot symbol.^{[12]
X
Research source}
- For our example, you’d make a backward knot with the third yellow over the third purple and a backward knot with the fourth yellow over the fourth purple.
5
Regroup your strings to start row 2. Notice if any strings in the next row don’t have a knot symbol. If so, pull them aside.^{[13]
X
Research source} Pair the remaining strings with their new partners, and knot from left to right until you reach the end of the pattern like you did for row 1.^{[14]
X
Research source}
- With our example, you’d put the first and last yellow strings aside and group the left purples, middle yellows, and right purples into pairs.
- The lines or strings that intersect under a knot symbol are a pair.
6
Knot until you reach the end of the pattern. Follow the pattern and continue knotting row-by-row from left to right. Once you’ve reached the end of the pattern, check to make sure your strings’ order matches the pattern.^{[15]
X
Research source}
- If your strings match, great! You can move on to the next step.
- If your strings don’t match, don’t panic! Compare your knots to the pattern’s knot symbols. If one of your knots isn’t the same colors as the pattern’s, undo the row(s) with a safety pin and try again.
7
Loop back to the top of the pattern. Moving from left to right, keep knotting row-by-row until your bracelet is your desired length. Remember to double-check your work after each section of knotting.^{[16]
X
Research source}
- Finish the bracelet with braids or a knot, and ta-dah! You’ve made a friendship bracelet using a pattern.

Section 4 of 4:

Where to Find Patterns

1
friendship-bracelet.netThis website is a hub for all things friendship bracelets. From patterns to tutorials, you can find everything you’ve ever wanted! Plus, you can submit photos and videos of your creations, meet other bracelet makers on the forums, and generate your own patterns.
2
BraceletBook.comThis website and app are full of creative and unique bracelet designs. Users from all over the world upload their patterns, so you can find something for any fandom or niche. And you can even sign up for an account to make your own patterns or chat on the forums.
3
Google ImagesA good-ole online search can give you a plethora of results, especially if you’re looking for a specific pattern. Simply Google something generic like “friendship bracelet patterns” or “cute normal friendship bracelet pattern.” You can even try enhancing your search with specific keywords: “spiderman friendship bracelet pattern” or “harry potter normal friendship bracelet pattern.”