The inspiration for this macrame bracelet pattern came from a 1970’s wall hanging book. I really liked the look of the braided motif in the center of each diamond, so I re-worked the concept to fit nicely onto the bracelet. This project includes a clasp because I don’t like to tie jewelry on, but your could definitely modify it to have braided ends for a more traditional macrame look!

 

Start out by measuring your wrist (or deciding what your length is if you’re not making a bracelet.)

For Imperial/US – multiply your length in inches times 9, then add 16.

For metric – multiply your length in cm times 9, then add 40.

 

For myself, I wanted a 7 inch bracelet.

7 x 9 = 63   (desired length x 9)

63 + 16 = 79    (previous total + 16)

 

Cut 7 strands in the length you just calculated. I cut 7 strands that were each 79 inches long.

 

Lay one strand out horizontally. Roughly center it on your work surface, but it doesn’t need to be perfect. Fold another strand exactly in half. Make a larks head knot as shown. Tighten it.

 

Now turn that larks head into a pair of double half hitch knots as shown. Bring each end over the horizontal strand, then through the loop you made. Tighten it neatly.

 

It should look like this. Now repeat that for the other 5 strands.

 

Gently slide them all together, and to the center of the horizontal strand you’re knotting around.

 

Stick a pin in the center to help hold it in place. Knotting will be annoying for a few minutes, but it will get a lot easier once you have more to pin into. Separate the strands into 2 groups of 7.

 

Take the centermost strand from the left side, and lay it over the right side. Tie a double half hitch with each right side strand around the one from the left.

 

It should look like this.

 

Now do the opposite, take the strand from the right that is closest to the center, and knot over it with the strands on the left. This should form the end into a 90˚ or so angle.

 

Now gently pin that end down so it’s easier to work with.

 

Start of the repeat:

Set one strand off to each side. Divide the remaining strands into 4 groups of 3.

 

Pass the center group on the right over the center group on the left. Be careful to keep the strands flat like a ribbon, and in the same order, don’t let the groups of 3 twist.

 

On the left, pass the outer group over the one from the center. On the right, pass the outer group under the one from the center. Always maintain an over, under, over, under rhythm.

 

Cross the center right over the center left.

 

Cross the outer left over center left, and outer right under center right.

 

Cross the center right over the center left. That’s it. If you’re having trouble study the photos again, it’s a normal 4 strand braid.

 

Gently adjust the braided bit up into the angled space, being careful to not twist the strands. Pin at each corner. Bring the single strand from the right over.

 

Tie the first 3 strands over the single strand on the right. Take your time and try to keep those 3 strands even. If you don’t like a knot, gently pull it apart with a the tip of a pin or an awl and try again.

 

Tie the first 3 strands on the left over the single left strand.

 

It should look like this.

 

Now tie the second group of strands on the right. Pay attention to how they arc through the center and keep them even and flat.

 

Then finish the left side, and tie the single strand from the right around the single strand from the left.

 

Grab the two strands at the center (that you just knotted around) and set them out of the way so you don’t accidentally tie them into the next step. Not that it’s easy to accidentally tie them in, I definitely didn’t do that ever.

Bring the outermost right strand over the rest on the right, and tie double half hitches around it.

 

Repeat that with all the strands on the right.

 

When you’re done on the right, do the same thing on the left.

 

It should look like this.

 

Bring those two center strands down, and tie over them with the strands on the side they belong to.

 

Bring the center most strand from the left over the right and tie around it.

 

Bring the center most strand from the right over the left and tie around it.

 

It should be pretty much like this.

 

That’s the end of the repeat, bounce back up to the start of the repeat and do it all again, and when you’re piece is as long as you want it to be, work to here, and follow the directions below to finish it.

 

Do the first row of double half hitches on each side to close up the braided part.

 

Do a second row of double half hitches on the right.

 

Then add a second row on the left.

 

When it  looks like this, unpin it and flip it over.

 

Pin it down at the tip to keep the point nice.

 

Tie the strands from the right around the center most left strand.

 

Like this.

 

Then scooch those out the way and tie the left hand strands around the center most right strand.

 

Like this. Do that once more on each side.

 

Apply a coat of fray check or clear glue over the rows of double half hitch on the back of the bracelet. Allow it to dry very well (ideally overnight).

 

Carefully trim the tails. It’s easy to catch the braid with sharp scissors, so watch out for that.

 

To add the clasp, gently work a jump ring through between the braid strands on each end. If you haven’t worked with jump rings before, we have an easy tutorial here.

 

Hook the clasp on one side, and a ring to hook the clasp onto on the other side.

 

If you want to try the multi-colored version, here’s how I set up my strands. Light purple as the base strand. Tied around it – dark purple, dark pink, light pink, light pink, dark pink, dark purple.

 

That’s all! Have fun with your macrame bracelet project – they stack well so you might want to make a few!