Today I am going to show you how to make DIY friendship bracelets without needing a special loom or equipment. It is easy to make a square friendship bracelet loom using our free printable loom template and then following the simple instructions to make easy friendship bracelets with endless patterns. 

Making Friendship Bracelets

This DIY bracelet loom is awesome! I remember friendship bracelets from my childhood. It was so fun to make friendship bracelets – wear it and then give it away. Sometimes my best friend and I would spend the afternoon making friendship bracelets together.

Related: Make rubber band bracelets

These easy friendship bracelets are simple to make with this homemade bracelet loom created from our free printable loom template.

How to Make a Square Friendship Bracelet Loom

Several years ago I discovered bracelet looms but like all good things, the loom I purchased got stretched out and the second was lost. The concept of the loom stuck with me and this time we made our own and then created a printable template so you can make one too.

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Supplies Needed to Make a Friendship Bracelet

• Foam board or really stiff cardboard (recycle a packing box)
• Razor blade or exacto knife
• Embroidery thread
• Pencil or marker
• (Optional) print our bracelet loom template – see below

Printable Square Bracelet Loom Template

You can make your own square loom pattern or quickly print our friendship loom pattern template and attach it to cardboard or foam board.

Step by Step Beginner Instructions for Making a Friendship Bracelet

Use these simple step by step instructions to weave string into a friendship bracelet that is completely unique to you.  Let’s get weaving…

Step 1: Measure Proper String Length for Friendship Bracelet

The first step is to cut your lengths of thread with these simple measurements:

1. Measure the wrist you are planning on using and make the strands that are the alternate colors (not dominate color – in my case the yellow and green strands) twice as long as the wrist.
2. Then make the dominate color (in my case the blue) three times as long as the alternate colors.

You will have leftovers, but it is better to have too much thread than not enough.

Tie the threads around a crayon or pencil to help stabilize your bracelet as you weave it.

Step 2: Make Your Square Friendship Bracelet Loom

Grab your foam board or cardboard because our first step now that we have the right string length cut is to create a loom where the weaving can easily happen.

1. How to Cut Out Your Loom

Create your loom by cutting out a square of the board, and mimic the lines pictured in the first image or by following the printed bracelet loom template.   Carefully cut everywhere there is a line on the printable template.   You will want a hole in the middle and slits on the ends.

2. How to Thread Your Loom for the First Time

To thread your loom, you will want your super long dominate color threads to go on each side and the alternate colors to go on the top/bottom.  

Play with the way it looks.   We have alternated colors and done stripes (ex: two of one color down the middle and the outer threads being a different color).

Step 3: Weave Your Friendship Bracelet

1. Cross your side threads over each other by swapping them from one side to the other.

2. Start with a thread on the top right of the card and move that thread to an opening on the bottom right side of the   card. In the picture I am moving the green thread down to the opening in the yellow “side”.
3. Move the thread at the bottom, (the one to the left of the thread), to the top.   In the picture I am moving the yellow thread from the bottom up to the spot that the green thread vacated.
4. When you are finished with a “round” the colors should be on opposite sides of the loom.   Go back to step 1 and switch the side threads.
5. Start with the last thread you switched.   So if you started before on the upper right and ended on the lower left, you will want to start on the lower left for the next round.
6. Continue weaving with your loom till you reached the desired length.

Tips for Making Friendship Bracelets

• With younger kids, have the square loom already created and work with them step by step through the sequencing of the friendship bracelet pattern.
• Tie off the end of the thread bracelet securely end to end to keep the friendship bracelet in place on your wrist.
• This is an easy craft…once the child has learned the steps. Be prepared for a little frustration until the pattern is mastered.
• This is a great way to work on fine motor skills and the best part is you end up with a really lovely colorful bracelet.

Make Friendship Bracelets Together with Friends

The first bracelet out of string I made was at summer camp with my new best friends. My whole cabin of girls sat with cardboard looms on our laps and strings with loose ends of multiple color combinations in our fingers. Left side. Right side. Upside. Downside. Repeat steps!

Viola!   You have a friendship bracelet!  

More Bracelet Making Fun from Kids Activities Blog

• Make rainbow loom bracelets!  They are fun and easy to weave too!
• We have a fun selection of easy loom bracelets charms that kids can make.
• How to make slap bracelets!  It is fun!
• Need a simple craft for preschoolers?  Try these cereal bracelet ideas!
• Awwww…totally need bff bracelets!
• You will need some LEGO bricks for these yarn bracelets!
• Make Valentines bracelets — we have so many fun ideas!
• And check out this collection of homemade bracelets.

How many bracelets can your kids make in an afternoon?  What is their favorite friendship bracelet pattern?