Easy DIY Button Friendship Bracelets

I’ve got another fast and easy project for you to try today.  These colorful button friendship bracelets are inexpensive, don’t require any special tools, and make up in 10 minutes or less.  I’ve designed these to be tied on (like any good friendship bracelet does) but of course, you could add a clasp if you want it to be removable!

All you need to make these bracelets are wooden buttons and hemp.  I love hemp, personally, and I keep it in my jewelry stash all the time, but if you prefer to use embroidery floss, that would work just as well.  For each bracelet, you will need:

• One 15mm wooden button
• 36 inches each of 2 colors of hemp cord
• Scisssors
• A ruler

First, cut four strands, 18 inches long, in two different colors of cord.  Thread them through the holes in the button (I crossed mine like an “X”), centering the button along the cords.  This will give you 4 strands of cord coming off either side of the button.

Next, make a 4-part braid on each side.  4-part braids are very much like 3-part braids, where you pass the outer cord from each side to the center of the braid.  The graphic below will walk you through it, but  the only difference in making a 4-part braid is that each time you pull the cord from the left side to pass it to the center, you will pass it over 2 cords instead of one.

So in this example of pink and orange, pull the right pink cord over the orange one to the center.  Then, pull the left pink cord over the two cords on the left – one orange, and one pink.  Then, pass the right orange cord over one pink cord to the center, and then the left orange cord over both the left pink and orange cords.

Braid for 3.5 inches, and tie an overhand knot to finish the braid.  Repeat the process on the opposite set of 4 cords, creating a 7-inch bracelet with a couple inches of tails on each side (to tie it on, of course).  The 4 strands make a fun chevron stripe pattern!

Because they’re friendship bracelets – you can’t stop at just one, right?  One for you, one for your bestie, of course – or make even more!

Each bracelet only takes a few minutes, and the button adds a little something that cord on its own doesn’t have – it’s a fun pop of color!

Happy braiding, and thanks for joining me today for today’s quick and easy friendship bracelets!