Simple Friendship Bracelet Pattern

Time needed: 1 hour

Lark’s Head Bracelet — Step by Step Instructions

1. Tie a surgeon’s knot

   Tie a surgeon’s knot (wrap the cord through twice instead of once) near one end of the 18-inch cord. 
   

2. Add a bead

   Thread a bead on to the same cord and slide it down to the knot you just made. If you have trouble getting it on, try catching just the tip of your cord with a big eye needle and sliding the bead on that way.

3. Attach your cord to a solid surface

   Attach the knotted/beaded end of this cord to the top of your clipboard or macrame board. You can use pins, binder clips, tape — whatever works for what you are using. Do the same with the other end at the bottom so your cord is taut. This is your core cord.

4. Adding the first cord

   Make a fold in one of your 40-inch cords a few inches from the end. Place this loop under your core cord with the short end on top, about two inches down from your knot in Step 1.

5. Adding the first cord, step two

   Pull both ends of the cord over your core cord and through this loop, and tighten the knot.

6. Adding the second cord

   Repeat the last step with your other 40-inch cord but from the other side, just below the knot you just made. Slide this knot up so it’s flush with the first one, and pull it tight.
   
   You’ve just made two lark’s head knots. Now I’m going to show you how to make more.
   

7. How to tie a lark’s head knot

   There are two steps to the lark’s head knot:
   
   Step 1: Loop the left cord over the core cord, then pull the end under the core cord and back through that loop. Pull it flush to the knot above it.
   
   

8. Lark’s head step 2

   Step 2: Now loop the left cord under the core cord, then pull the end over the core cord and back through the loop. Pull it snug. You should have a knot that looks like the two right above it.

9. Lark’s head second side

   Repeat these two steps with the cord on the right:
   
   Loop the right cord over the core cord, pull the end under the core cord, and back through the loop.

10. Lark’s head second side, step 2

    Then loop the cord under the core cord, pull the end over the core cord, and back through that loop.

11. Continue tying knots

    Keep making your knots, alternating sides, until your knotted section measures six inches.

12. Add a second bead

    After you finish all of your lark’s head knots, slide another bead onto the core cord, below all of your knots. Then tie another surgeon’s knot about two inches down from the end of your lark’s head knots.

13. Starting the clasp

    It’s time to make the clasp! Tape your bracelet onto your board or another surface, with the two ends overlapping. Make sure the beads are pushed all the way to the ends flush with your surgeon’s knots.

14. Tying the clasp: square knots

    Find the mid-point of the 12-inch piece of cord and place it behind the overlapped cords. Cross the left cord over the two middle cords and under the right cord, making a backward P.

15. Continuing your square knot

    Slide the right cord around the left cord, under the middle cords, and through the center of the backward P made by the left cord. Pull it snug.
    
    You’ve made a half square knot!

16. Tying a square knot: second side

    For the second side: cross the right cord over the two middle cords and under the left cord, making a normal P.

17. Continuing your square knot

    Slide the left cord around the right cord, under the middle cords, and through the center of the P made by the right side. Pull it snug. Now you’ve made a full square knot. Make four or five more square knots, so that your clasp measures a little less than half an inch (1 cm).

18. Trim all of the ends

    Trim all of the cords with a cord cutter, or with scissors. (Carefully melt the ends with a lighter if you use scissors.)
    
    *Be sure that the lark’s head knots at the beginning and end are nice and tight before you trim and seal those ends. Also, they will hold better if you can melt them a bit to the surrounding cord.