Chevron Friendship Bracelet Pattern: 5 Ways
Learn how to make a chevron friendship bracelet pattern the classic way, plus try a few variations for new looks once you’ve mastered the basics! Love this? Learn how to make a zig zag friendship bracelet too!
The Chevron friendship bracelet pattern is such a classic, it should be one of the first you learn how to make! This super cool bracelet is surprisingly easy and while all you need is a few strands to get started, you can make them super wide too.
Today, I’m going to share with you a basic tutorial for making a chevron friendship bracelet with a few variations to show you how versatile it is.
Table of contents:
- How to Make a Chevron Friendship Bracelets with 5 variations
- 1. Classic Chevron Friendship bracelets
- 2. Adding an ombre touch
- 3. Making an off-centered chevron friendship bracelet
- 4. Side-by-side color block
- 5. The asymmetrical chevron friendship bracelet
- What you need for this Chevron friendship bracelet
- How to Make a Chevron friendship bracelet – basic pattern
- The Basic Pattern
- Variations
- More Variations + Thought Starters.
If you’d like, you can first learn how to start and finish friendship bracelets. And if this is your first time, I recommend first learning how to make your own friendship bracelet with more basic knots.
How to Make a Chevron Friendship Bracelets with 5 variations
First, I’m going to showcase the difference between the bracelets so that you can see the versatility you get with a basic Chevron friendship bracelet pattern.
Below that, I will share with you the chevron friendship bracelet pattern stepped-out with images, as well as images of the setup and instructions for the variations.
At the end of the post is a “recipe card” with a printer-friendly version so you can save it for later.
1. Classic Chevron Friendship bracelets
A basic Chevron bracelet is made of two mirrored facing sets of strings. They are strung starting from the outer ones, and finishing to form a V shape in the center.
This one was made using variegated floss for more interest.
2. Adding an ombre touch
Then next level is to add a little ombre to your design. When it comes to making friendship bracelets, color is everything. I’ve demonstrated this when making a diamond friendship bracelet, and something as basic as the Chevron friendship bracelet pattern is no different.
While the diamond might take on a 3D effect that’s much stronger, the chevron gets it slightly. But most importantly of all, it comes across as a gorgeous, simple, monochromatic design that has loads of drama.
And the tutorial is exactly the same. It just boils down to the colors you choose. So choose wisely!
3. Making an off-centered chevron friendship bracelet
While I didn’t get quite the drama I had hoped for with this design, and it’d look cooler with ombre (shaded) color choices rather than complementary ones like I used here, it’s still cool!
This bracelet is created by NOT mirroring your design. You do an odd bracelet for this one. You can also do it with mixed colors rather than transitioning ones, for a more boho, ragged look.
4. Side-by-side color block
Do you see the Chevron friendship bracelet pattern showing through here? You may or may not see it, but it’s there!
The Chevron bracelet is fabulous for a side-by-side color block effect, because it is a pattern that is essentially split into two in its origin.
I added a little interest on the off-centered design by switching off which side I knot around which for the peak of the V. You can try doing every other one, keeping it off centered consistently, or even making it perfectly centered.
Adding another single string (so you’re working with 9 strands instead of eight) on one side will make it centered. Just knot the side with fewer strings around the side with more for each of your center knots.
5. The asymmetrical chevron friendship bracelet
Finally, you have the option of just placing your strings in a sequential pattern rather than a mirrored one. Here, I used two in a row of the same color, making a simple, two-tone bracelet.
You can also use four colors (or more). The trick is to simply do the pattern in order instead of reversing it on the facing side. That way, each string will be “opposite” one of another color as you form your Chevron.
Here, I started off switching off which color I used for my V point knot. Then I decided that it looks better when I stick to one, even though it’s off-centered. I like the interest that the slight lack of symmetry adds.
When you’re done trying the Chevron friendship bracelet pattern these five ways, go ahead and try another twist on the Chevron: the heart patterned friendship bracelet!
Then see if you can do your own spinoff and give it your own cool vibe!
What you need for this Chevron friendship bracelet
- Embroidery floss in 3-6 colors, doubled over arm’s length strands
- Scissors
- Optional: a clipboard or washi tape to hold your design in place. I simply use my hands.
How to Make a Chevron friendship bracelet – basic pattern
The Basic Pattern
The basic pattern uses THREE colors to keep it neat and basic for the absolute beginner.
1. Start by splitting your design into two facing sides. Remember, this is an ombre thread so the red and pink are the same. Yellows are on the outside, blues next, and pinks in the center.
2. Start making forward knots from the left. Stop when you reach the center. Here, we knotted yellow around blue, then red. We stopped short of the next yellow.
3. Next you take the right string, and start making backward knots around the two to its left.
Again, we knotted yellow around blue, then red. We hit the “center” and met the previous yellow string.
4. Now, make a backward or forward knot tying one of the yellow strings around the other. It doesn’t matter which. This is the knot that I call the point of the V. This is the knot that you need to pay attention to for the other Chevron friendship bracelet pattern variations.
5. Continue the process. Forward knot the new left string (blue) around the two next to it (red, yellow) until you hit the center. Repeat with the new red string, also blue, around red then yellow, until you meet blue again.
Knot one blue around the other, any one, to form the point of the V.
6. Keep it going. Repeat the colors as you’ve been doing until your Chevron friendship bracelet is complete.
Variations
For the side-by-side color block chevron friendship bracelet pattern:
Start your strings with one color on the right and one on the left.
Take the right string.
Backward knot on the one to the left.
Backward knot around the next two until you complete that color.
Repeat on the left. Take the left string.
Forward knot around the three next to it (separately).
When you reach the center, decide which color will be more prominent and have a fourth stitch in that row. Forward/backward knot it, or vice versa, around the other.
To create the odd one with two colors, start with strings as follows:
Knot as you did the bracelet above: left side forward knots and right side backward knots to the center. When you reach the center, do a backward/forward or forward/backward, depending on which color you want should show.
The basic ombre bracelet is a very classic Chevron – no change. It’s symmetrical and a mirrored image in the string layout.
And it’s knotted like a Chevron too.
And the asymmetrical one is simply placed in the same order shifted by one or two colors so that you get a cool effect.
You do need to do a forward backward knot or vice versa in the point of the V, since the colors aren’t the same row-by-row.
You’ve successfully learned the Chevron friendship bracelet pattern with some unique twists. What a versatile bracelet!
More Variations + Thought Starters.
Want to take this to the next level? Play around! Experiment! Here are some thought starters for you to try. I have no idea how some of these would come out. Some I’ve tried but others I haven’t.
- Try doing an asymmetrical pattern. But instead of forward/backward knotting the center, just forward knot it. See how the pattern plays out.
- Try this every two rounds : instead of connecting the V in the center, leave it separate, essentially making separate facing candy stripe bracelets for another two rounds.
- Or, do that but only with the outer strands, leaving the two in the center OUT of your pattern. Add beads to those. Then continue with the chevron friendship bracelet pattern as you were doing it.
What’s your favorite way to make a chevron friendship bracelet pattern? Comment below!
Chevron Friendship Bracelet Pattern
Instructions
The Basic Pattern
The basic pattern uses THREE colors to keep it neat and basic for the absolute beginner.
1. Start by splitting your design into two facing sides. Remember, this is an ombre thread so the red and pink are the same. Yellows are on the outside, blues next, and pinks in the center.
2. Start making forward knots from the left. Stop when you reach the center. Here, we knotted yellow around blue, then red. We stopped short of the next yellow.
3. Next you take the right string, and start making backward knots around the two to its left.
Again, we knotted yellow around blue, then red. We hit the "center" and met the previous yellow string.
4. Now, make a backward or forward knot tying one of the yellow strings around the other. It doesn't matter which. This is the knot that I call the point of the V. This is the knot that you need to pay attention to for the other Chevron friendship bracelet pattern variations.
5. Continue the process. Forward knot the new left string (blue) around the two next to it (red, yellow) until you hit the center. Repeat with the new red string, also blue, around red then yellow, until you meet blue again.
Knot one blue around the other, any one, to form the point of the V.
6. Keep it going. Repeat the colors as you've been doing until your Chevron friendship bracelet is complete.
Notes
Want to take this to the next level? Play around! Experiment! Here are some thought starters for you to try. I have no idea how some of these would come out. Some I've tried but others I haven't.
