Flip Flop Friendship Bracelet Tutorial
Learn how to make the popular and super cool flip flop friendship bracelet – it’s really easy! When you’re done, you’ll want to check out this list of friendship bracelet patterns for beginners. This post contains affiliate links.
I love using the texture of knots to create pattern variations and this flip flop friendship bracelet does just that! This popular design is similar to my horizontal stripe friendship bracelets, however it’s made quite differently.
On this one, you have a diagonal stripe. It’s essentially a twist on the candy stripe friendship bracelet, with a slight modification to make the cool textured row: instead of working each color once across and move it on to the next, you flip it over, work it again, and then flip it over and knot again.
Because you’re alternating showing the front “stitch” side of the knot and the back “wrap” side of the knot, you get this super cool texture.
The flip flop friendship bracelet is an easy, fun, cheerful pattern. There’s something about the diagonal stripes, with an edge that forms a kind of zig zag, that makes it a cheerful pattern – regardless of which colors you choose! But I like to add my own twist to things, so I made this one my favorite way… using graduated colors for an ombre look!
To best accomplish this, you can either head in-store and buy open stock floss, or, just get a big package with lots of color options.
Now to be clear, these are not gradient threads – these are colors that I chose in different shades of the same color to give it a beautiful look. I’ve shared ombre bracelets in the past that had a 3D effect – like my most popular zig zag friendship bracelet that looks like a ribbon, and the diamond friendship bracelet that looks like two ribbons.
This one doesn’t necessarily create a 3D effect, but if you choose a strong gradient (like my red and green test samples) you get quite the drama!
The flip flop friendship bracelets can be made with any number of colors, and wider or narrower. The sweet spot will be 5-8 strings (you can repeat colors to do a simpler palette) to showcase the beautiful texture, without curling like on excessively wide bracelets.
Finally, you can choose to finish off your flip flop friendship bracelets using any method you choose but my favorite will definitely be a clasp! You can learn how to put a clasp on a friendship bracelet here and explore more ways to start and finish a friendship bracelet too.
Supplies and String Cut Sizes
- Embroidery floss. For 6 strand bracelets: cut 6×40 inch strands, or double over 3×80 inch strands
- Thread snips
- Optional: clipboard. Make sure to get one with a flat edge that’ll hold your threads in place.
- Optional: Ribbon crimps and hot glue OR cord ends, clasps
How to make a flip flop friendship bracelet – Step by Step
If you prefer, you can watch the full-length YouTube video here. Or scroll for a full written tutorial:
The rule: you are making ONLY left-to-right forward knots on every row.
1. Arrange your strings in the order in which you’d like them to appear.
2. Forward knot your leftmost string around the one to its right. To recap: a forward knot means you’re knotting left to right TWICE.
Pull it tight.
3. Repeat this forward knot around every other color until the leftmost string takes the rightmost position.
4. Now, flip your bracelet over so that you see the back of it. Your working thread – the one you just used – is now your leftmost again.
5. Forward knot it around every other string individually until once again it’s at the rightmost position – and at its starting point.
6. Flip your bracelet back over to the front.
7. Now repeat the first row you did: forward knot the leftmost string around every other one until it reaches the rightmost position. You’re finished with this color for now and have completed a round.
8. Now work with your NEW leftmost string – the one you started off with as second from left.
9. Repeat the process. Forward knot it around every string. Flip over your bracelet to the back. Forward knot it around every string. Flip your bracelet back to the front. And forward knot it again around every one, finishing this color, with the working thread now in the rightmost position.
10. Repeat this process with every color and continue until your flip flop friendship bracelet has reached the desired length! Finish off as desired.
You’ve successfully learned how to follow the flip flop friendship bracelet pattern. Which bracelet should I teach next? Comment below!
How to Make Flip Flop Friendship Bracelets
Flip Flop bracelets are easy to make and a variation on the classic Candy Stripe Bracelet. The only difference: you are alternating which side you're knotting on by flipping it over twice for each color round!
The rule: you are making ONLY left-to-right forward knots on every row.
Each color is used for three rows before switching.
Follow these rules and htis is one of the easiest friendship bracelets you'll make!
Materials
- Embroidery floss. For 6 strand bracelets: cut 6x40 inch strands, or double over 3x80 inch strands
- Thread snips
- Optional: clipboard. Make sure to get one with a flat edge that'll hold your threads in place.
- Optional: Ribbon crimps and hot glue OR cord ends, clasps
Instructions
- Arrange your strings in the order in which you'd like them to appear.
- Forward knot your leftmost string around the one to its right. To recap: a forward knot means you're knotting left to right TWICE. Pull it tight.
- Do this around each of the colors to its right. Flip over your bracelet so that your working string is back on the left.
- Forward knot it around each string to its right.
- Flip over so that your working string is back on the left. Knot again around every string to its left. You should have three rows of this color now - one with the back of the knots facing (the flat side) and two with the front raised side (the stitch). The working string is now on the right. Don't flip.
- Repeat with the newest leftmost string.
- Repeat with every color until you're happy with the length of your bracelet.
Notes
- Finish off with braids, a clasp, or however you'd like.
- Color choice is everything! I like to go with different shades of the same color for a gradated effect.
- These stack beautifully, and are wearable with "real" jewelry especially if you finish it off with a real clasp!
- My recommendation is to do a minimum of five strands for this (it'll be four knots wide). It looks even nicer with six, and the sweet spot is 6-8.
