With macrame you can create usable items like handbags, plant hangers, or straps, or projects that are purely for decor like wall hangings, jewelry, or table runners. You can even make your own Christmas stocking!

Related: Simple Macrame Handbag Tutorial, Macrame Camera Strap Tutorial, Simple Macrame Table Runner, Macrame Christmas Stocking, Macrame Room Divider, Macrame Yarn Garland, Make Your Own Macrame Bracelet, Macrame Curtain, Macrame Plant Hanger

What is macrame?

Macrame is a crafting technique where you create a texture through making a series of knots and loops with either rope, yarn, string, or cords. The top of your project is secured onto either a mounting ring or tied to a stick or dowel and then the pattern is created through handmade knots.

Often the hobby of macrame is combined with other crafting mediums like weaving or knitting, but pure macrame is when the full piece is made of knots made by hand.

What’s the history of macrame?

Macrame may go back as far as the ancient Persians and Babylonians who used macrame-like knotting in artifacts in centuries BC.

The more modern macrame was brought to the west from more Arabic countries who mainly used the knots in the 13th century to tie ends in items like rugs, shawls, or other items that had fringe. By the 17th century, ladies in waiting for Queen Mary II used the technique as the pastime spread through England.

Sailors started to use the macrame knots to pass the time on ships and would even trade made items like belts or hammocks once they got to shore, which also helped the craft spread through Europe. Macrame remained popular through the 17th and 18th centuries until the Industrial Revolution brought about the sewing machine and then the technique fell out of favor until the 1960s and ’70s brought the craft back to popularity as part of the handmade movement.

The word “macrame” either comes from the Arabic word “migramah,” meaning ornamental fringe or it may also come from the Turkish word “makrama,” which refers to a towel or napkin.

Is macrame easy or hard to learn?

Good news! While it may look complicated, macrame is actually very easy to learn and it’s very similar to making friendship bracelets if you remember doing those as a kid.

There are a few basic knots that we will teach you, and once you get those down you’ll be able to make almost any macrame project you want!

How long does it take to complete a macrame project?

The time needed to complete a macrame project will vary greatly depending on your level of skill (your first macrame project will take more time and experts will knot much faster), material, size, and complexity of your project.

While smaller/simpler projects can definitely be completed in a short afternoon, you may need several hours spread over a few days for larger wall hangings.

What kind of cord do you use for macrame?

There are several types of macrame cord that you can use for your macrame project.

• Rope: The twisted strands of cotton cord rope give macrame projects durability and you’ll get a defined thick knot that is unlikely to unravel. The most common kinds are twisted three-ply and braided six-ply ropes for macrame and rope comes in a large variety of thickness for larger projects as well.
• String: A string is a much finer twisted strand compared to rope so you get a smaller and softer look than with rope. Your knots will also be much smaller so it can be better for finer, more delicate projects.
• Yarn: While yarn is often used for knitting, you can also use it for macrame. Wool, acrylic, and hemp are common bases for yarn and this option provides the biggest color range.
• Waxed cord: A waxed cord is smaller in diameter than a rope and it is coated in beeswax to make the cord more waterproof. The wax also strengthens the cord so it makes for strong knots as well.

100% Natural Cotton Macrame Rope Cord

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Soft Cotton Macrame String Thread

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Bulky Wool and Acrylic Blend Yarn

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 1.5MM Waxed Cotton Macrame Cord 

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How much macrame cord do you need for a project?

When measuring out how much cord you need for your macrame project, you’ll want to determine the approximate length of your finished project and cut your cords 4 times that length.

If the cord needs to be folded in half for the project, then you want to cut the cord 8 times the finished length.

What supplies do you need for macrame?

To make your macrame project, you’ll want the following items:

• Macrame cord
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• A stick/rod or a mounting ring (a metal hoop) to hang your project on
• Wooden beads or other beads for decoration (optional)

5 Basic Macrame Knots

While there are more than five knots you can use in macrame, if you practice these five simple knots, there are so many projects you’ll be able to tackle right away.

1. Lark’s Head (aka Cow Hitch Knot)

A Lark’s Head knot is so easy! Fold your string in half and place the halfway loop behind your hanging rod.

Slip your two string tails through the top loop and pull.

2. Square Knot

Tie two Lark’s Heads knots side by side on your rod. This knot uses only the strands on the outer left and right edges and the middle two strands stay put.

Take the strand all the way on the left and cross it over the middle two strands but then behind the strand all the way on the right. It will look like a number “4.”

Next, take the right strand, keeping it over the strand that came from the left, and go behind the middle two strands coming out where the hole in the “4” was created in the previous step. Pull that knot tight to the top.

Now you’ll repeat the process backwards by taking the right strand and creating a backwards “4” that goes over the middle two strands and under the strand on the left.

Take the strand on the left, keeping it over the strand that just came from the right, go behind the middle strands and come out again where the hole in the backwards “4” was created.

Pull strands tight and you’ll see a square knot!

3. Spiral Knot

The spiral knot is basically the same as the square knot except that you keep making your “4” shape in one direction so it creates a spiral shape.

Tie two Lark’s Heads knots side by side on your rod and continue to make your first knot like your would with a square knot.

Rather than reverse the direction to complete a square knot, keep making the same knot over and over, pulling each knot tight to the top.

As you make more knots, you’ll see the spiral pattern start to emerge.

4. Berry Knot

Start by making a square knot but when you tie your knot at the top, leave a little room above the knot so you can turn your tails through that hole later.

Make two more square knots so you have three square knots in a row.

Take the tails of your cords and push them all through the small hole in the middle you left above your first square knot.

Pull the cords all the way through and you’ll see that your square knots have created a ball-like berry shape.

5. Double Half-Hitch Knot (DHH)

This knot is often used to create lines in your work and you’ll want to start with at least four Lark’s Head knots side by side. The outermost left cord will be your working cord and the next three cords in line will be your holding cords.

Use your left cord to loop around the first holding cord so that the loop is facing down and the tie of the loop is facing up.

Tighten the loop to the top.

Repeat the action so you have two loops tied at the top of the cord.

Take your working cord and start to tie loops on the second holding cord in line and tie two loops at the top of that cord.

Repeat again tying two loops with your working cord onto the third holding cord and then let your working cord hang (it should now be the fourth cord in near the middle of your project).

Now you just repeat the process backwards on the other side by using the outermost cord on your right side as your working cord and tying two loops on each of the next three hanging cords.

Now you should have both your working cords in the middle of your work.

Now you’ll tie one last Double Half-Hitch Knot by using your left working cord to tie a loop around what was your right working cord.

Avoid these common macrame mistakes:

• Cutting cord too short: Rather than just eyeballing your cord, make sure you are measuring that you have at least four times the full length of your finished project to ensure you won’t run out! There’s nothing worse than not being done with your piece and suddenly you run out of cord.
• Pulling knots too tight: It’s a very similar thing with friendship bracelets, that if you are pulling your knots too tight, then your knots will look deformed and your project will start to twist and curl. Pull your knots just snug enough without over tightening and try to keep all the knots the tied at the same tightness. As you start your projects, you’ll know if your knots are too tight if your project curls and you’ll want to start over not pulling your knots so hard.
• Not practicing/giving up: Like all new skills, it takes time to feel more confident and take on harder and bigger projects, so keep practicing and don’t give up as you get the hang of it!

Love crafting? Try these weaving projects!

• Weaving for Beginners
• Easy (Faux) Weaving DIY
• 15+ Woven Crafts and DIYs
• Woven Jute Mat Tutorial
• Chunky Woven Scarf Tutorial
• Textured Woven Pillow DIY

Making candles does require a few basic supplies, including a stovetop or something similar to melt the wax.

I love to make candles for myself, as I almost always have a candle burning in my kitchen every evening. I also love to give homemade candles as gifts.

A DIY candle makes a great housewarming gift, wedding gift, birthday, Mother’s Day, or holiday gift. Or at least I think so, as I LOVE candles!

Candle Making Supplies – Basics

• Wax – beeswax, soy, paraffin, palm, or gel
• Wick – ECO wicks, hemp, or wood (different sizes based on how thick your candle will be)
• Wick stickers or hot glue and glue gun
• Scent – essential oils or blends
• Containers/vessels
• Melting pot and larger pot – to create a double boiler
• Kitchen thermometer
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Mixing spoon
• Clothespin or other stick to hold wick in place (pencils, skewers, chopsticks, etc.)
• Candle wick trimmer or scissors
• Kitchen scale (optional but helpful)

How to Make a Candle – the Basics

1. Measure out your wax. The easiest way to do this is to fill your container that will become your candle with the wax pellets. Then, use your kitchen scale to find the weight so you know how much scent oil to use.
2. In your melting pot, add the wax.
3. In your larger pot, add enough water so it will cover your melting pot at least halfway.
4. Heat the larger pot with the water and melting pot over medium heat. This is essentially a double boiler, like you might use to melt chocolate. While you can melt the wax in the melting pot directly, using a double boiler ensures the wax doesn’t overheat.
5. Heat the wax to 185°F. Use your thermometer to check.
6. Stir in the scent oil so it gets well distributed.
7. Turn off the heat and allow your wax mixture to cool to 125°F before pouring.
8. While the wax melts (or as it cools off), add your wick to the container. Use a wick sticker or hot glue to stick the metal bottom of the wick to the bottom center of the container. Then, use a clothespin or stick to wrap the top of the wick around so it will stay center once you pour in the wax.
9. Pour the wax into your container. If the wick shifts around, fix it while the wax is still hot and very liquid.
10. Once your candle hardens, you’re ready to trim the wick and use it!

Types of Wax & Wicks

• Beeswax – natural, has a subtle sweet fragrance without adding oil, but can be more expensive. See how to make your own beeswax candles.
• Soy wax – natural, but often a blend so check the label. Usually more affordable than beeswax. See how to make soy candles.
• Paraffin wax – most economical but the least natural of these options
• ECO wicks – made from cotton and paper
• Hemp wicks – made from hemp
• Wood wicks – check out DIY wood wick candles to learn more

While there are other types of waxes and wicks beyond those listed above, these are likely what you will want to use as a beginner.

What is Scent Throw?

Scent throw is exactly what it sounds like; it is the radius around your candle where the scent will reach as it burns. There are four factors that affect scent throw:

• The type of wax
• Thickness of the wick
• Amount of scent oil used
• Temperature of the wax when you add the scent oil

While you may want to use different types of waxes for cost or health reasons, just know that generally the hotter the melting point of the wax the smaller the scent throw will be.

As far as how much scent oil to add, you may think adding more will always mean a larger scent throw. Not true. If you add too much oil, it can weigh down in the wax.

You should aim for 1 ounce of scent oil for every 1 pound of wax (generally). This is why you may want to use a kitchen scale once you’ve measured how much wax will fit your container so you can best calculate how much scent oil to use.

How to Make Molded Candles

Making a candle in a mold is a little different because you will not need a container. You can reuse molds over and over if you care for them. See this tutorial for a flower pillar candle DIY for step-by-step instructions and tips for success.

Here are some cute molds:

• Bubble candle molds
• Twisted candle stick molds
• Knot candle mold
• Geometric candle molds

Where to Buy Containers:

• Used: thrift stores, cleaned out food containers like pickle jars, or other used glass or porcelain containers you may have. Do not use containers that can melt or catch fire, like plastic.
• New: pretty pink glasses, colorful handblown glass, a footed planter
• See how to easily remove candle wax from used candle containers so you can reuse them again!

Print

How to Make Candles: Beginner’s Guide

step-by-step tutorial on how to make candles at home

Keyword candle making

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Author Emma Chapman

Equipment

• melting pot
• larger pot
• kitchen thermometer
• measuring cups and spoons
• mixing spoon
• clothespin or sticks or holding wick
• wick trimmer or scissors
• kitchen scale optional

Ingredients

• wax
• wick
• wick stickers or hot glue
• scent oil or blend
• container or mold

Instructions

• Measure out your wax – the easiest way to do this is to fill your container that will become your candle with the wax pellets. Then, use your kitchen scale to find the weight so you know how much scent oil to use.
• In your melting pot, add the wax.
• In your larger pot, add enough water so it will cover your melting pot at least halfway.
• Heat the larger pot with the water and melting pot over medium heat. This is essentially a double boiler, like you might use to melt chocolate. While you can melt the wax in the melting pot directly, using a double boiler ensures the wax doesn’t overheat.
• Heat the wax to 185°F. Use your thermometer to check.
• Stir in the scent oil so it gets well distributed.
• Turn off the heat and allow your wax mixture to cool to 125°F before pouring.
• While the wax melts (or as it cools off), add your wick to the container. Use a wick sticker or hot glue to stick the metal bottom of the wick to the bottom center of the container.

  Then, use a clothespin or stick to wrap the top of the wick around so it will stay center once you pour in the wax.
• Pour the wax into your container. If the wick shifts around, fix it while the wax is still hot and very liquid.
• Once your candle hardens, you’re ready to trim the wick and use it!

Looking for more holiday ideas? Christmas Cake Pops, Melted Snowman Cookies, Christmas Nail Ideas.

Homemade Advent Calendar

As children, we loved the tradition of an advent calendar counting down the days until Christmas. Today, I’m going to teach you how I made a reusable advent calendar for my kids.

Ideas for Advent Stuffers

Much like stocking stuffers, we like to stuff our advent with a variety of candies, small toys and trinkets and activity ideas.

Candies – For our advent, I like to get a couple bags of pre-packed holiday candies and spread them out randomly through the month. I suggest getting one bag of chocolate candies and one bag of gummy candies.

Toys and Trinkets – Try a new toothbrush, matchbox cars, Lego characters and bookmarks make great gift ideas.

Activities Print – A sheet of fun to-do items and and pack the weekends with fun activities such as watching holiday movies, driving around to see lights on people’s houses or visiting shops to buy gifts for friends and family.

It took me around a week to complete my advent calendar. If you want to save a lot of time, choose pre-made mini stockings.

Instructions

Let’s talk about the DIY steps. This is E-A-S-Y. There’s nothing in this that you can’t just see from the photos, but I will still explain all the steps just in case you’re curious about exactly how I did it.

1. First, cut out 24 stockings from felt. I mainly used felt I already had, so it’s a mix between high and low quality (and I’m a-OK with that!). I made a few paper templates for stocking shapes and used them to cut out all the stockings.

I didn’t want mine to be exactly the same shapes and sizes, but you can do that if you want a more unified look. Next, embellish each stocking on the top side with hand embroidery and/or by gluing things onto the stockings.

2. Machine stitch or hand-stitch each stocking. Then, add a loop to the top of each stocking with felt or yarn (something to hang them from).

3. Paint small wood stars white and drill or punch holes. Use a stamp set to add numbers one through 24.

4. Add the stars to the stockings with string.

5. Use wooden rods, yarn, and wood beads to make the hanging structure. You can see below that my stockings are permanently attached to the rods, but you can tie them on instead if you’d like to be able to remove them each day.

Bonus step: After I was done, I wanted to add a little more detail, so I hung a bunch of larger wooden stars on the rods.

6. Fill your stockings with candy, small toys, and notes with fun activities like movies to watch, crafts to do or special places you will go each day.

Note: If you don’t have the time to make your own this year, there are lots of cute felt calendars out there, or you can just buy the mini stocking part and go from there to save a little time.

More Holiday Crafts to Try

• Vintage Christmas Tree Marquee
• Oversized Christmas Wreath
• Bottle Brush Christmas Trees
• Holiday Garlands

Holiday Gift DIYS

• Homemade Bath Bombs
• Crystal Soaps
• Marbled Clay Ring Dish
• We’ve also made a few advent calendars over the years here on the blog, so see if one of those seems perfect for you!

Related: Check out our entire Halloween archive of spooky decorations, recipes and more! You’ve Been Booed (with Free Printable), Halloween Cake Pops, Caramel Apples.

Aunt Emma (as she is known in my house) came up with the idea to make our girls a Halloween countdown calendar. I immediately said “YES, YOU’RE BRILLIANT.”

So why not start this fun (and very spooky!) tradition to enjoy a little bit of Halloween magic all month long in October? I pretty much set out to make a Halloween version of our Christmas advent calendar since we love that one so much.

We created this Halloween activity printable. My suggestion is to use a mix of activities and then in some of the days, just put in a candy. And, use a calendar to strategically place the movies on the weekends (or whatever adjustments are best for your family’s routine).

Feel free to add your own activities and traditions. The printable we made is mainly just stuff my little kids would enjoy and nostalgia from my childhood. Other things you can include are stickers or coloring pages. Customize it to fit your kiddos!

As far as the DIY goes, this is a pretty simple project. I completed it over a two-day period. I probably spent about 4-5 hours on it. It would take half the time if you just eliminated the embroidery stitching, but I really enjoy doing that and like the look of it.

Supplies:

-dowel rod
-large piece of felt for banner (I got a half yard at the craft store).
–colored felt for pockets
-embellishments for pockets (I used a lot of buttons, some embroidery, stamps with permanent ink, a bit of paint, and some wooden stars).

My complete banner is 18 inches wide and 32 inches long. Each pocket is 3×3 inches.

The first step is to cut out your banner and the 31 pockets. I embellished all the pockets before gluing them down. You can also sew them if you like.

I like to lay them all out and embellish until it feels done. I did a lot of stamped buttons and stars. The buttons are sewn on and the wood stars are glued on.

After all the embellishments were done and dry, I used glue on three sides of each piece of felt to create a pocket.

Next, use glue to create a loop that holds your dowel rod in. Then, tie a string to each side of the rod to hang it on the wall.

As you can see in my photos below, I also used halloween garland to make mine a little more spooky. This pumpkin button is so cute, too.

Here’s the completed calendar! I can’t wait for October to start using it with our girls, but I wanted to post it here early enough for you to have time to get all the supplies and make yours before October begins!

It looks so cute with a garland hanging around it too (here’s a DIY for a cute wooden spider garland!). Wishing you a magical spooky season. Soak it in! xx. Elsie

More Halloween Ideas

• Halloween activities for children
• Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
• The best Halloween decor for your home
• 15 Easy DIY Halloween Decorations

Print

Halloween Advent Calendar

How to make a cute felt calendar to count down the days to Halloween!

Author Elsie Larson

Ingredients

• dowel rod
• large piece of felt for banner  (I got a half yard at the craft store)
• colored felt for pockets
• embellishments for pockets  (I used a lot of buttons, some embroidery, stamps with permanent ink, a bit of paint, and wooden starts.

Instructions

• The first step is to cut out your banner and the 31 pockets. I embellished all the pockets before gluing them down (you can also sew them down, but I just moved and I don’t even know where my sewing machine is at the moment).
• I like to lay them all out and embellish until it feels done. I did a lot of stamped buttons and stars. The buttons are sewn on and the wood stars are glued on.

  After all the embellishments were done and dry, I used glue on three sides of each piece of felt to create a pocket.
• Next, use glue to create a loop that holds your dowel rod in. Then, tie a string to each side of the rod to hang it on the wall.

Just follow this step-by-step beginner’s guide or watch the easy tie-dye video below to make your own tie-dye creation at home!

Love tie dye? Then you may also want to try: Shibori Tie-Dye, Resist Dye Basics, and How to Double Dip Dye (similar to ombre).

Tie-Dye Basics

The history of tie-dye dates back thousands of years, with evidence of similar techniques found in various cultures around the world.

However, the modern form of tie-dye that is most commonly associated with colorful patterns and designs on clothing emerged in the 1960s during the counterculture movement in the United States.

The basic idea is you cover areas of fabric by tying them off with rubber bands. Then, you dye the rest of the fabric, possibly in multiple colors. The tied-off areas do not get color, since they are not exposed to the dye color.

Tie-dye, like many projects, is about experimenting and enjoying the process while also at times being surprised by the results. If you want a perfectly curated look, tie-dye is likely not the best option, as it’s meant to look messy, colorful, and fun!

Looking for more nostalgic crafts? Check out How to Make Friendship Bracelets!

Tie-Dye Supplies

• Dye: There are so many dye colors you can choose from and you can mix and match to make your own custom colors. To make it easy, buy a tie-dye kit like this Tulip kit that has your dye all ready to go in prefilled bottles. Just add water and shake!
• Rubber bands: You can either use rubber bands you have around the house or buy a kit that has them included.
• Gloves & drop cloth: These items protect your hands and working surface from the dye so make sure to use them. You can use dish gloves or plastic gloves and any sort of waterproof or plastic sheet will do. A tie-dye kit will include these as well.
• Garments or items to dye: White cotton is best for tie-dye application although you can also dye other natural fabrics like rayon, silk, linen, or hemp.
• Ziplock Bag: You’ll want a ziplock bag or some kind of plastic grocery bag you can tie closed while your dye sets in.
• Drip pan (optional): A plastic sheet is helpful for protecting your work surface, but it’s also very handy to also use a drip pan under the item being dyed (something like a dish pan or plant saucer will do).

Do I have to use a pre-made dye kit for my tie-dye colors?

While the all-in-one kits like these Tulip dye kits are super helpful to get everything you need in one place, you can also mix your own colors for your tie-dye creation from dye concentrate added to water in your own squirt bottles.

Start with one tablespoon of liquid dye added to one cup warm water in a bottle and shake. Test on a scrap piece of clothing to see if you want to add more dye for brighter color or more water for a more subtle color.

Tie-Dye Garment Preparation

Begin by washing the garments you plan to dye. If they are things you already own and have washed before, you can skip this step. But anything new should be washed to remove any residue from the making of the garment.

Tie-Dye Tip: For the best color adhesion, soak your items in soda ash mixed into water for 20 minutes before tie-dying. While this step is optional, it will help make the colors on your tie-dye creation the brightest they can be.

How to Tie-Dye

Prep your workspace: Put down your protective cloth over your work surface and get your dye bottles ready with your chosen colors (these kits simply add water to the bottles and shake).

Dampen shirt: A slightly wet shirt will spread out the dye better than a totally dry shirt, so fully wet your item and then wring it out fully so it’s just damp.

Band and Dye shirt: Fold or swirl your shirt based on the design you want (check out our pattern options below!), add your rubber bands to keep in place, and add your dye.

Flip the shirt over and repeat on the other side trying to keep the same colors in similar spots.

Seal for 24 hours: While you can unveil your creation after about 6 hours, the best colors will come if you place it in a ziplock bag (to keep the dye from drying out) and leave it there for 24 hours.

Rinse and wash shirt: Remove your shirt from the bag, take off the bands, and rinse in a sink or tub with cold water until the water runs clear (you’ll want gloves for this step as well). Wash in cold water with a small amount of detergent in the washing machine, and add an extra rinse cycle if that’s an option on your washer (wash apart from other laundry for the first wash). Dry and wear proudly!

Tie-Dye Patterns

While there are so many options when it comes to tie-dye patterns, here are 4 classic methods to achieve different cool tie-dye looks for your personal creation.

Spiral Tie-Dye

This classic tie-dye shape is beautiful and easy to achieve!

Twist: Start with your shirt flat on the work surface. Pinch a small section in the center of your garment or stick a wooden dowel or cooking utensil end into the middle of the shirt. Twist the fabric around this point and keep twisting until the whole garment becomes a round disc. It should look like a cinnamon roll!

Secure: Secure the shirt with at least four or five rubber bands, crisscrossing them over the center of the disc. The tighter you bind the shirt, the more white there will be.

Dye and finish! When you dye, add color to different wedge sections on the disc (you can also do a different color in each section created by the rubber bands). Repeat the color on back, add to your plastic bag, wait, rinse and wash to unveil your creation!

Bullseye Tie-Dye

The Bullseye pattern is a great option for beginners.

Pinch: Pinch a section of fabric in the middle of the garment. Pull the fabric up the whole way off the floor, creating a fabric cone.

Secure: Wrap rubber bands around the cone of fabric, adding a band at each spot where you want to change colors. You can add as many or as few rubber bands as you want. 

Dye and finish! When you go to dye, add a different color to each section between the rubber bands. Repeat the color on back, add to your plastic bag, wait, rinse and wash to unveil your creation!

Stripes Tie-Dye

The Stripe pattern is a fun and easy way to get a cool graphic look.

Fold: Lay the garment flat. Starting from the left or bottom side, fold the shirt in a series of small accordion-style folds. If you start folding from the left side you’ll create vertical lines, and if you start from the bottom you’ll create horizontal lines.

Secure: Zig zag the accordion folded shirt into a “Z” shape with the folds facing up. Wrap the folded shirt with rubber bands to secure.

Dye and finish! When you go to dye, add color to each section (between rubber bands). Repeat the color on back, add to your plastic bag, wait, rinse and wash to unveil your creation!

Scrunch Tie-Dye

This Scrunch tie-dye pattern gives you an organic marbled look that is another classically cool tie-dye look.

Scrunch: Lay your garment flat. Pinch a series of small sections and pull them up a bit to create small mountain shapes.

Secure: Continue until the whole shirt is scrunched into mini mountains and secure the whole shirt with overlapping rubber bands.

Dye and finish! When you go to dye, add color to different areas and try your best to replicate the color placement on the back of the banded shirt as well. Add dyed shirt to your plastic bag, wait, rinse and wash to unveil your creation!

More Craft Projects

• Weaving for Beginner’s
• Experimenting with Natural Dyes
• How to Make Bath Bombs
• Shrinky Dinks – Ultimate Guide
• Resin Art – Beginner’s Guide
• How to Make Candles
• Clay Bead Bracelet Ideas
• Make Your Own Tie-Dye Soap
• No-Sew Fleece Tie Blanket

Print

How to Tie Dye

Step by step instructions for the best supplies and classic tie dye patterns for beginners.

Keyword scrunch tie dye, spiral tie dye, stripe tie dye, tie dye, tie dye instructions

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Soak Time 1 day day

Total Time 1 day day 20 minutes minutes

Author Emma Chapman

Ingredients

• white cotton shirt or garments
• tie-dye kit or bottles of dye
• rubber bands
• gloves
• drop cloth
• drip pan optional

Instructions

• Begin by washing the garments you plan to dye if they've never been washed.*
• Mix your dyes according to the package instructions.
• Cover your area with a drop cloth to protect it from any dye spills and wear disposable gloves as you work to protect your hands.
• Scrunch up or fold your item as desired for your pattern and then add rubber bands to secure.
• Add dye to the prepared fabric in your chosen color pattern until the top is saturated. Turn over and repeat on the other side.
• Add your dyed fabric to a sealed off plastic bag (or twist a plastic grocery bag closed) and let it sit for 6-24 hours. The longer the better for color saturation.
• Remove from bag and rinse your garment in the bathtub or kitchen sink until the water runs clear (wear gloves again for this step). 
• Wash the tie-dye item (or items) in the washing machine on cold separately from other laundry and dry or as you normally would.

Notes

TIPS:

• If the garments you are dyeing are things you already own and have washed before, you can skip washing them. 
• A plastic sheet is helpful for protecting your work surface, but it’s also very handy to also use a drip pan under the item being dyed (something like a dish pan or plant saucer will do).
• You can also add an extra rinse cycle to your washer when washing the clothes for the first time if you machine has that setting to make sure any extra dye is rinsed out.

*Optional but you can soak in soda ash if you want for 20 minutes for better color adhesion.

Whether you are making these as best friend bracelets, a summer camp craft, or just to relax, these friendship bracelets are easy and fun for adults and kids alike.

Related: How To Macrame: A Step By Step Guide For Beginners, Make Your Own Macrame Bracelet, Simple Macrame Table Runner DIY, Macrame Room Divider DIY, Macrame Handbag Tutorial

What do Friendship Bracelets Symbolize?

The giving of one bracelet to another is meant to symbolize friendship and a wish is made as the bracelet is tied on (the wish is supposed to come true when the bracelet is so worn it falls off). It is believed that the origins of friendship bracelets go back to Indigenous Peoples in Central and South America.

What’s the Best Thread to Use for Friendship Bracelets?

The best thread to use for friendship bracelets is embroidery floss thread as it is thin but strong, easy to work with, and comes in lots of different color combinations.

The 4 Basic Friendship Bracelet Knots

The knots in friendship bracelets are actually two knots stacked on top of each other. Each single knot is called a “hitch” and so two “hitches” stacked together equal one knot. Whether you are tying them forwards or backwards makes the different combinations below … see the video to watch them in action!

• Forward knot: forward hitch + forward hitch
• Backward knot: backward hitch + backward hitch
• Forward-Backward knot: forward hitch + backward hitch
• Backward-Forward knot: backward hitch + forward hitch

Supplies

• Embroidery floss thread
• Tape (or a clipboard)
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Charms or beads (optional)

How to Make a Spiral Staircase Friendship Bracelet

This bracelet (also called a Chinese Staircase) is one of the easiest friendship bracelets to make, so it’s great for kids and beginners! You can use up to 6-8 different colors (this bracelet is shown with 4), but just note that the bracelet will be thicker the more colors you use.

1. Cut 4 strands of embroidery thread that are about 36″ long. Tie them together at the top with a simple knot. You can either tape them to a table or use a clipboard if you want to be able to move around as you work on it.
2. Chose one color (can be any color) and use that thread to tie a forward knot around the other 3 threads bundled together.
3. Repeat and tie a total of 10 forward knots with that color.
4. Choose another color and tie 10 forward knots around the bundle of the threads with that color and repeat with each color creating your staircase.
5. Once you’ve reached your desired length, you can tie your bracelet with a simple knot and your bracelet is complete.

How to Make a Candy Stripe Friendship Bracelet

This is an easy bracelet to start with because you only need to know how to tie forward knots to make this variety. You can use up to 6-8 colors (this bracelet is shown with 5), but the bracelet will get wider the more colors you use.

1. Cut 5 strands of embroidery thread that are about 36″ long. Tie them together at the top with a simple knot. You can either tape them to a table or use a clipboard if you want to be able to move around as you work on it.
2. Take the first string (A) all the way on the left and make a forward knot on the second strand (B).
3. Repeat by using that first color string (A) and making a forward knot on each string (C, D, E), working your way across the strands.
4. What was your second strand originally (B) is now your first strand, so you’ll use that to make forward knots on each thread all the way through to the end again (C, D, E, A).
5. Repeat with each strand as they become the first strand in line and you’ll start to see your candy stripe pattern appear!
6. Once you’ve reached your desired length, you can tie your bracelet with a simple knot and your bracelet is complete.

How to Make a Chevron Friendship Bracelet

This bracelet is a little more fancy, but still a great choice for beginners as it only uses forwards and backwards knots. You can use up to 6-8 colors, but the bracelet will get wider the more colors you use.

1. Cut 4 colors of embroidery thread about 72″ long. Holding all your threads together, fold in half and make a knot close to the fold so you have a small loop as the top of your bracelet.
2. Order your thread colors so that they mirror each other (ABCDdcba).
3. Take your first thread on the left side (A) and tie a forward knot around the second thread (B).
4. Continue to use your first thread (A) to tie forward knots around your third (C) and fourth (D) thread as well.
5. Now you are going to repeat the process but backwards on the other side. Take the first thread on your right side (a) and do a backwards knot around the second thread in (b).
6. Continue to use your first thread (a) to tie backwards knots around your third (c) and fourth (d) thread as well.
7. Now that both of your first threads are in the middle (A and a), take your left-hand thread (A) and do a forward knot on the right-hand thread (a) to finish off the “V” shape.
8. Repeat this process with each outermost string (which is now B and b) and your chevron pattern will start to emerge.
9. Once you’ve reached your desired length, you can tie your bracelet with a simple knot and your bracelet is complete.

Friendship Bracelet FAQs

Tips for Making Friendship Bracelets:

• When tying your knots, you want to pull the knot firmly tight but not too tight. It should feel like a gentle but firm tug to tighten it rather than pulling really hard.
• Try and keep all your knots tied at the same tightness to keep the bracelet looking even.
• It’s easiest to work on a table or a large clipboard so you can tape the bracelet about a foot away from you and have the strings hang down over the table or clipboard edge.
• Try making different color combinations for holidays or special occasions!

Looking for more bracelet DIYs? Check out:

• Clay Bead Bracelet Ideas
• Easy Skinny Leather Bracelet DIY (3 Ways!)
• Pom-Pom Bracelet DIY
• DIY Stamped Bar Leather Bracelet
• Make a Personalized Phrase Bracelet!

Print

How to Make Friendship Bracelets

Video and photo instructions to make 3 easy beginner friendship bracelets

Prep Time 2 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 2 minutes minutes

Servings 1 bracelet

Author Laura Gummerman

Cost .50¢

Equipment

• -scissors
• tape (or clipboard)
• embroidery thread
• ruler

Instructions

Candy Stripe Friendship Bracelet

• Cut 5 strands of embroidery thread that are about 36″ long. Tie them together at the top with a simple knot. You can either tape them to a table or use a clipboard if you want to be able to move around as you work on it.
• Take the first string (A) all the way on the left and make a forward knot on the second strand (B).
• Repeat by using that first color string (A) and making a forward knot on each string (C, D, E) working your way across the strands.
• What was your second strand originally (B) is now your first strand so you’ll use that to make forward knots on each thread all the way through to the end again (C, D, E, A).
• Repeat with each strand as they become the first strand in line and you’ll start to see your candy stripe pattern appear!
• Once you’ve reached your desired length, you can tie your bracelet with a simple knot and your bracelet is complete.

Spiral Staircase Friendship Bracelet

• Cut 4 strands of embroidery thread that are about 36″ long. Tie them together at the top with a simple knot. You can either tape them to a table or use a clipboard if you want to be able to move around as you work on it.
• Chose one color (can be any color) and use that thread to tie a forward knot around the other 3 threads bundled together.
• Repeat and tie a total of 10 forward knots with that color.
• Choose another color and tie 10 forward knots around the bundle of the threads with that color and repeat with each color creating your staircase.
• Once you’ve reached your desired length, you can tie your bracelet with a simple knot and your bracelet is complete.

Chevron Friendship Bracelet

• Cut 4 colors of embroidery thread about 72″ long. Holding all your threads together, fold in half and make a knot close to the fold so you have a small loop as the top of your bracelet.
• Order your thread colors so that they mirror each other (ABCDdcba).
• Take your first thread on the left side (A) and tie a forward knot around the second thread (B).
• Continue to use your first thread (A) to tie forward knots around your third (C) and fourth (D) thread as well.
• Now you are going to repeat the process but backwards on the other side. Take the first thread on your right side (a) and do a backwards knot around the second thread in (b).
• Continue to use your first thread (a) to tie backwards knots around your third (c) and fourth (d) thread as well.
• Now that both of your first threads are in the middle (A and a), take your left-hand thread (A) and do a forward knot on the right-hand thread (a) to finish off the “V” shape.
• Repeat this process with each outermost string (which is now B and b) and your chevron pattern will start to emerge.
• Once you’ve reached your desired length, you can tie your bracelet with a simple knot and your bracelet is complete.

Notes

Tips for Making Friendship Bracelets:

• When tying your knots, you want to pull the knot firmly tight but not too tight. It should feel like a gentle but firm tug to tighten it rather than pulling really hard.
• Try and keep all your knots tied at the same tightness to keep the bracelet looking even.
• It’s easiest to work on a table or a large clipboard so you can tape the bracelet about a foot away from you and have the strings hang down over the table or clipboard edge.
• Try making different color combinations for holidays or special occasions!

I shared this project as a reel on our Instagram a few weeks ago. And when I did, I pointed out this project was inspired by Lauren Holifield as she made something similar and shared it on IG. I loved her seashell version and I thought decorating a champagne bottle to look like the cover of my book would be the perfect way to celebrate my first self-publishing launch. Cheers!

What is Mod Podge?

Mod podge is a glue, sealer and finish all in one. It comes in a variety of weights and finishes, including matte or glossy. You can use mod podge to glue cut paper pieces onto most surfaces and, once dry, you can also use it to seal the item.

Mod podge comes in a variety of containers and can be applied different ways, but I tend to use a paintbrush to both glue cut papers on as well as seal projects.

What is Mod Podge used for?

It’s a great supply for collage and decoupage projects. You can use it for a variety of other craft projects as well. Anything that would require a medium to lightweight glue (so not hot glue, or a super glue) Mod Podge could likely be used for.

For this project, I saved the collage pieces I had used for my book cover. I had already scanned and saved them digitally (which is what I sent to my book cover designer), so I also printed them and cut them out so I’d have multiples.

I painted the outside of the champagne bottle with acrylic paint that I mixed to match my book cover. I taped the labels with painters tape so I didn’t have to be super careful as I painted.

Once the paint was dry, I used mod podge to add the cut paper pieces to the bottle. And once that layer was dry, I sealed the entire painted area, with the glued on pieces, with mod podge again.

Best collage supplies

• Extraordinary things to cut out and collage
• Cut up this book
• Magazines
• Catalogs – I love Anthropologie and Free People
• Manual – like old Cub Scout or Girl Scout manuals
• Textbooks
• Wrapping paper – save the scraps
• Leftover wallpaper scraps
• Paint your own papers – Cut Paper Pictures is a great resource on this
• Scissors – You may also want an exacto knife

Saving junk mail, thrifting, or utilizing used books sales (like a Friends of the Library book sale) are great ways to stock up on collage paper supplies without cutting up new books/resources (which can be expensive and sad).

Here is what it looks like when mod podge is fresh on a surface. It’s looks white and kind of cloudy but it dries completely clear.

What is decoupage?

Decoupage is the art of decorating an object with cut papers by gluing them to the object. This can also include adding other elements such as paint, glitter, gold leaf, etc. The word comes from the French word decouper, which means to cut. The basic technique has been used by many cultures historically to decorate all sorts of objects including tombs, boxes, windows, and even religious items.

Paper Craft projects to try

• Pop-up Card tutorial
• Chipboard book for kids
• Photo Puzzle – could be any image or picture beyond a photo too
• Mini Magazine notebook DIY
• Photo Dot Journal DIY
• How to transfer a photo to wood
• Make your own Canvas Portrait

Check out our entire Paper Crafts archive for even more!

In addition to the champagne bottle I made for myself to open and celebrate after launch, I also made a mini version with Prosecco for my proofreader, interior designer, book cover designer, and first readers. These were so fun to make and celebrate with!

You can find my novel, Handmade Murder on Amazon or learn how to request a copy at your favorite bookstore or library here.

We’re also sharing some food gifts, meal ideas, and a few dessert recipes in case you’re hosting a lunch or dinner for Father’s Day.

Related: If you prefer to buy a gift this year, we have a huge Father’s Day Gift Guide with over 100 ideas!

DIY Gift Ideas:

We have a bunch of DIY gift ideas for Dad, ranging from 10 minute projects (like a simple leather keychain) to more advanced DIYs like a wooden sofa sleeve.

Homemade soap is always a great gift idea. Our DIY buffalo check soap is softly scented with rosemary essential oil, but we love the scent of peppermint or fir needle for this soap, too.

This free “Dad and Me” printable is so cute! Children can draw a picture with Dad and write him a little note. You could easily frame this special gift so it can be displayed and enjoyed everyday.

Here’s another idea for kids—a Father’s Day printable that can be filled out in their own words. It’s so fun to see how children answer the questions!

Here’s a unique gift idea— a leather mason jar sleeve. It’s perfect for camping trips and morning coffee. If you’ve never worked with leather before, this tutorial makes it less intimidating than it seems.

It’s so easy to scroll through photos on our phone, but nothing beats the feeling of flipping through photos in an actual album. Dad will love this chipboard family photo album as much as you will.

A DIY lap desk is a really useful gift, and the fact that you made one makes it even more special. This tutorial is easy and doesn’t require any sewing skills (always a plus!).

This DIY acrylic frame has a spot for a dry erase calendar on the back and a spot for a photo on the front. We love gifts that have multiple uses! Dad can put this on his desk at work or in a home office..

Homemade candles make great gifts for any occasion—and Father’s Day is no exception. In fact, we have an entire beginner’s guide post dedicated to making homemade candles.

We especially love DIY wood wick candles. They create a cozy vibe anytime of the year.

What about a leather keychain? This useful gift can be made in 10 minutes once you have the supplies, and it can be customized and painted any color.

This kid’s art frame DIY a perfect way to display art projects and doodles. It’s opens from the front, and you can switch out your children’s art work anytime you want. It’s one of our most popular DIYs on the blog!

This would be a great spot for a Father’s Day printable, too.

You could him make a set of wood burned bottle stoppers. These are so unique and would make any bar cart look extra fancy. If you don’t want to purchase a wood burning kit, you could easily use paint for this project instead.

Speaking of wood working projects, these geometric wood trivets would be a great gift idea for any Dad who likes to spend time in the kitchen. This is one of those DIY gifts that take a little time, but it’s totally worth it.

Here’s another personalized gift idea— an easy photo keychain. Regardless if your children are big or small, a cute photo that Dad can see every time he grabs his keys is a special gift to receive.

How about a gift that the whole family can enjoy together? You can make your own giant Jenga game to play outside during the summer months. If you prefer to purchase a giant Jenga set instead, it would result in the same amount of fun.

Love outdoor games? You can even make your own cornhole yard game.

A set of DIY resin coasters would be a great gift (you can personalize them using different colors of alcohol ink) and they are equally fun to make. Looking for more resin projects? Check out our post resin art – beginner’s guide.

If Dad likes to read, you could make him a set of vintage-inspired library card bookmarks using our free printable. These are so fun! You could pair this gift with a book he would love.

This wooden sofa sleeve can hold coffee (or cocktails) while you’re watching TV. It’s so practical and sleek. This is another gift that you could buy, but it’s extra special if you make it.

Regardless what you give Dad this year, it’s always a good idea to include a homemade card. We have a lot of fun ideas on our kid’s website, Childhood Magic.

This suede catchall is great for keeping keys, change, and other small items in one place. It’s so simple to make that you might end up making two of them!

Who wouldn’t love sitting by a cozy fire in their backyard? This DIY fire pit (in 4 easy steps) would be an epic gift for Father’s Day. Don’t forget to have the ultimate s’mores setup nearby.

Food Gift Ideas:

Give the gift of food on Father’s Day this year! We have some fun ideas—from taco-shaped sugar cookies to homemade seasonings.

Use our easy sugar cookie recipe to make Dad a batch of amazing Father’s Day cookies. These might look too fun to eat, but we insist that you enjoy these delicious cookies together after he sees them.

Looking for more cookie recipes? Check out our post best cookie recipes of all time.

If he enjoys grilling or cooking, grab some empty spice jars and make him a set of homemade seasoning mixes or everything bagel seasoning.

If you’re hosting a lunch or dinner, add a no-bake dessert (like this chocolate eclair cake) to the menu. It’s incredibly easy to make and always a crowd favorite.

If you’re looking for more easy dessert recipes, check out our post 15+ easy no-bake desserts.

You could have a family picnic at a park nearby or use your own backyard to enjoy a meal together. We have tons of recipe ideas (including these deviled eggs) in our post 40+ easy picnic food ideas.

Father’s Day Meal Ideas:

If you’re planning a meal for Father’s Day, we have a bunch of amazing recipe roundups for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you’re thinking brunch, you can’t go wrong with a biscuits and gravy casserole!

• 60 Easy Dinner Recipes
• 50+ Healthy Breakfast Ideas
• 40 Fun Cocktails to Make At Home
• 30 Easy Finger Foods for a Party

Looking For More Gift Guides?

• Homemade Gift Ideas for Everyone on Your List
• Easy DIY Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
• Housewarming Gift Ideas