Ready to start making your own friendship bracelets? First, you’ll need to learn the 4 basic knots. In this article, I’ll walk you through each of the knot techniques step-by-step. You’ll be making your own bracelets in no time!

how to make the 4 types of friendship bracelet knots

Friendship Bracelet Knots

In the world of friendship bracelets, there are 4 basic types of knots. Learning each of the 4 knots is key to understanding how to make and design your own friendship bracelets.

Each of the 4 knots is composed of two halves – called hitches. The four basic friendship bracelet knots use two hitches stacked together in different combinations.

The Hitch

The hitch is the building-block of friendship bracelet knots. Each of the four basic knots is made from two hitches, one tied right after the other.

how to make a friendship bracelet forward hitch knot diagram

The hitch can be tied in the forward or backward direction.

To make a forward hitch: Cross the left-hand (yellow) string over the right-hand string (pink). Pass the yellow string under the pink string and back up through the loop. Tighten.

The forward hitch is sometimes referred to a “4” knot. You can see that when the left-hand (yellow) string passes over and around the right-hand string (pink), it resembles the number “4”.

This can be a useful way to remember how to tie the forward hitch. Think “forward means four“.

how to make a friendship bracelet backward hitch knot

To make a backward hitch: Cross the right-hand (pink) string over the left-hand string (yellow). Pass the pink string under the yellow string and back up through the loop. Tighten.

The backward hitch is sometimes referred to a “P” knot. You can see that when the right-hand (pink) string passes over and around the left-hand string (yellow), it resembles the letter “P”.

The Forward Knot

Forward knots create a knot the same color as the left-hand string. The string will also travel from left to right in a forward direction.

The forward knot is made by tying a forward hitch followed by a second forward hitch.

In other words, you will tie two hitches in a row using the left-hand string on top of the right-hand string.

After making a forward knot, the strings should have switched place. The color of the knot will be the same color as the string that began on the left.

The Backward Knot

Backward knots create a knot the same color as the right-hand string. The string will also travel from right to left in a backward direction.

The backward knot is made by tying a backward hitch followed by a second backward hitch.

In other words, you will tie two hitches in a row using the right-hand string on top of the left-hand string.

After making a backward knot, the strings should have switched place. The color of the knot will be the same color as the string that began on the right.

friendship bracelet forward-backward knot

The Forward-Backward Knot

Forward-Backward knots create a knot the same color as the left-hand string. The string will stay in the same position. In other words, it won’t switch place with the string next to it.

The Forward-Backward knot is made by making a forward hitch followed by a backward hitch.

In other words, use the left-hand string (yellow) to tie a forward hitch on top of the right-hand string (pink). The strings will switch place.

Then, use the new right-hand string (which is now yellow) to make a backward hitch on top of the left-hand string (which is now pink). The strings will switch place.

Because the strings switched place twice, they will end up in the position as they started in.

friendship bracelet backward-forward knot

The Backward-Forward Knot

Backward-Forward knots create a knot the same color as the right-hand string. The string will stay in the same position. In other words, it won’t switch place with the string next to it.

The Backward-Forward knot is made by making a backward hitch followed by a forward hitch.

In other words, use the right-hand string (pink) to tie a backward hitch on top of the left-hand string (yellow). The strings will switch place.

Then, use the new left-hand string (which is now pink) to make a forward hitch on top of the right-hand string (which is now yellow). The strings will switch place.

Because the strings switched place twice, they will end up in the position as they started in.

Friendship Bracelet Knot Symbols

When you look at friendship bracelet patterns, you will read the pattern as a series of symbols laid out in a diagonal grid.

The colors of the strings and the types of knots are described by the symbols you see below:

the 4 basic friendship bracelet knots and their symbols

The colored lines in the symbol represent the left and right strings that you will use to tie the knot.

The circle in the center of the “X” represents the color and direction of the knot. The arrow tells you the types of the two hitches that make up the knot.

How Tight Should Friendship Bracelet Knots Be?

How tight should you tie your knots? It’s a bit of a Goldilock’s scenario. You don’t want the knots to be too loose or too tight. You want them to be just right.

Nothing but lots of practice will help you find the right tension that will give you the look you want.

If you make your knots too loose, you may see some string in between your knots. Your bracelet might have gaps or look like a net. As a result, it will be harder to see the design of your pattern.

If you make your knots too tight, the knots might “pop” or you may have trouble with the string colors flipping.

Practice Makes Perfect!

Making friendship bracelet knots can be a little tricky at first! But keep working at it! In this case, practice really does make perfect.

With a little patience, you will master these knots. And after that, you are well on your way to mastering ever bracelet pattern you can find online.

What’s Next?

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Leave a comment: We love to hear your feedback. Tell me in the comments below!

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17 Comments

  1. C.A. Cota says:

    Any clues as to how to calculate the lenght?

    1. Sarah Stearns says:

      The length you’ll need really depends on the specific pattern, and how much each color is used. But you can estimate about 36 inches for most bracelets.

  2. Caroline Hoellrich Bailey says:

    Sorry, wrong tab 🙂 This is fantastic by the way. I wanted to comment to someone else about the half and full hitch. This wasn’t explained to me when I started. Some instructions talk about using half or full knots then have to unnecessarily explain that. Much better to understand that the knots originate from hitches -vs- deconstructing the knot.

  3. What do you do with the long ends of the knot after tied off so they don’t stick out?

    1. Sarah Stearns says:

      Hi Helen, are you talking about the leftover strings after you’ve finished the entire bracelet? Most people use those long strings to tie the bracelet onto their wrist. Then, you can trim whatever you have leftover.

  4. Thank you very much for your detailed descriptions. It is great.

  5. how do you end the friendship bracelet? You do not make any mention of how to end the bracelet.

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