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DIY Embellished Friendship Bracelets

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The weather is warming up and my wrists are feeling rather lonely and bare after hiding under long sleeves all season long. But after digging up last year’s DIY friendship bracelets, I realized they desperately needed sparkly and shiny upgrades. Today we’re showing you three easy ways to embellish your friendship bracelets, making them all grown up . . .

To add rhinestones, you’ll need:

  • a chevron friendship bracelet (tutorial found here)
  • 5-6” crystal rhinestone chain (last used here)
  • 1 yard of embroidery floss
  • an embroidery needle
  • a pair of scissors

Thread the needle with embroidery floss and tie the end into a double knot. Push the needle through the back of bracelet. Lay the rhinestone chain along the middle of the bracelet, using the chevron pattern as a guide.

Stitch the floss between the first two rhinestone links, pushing needle out the middle of the bracelet. Bring the needle back through the middle, this time further down between the second and third links.

Continue stitching between the rhinestone links. After the very last stitch, tie a double knot on the backside and trim the ends.

Your friendship bracelet is sparkling and finished!

To add studs, you’ll need:

  • a chevron friendship bracelet (tutorial found here)
  • 5 3/8” brass cone studs (last used here)
  • a pair of small, sharp scissors
  • a screwdriver

Use a Sharpie or marker to make 5 evenly spaced marks along the middle of the friendship bracelet. From the backside, push the point of the scissors through the mark to create a hole.

Push a screw through the hole. Twist the coned spike onto the screw and use a screwdriver to tighten.

Repeat the steps with the rest of the spikes. Voila! Your friendship bracelet has a spiked spine.

To add chain, you’ll need:

  • a friendship bracelet (tutorial found here)
  • 5-6” of brass curb chain
  • 1 yard of embroidery floss
  • an embroidery needle
  • a pair of scissors

Thread the needle with embroidery floss. Untie one end of the friendship bracelet and re-knot it with the tail of the threaded embroidery floss. Push the needle through the outer edge of the backside of the bracelet.

Lay the chain flat, against the edge of the bracelet. Thread the needle over and through the first link. Push the needle though the backside about two rows down. Depending on the width of each link, the row count may vary.

Keep stitching. Make two stitches around the last link, untie the knot and re-knot with the last of the floss. Trim away any excess.

Your chain trimmed friendship bracelet now has an edge – how simple was that?

Stack ‘em, give ‘em away and you’re officially ready for summer.

(Madewell Scallop Top, Paige Denim Shorts, J.Crew Bracelets, DIY Braided Bead Bracelets; all images by HonestlyWTF)

220 Comments

  11. Joana Gomes    April 17, 2012

    This is officially one of my favourite websites now. I love this DIY, these bracelets are amazing :D

    xo Joana

  13. Carine Heissler    April 17, 2012

    Eu amo MUITO tudo isso que vocês nos ensinam.
    Tk’s ♥

  25. LC Taylor    April 17, 2012

    I love these! I haven’t made friendship bracelets in about 25 years, but I might try the one with the chain on the side. In fact, it might be cool to do chain on both sides… Thanks for the inspiration!

  30. Ilse    April 17, 2012

    Would anyone sell this type of bracelets??? I am not a crafty gal…

  35. Denise    April 17, 2012

    Love each one of them. Maybe I should buy some of those chain thingies, zo I could make them myself :D !

  45. amanda    April 17, 2012

    Beautiful bracelets! So creative! I love that gold curb chain added in with the friendship bracelet…where can you buy chain like that?

  46. soo    April 17, 2012

    hmmmm…could you please turn this blog into a shop?? i’d totally buy 50 of these! i remember wearing friendship bracelets when i was younger…i’d wear them everyday and the bracelets would turn dingy and gross. but these, THESE, i would cherish and take care of! :)

    http://mybabykins.com

  49. Marina    April 17, 2012

    That is awesome! I will try it! I like it so much! <333

    xx
    biskvittka.blogspot.com

  57. megan    April 17, 2012

    I love this diy..i am also obsessed with your pink jean shorts :)

  59. Erin    April 17, 2012

    These are terrific! I can’t wait to try them for my friendship bracelet swap!

    peacelovedecor.com

  71. Lexi    April 18, 2012

    This are amazing and great for spring, glad I stumbled on here, I was just wondering what I could do for my bracelets next :)

  76. Gracie    April 18, 2012

    I love it :D Must make some!

    - Gracie
    Sweettobegracie.blogspot.com

  83. Theresa    April 20, 2012

    This is BEYOND amazing! WIll be trying this ASAP! Thanks

  84. JennySue Makeup    April 20, 2012

    me and my girlfriends are doing this as a craft project for a cabin weekend coming up- wine included! thanks for the inspiration.

  87. CJ    April 23, 2012

    I reblogged this and it’s now on the frontpage of Blogg.se – check it out!

  90. Shabana    April 23, 2012

    Drooling over these DIY bracelets!

    Quick question- where on Earth can you purchase beautiful brass curb chain as pictured above?!

    Muchas Gracias.

  91. Hannah    April 23, 2012

    Yes I agree with shabana! Where can I buy that chain? Looking everywhere

  92. Erica    April 23, 2012

    @Shabana & @Hannah, I’ve updated the link with a resource. But also try searching for “brass curb chain” on Etsy.com! Good luck! xx

  93. Annabella Merlin    April 24, 2012

    I usually don’t like these types of bracelet but the addition of the diamond-like pieces made me like to have one in my outfit one of this days! Love it!

    annabella merlin
    creative photo albums

  99. andrea    April 28, 2012

    I can not find large curb chain ANYWHERE! I’ve looked on etsy, ebay in stores.. any help?? I am desperate..

  102. Hailey    May 3, 2012

    So pretty! Awesome tutorial but how do you guys close them? Do you just tie a knot?

  103. Melissa    May 4, 2012

    What great fun ideas. I especially love the first and last ones! Thanks for sharing.

  105. Essy    May 13, 2012

    The link for brass curb chain you gave is 2mm by 3mm so the links are really tiny, do you know of any other resources? :)

  112. Hillary    June 2, 2012

    I love these friendship bracelets! And SO MANY fun colors!
    What is the J.Crew bracelet in the top picture, second from the left? Adorable!

  113. Helen    June 11, 2012

    I love these bracelets! I used to make them when I was a kid and now when I saw them here I started making them again! They are so pretty and I find making them so relaxing too. I made so many that all my friends have a bunch already now. haha.
    I especially love the one with the crystal chain. Trying to figure out at the moment where to purchase that in the UK. Anybody knows? Thanks :)

    http://belle-soleil.blogspot.com/

  114. Nele    June 12, 2012

    How do you make a knot for closing the bracelet. My knot keeps comming loose because i’ts a verry big knot..

    greetz

  116. sophie    June 17, 2012

    i love it !
    i’ll try to make it. (:

    andd.. where are that amazing shorts from ? love it.

  118. Alexandra    June 22, 2012

    Amazing DIY!! Do you know where the bracelet in the top photo – third from the left – is from? Love the whole arm party!! :)

  120. Julie DeVoe    July 1, 2012

    How do you tie your bracelets on? Do you do a clasp of some kind? Or just knot then on and retie each time? Any suggestions would be so helpful!
    Thanks

  122. Gigi    July 5, 2012

    Love this! Sent my readers over to check out your site.

    Thanks,

    Gigi

  124. Leah    July 6, 2012

    The bracelets are great, but I am in love with your lace shirt in the last picture. Please tell me where it is from.

  126. Ndedi    July 13, 2012

    Thanks! I love to make friendship bracelets, and these are so beautiful. I’m going to make the one with the curb chain :) . P.s The picture at the end of the page is my desktop background haha. I love that picture!
    Greetings from Holland ;)

  127. Shasha    July 14, 2012

    Love the studs idea! I just started making friendship bracelets as an adult this year and your upgrades take them to the edge! Thanks! You on twitter? I’m @shasharishi for music @go_shasharishi for massage and wellbeing :)

  128. DD    July 20, 2012

    Wow! Amazing!
    Especially the spike bracelet. Im definately gonna tey this in my holiday!
    Thanks for the idea!
    Xoxo

  130. eCards    August 16, 2012

    Friendship bracelet are still in fashion it’s amazing! I wish to have one with studs but i have studs which will hurt skin. :(

  133. Karma    September 17, 2012

    wow this is truly amazing. Thanks for sharing… LOVE it!! I used to make the simple braid when I was little and kind of forgot about it but this is a Great come back :D . I will definitely make those and wear it.. love the color choices too…
    Thanks
    http://www.bhutangirl.com/

  136. Lindalim    November 2, 2012

    so lovely ! i found this site while searching for best lifestyle blog, and i really love your idea and style :D … i will make this as soon as i learn how to make bracelets :) .. !

  137. Fashion    November 6, 2012

    I loved these friendship bands. I have a dozen friends, all very close ones. Every year I make it a point to tie a different and handmade bracelet to all of them as it makes me feel happy and nice. Thanks, for the lovely ideas. I am surely going to start making them for the coming year. The best part about them is that they look adorable and expensive but I hardly have to shell out much to possess them.

  139. Grey    November 13, 2012

    How many strands did you use for the studded bracelet? And where could I get the studs?

  144. Katrine    January 8, 2013

    Hi! Know it’s a bit strange, but is it possible you would like to sell me some of your bracelets. I just love them! and I am not that good as you to make them :)

  146. Candice Kelly    February 16, 2013

    Hello, I really love your creations and you really inspired me to (try) it out for myself lol. I love jewelry and always wanted to try something on my own and see where it takes me and I think this will be the start thanks to your beautiful creations!!
    ~Keep doing what your doing!!

  147. Rachael    March 5, 2013

    Where did you buy the hardware, such as curb chain and the rhinestones? I have been looking and a lot of the material looks too cheap. thanks :)

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