Time for some DIY Friendship Bracelets. My kids are finally getting into the age where they are starting to love classic summer crafts such as friendship bracelets making. I used to love making easy friendship bracelets when I was young – it was great to make these at summer camp and give to my new friends, and also during those loooong summer afternoons.

As we plan our first “longer” holiday this summer, which will require a fair amount of travelling, I think these easy friendship bracelets make a great road trip craft too.
They are easy to prep, take a long and of course make. The kids will hopefully find plenty of friends to give them to whilst we are away, as well as bring them back as gifts for their friends at home! This is a great cardboard circle bracelet technique that I am sure you will love too!
Using a cardboard Loom to make friendship bracelets!
Today we are showing you how to make a friendship bracelet with a Cardboard Loom or Cardboard Circle. Cardboard Circle Bracelet DIYs are easy and fun. We have shared classic friendship bracelets before – which though they are easy once you get the hang of them – can be a bit confusing for young kids and only really look nice with embroidery threads. I love the cardboard loom bracelets, as they really are so very very very easy to make for kids of all abilities AND look great with both ordinary wool / yarn as well as embroidery silks.
The Kumihimo Technique – the Cardboard Circle Bracelet!
This cardboard loom friendship bracelets has it’s origins in the Kumihimo technique – but I feel it is easier than the traditional Kumihimo patterns AND doesn’t require the slightly more complicated Kumihimo cardboard loom. Making this a great Friendship Bracelet DIY. Having said that, we do love the Kumihimo and will be exploring more friendship bracelet patterns in future! This however is your basic cardboard loom friendship bracelet how to!!!
How to make friendship bracelets with cardboard – Materials needed
- yarn/ wool in different colours, you will need 7 strands of approximately 50cm
- a piece of cardboard (we used a tin can to measure out the circle)
- rule, pencil and scissors for making the disc
- bead/ button OPTIONAL for closing mechanisms
You can get a great printable with instructions pack in my Teacher’s Pay Teacher’s store. This includes some Valentine’s Day Cards (with puns) so they can be made as friendship bracelets on Valentine’s.

How to make friendship bracelets with cardboard
I find the video really does show how best to use your cardboard disc in order to make your yarn friendship bracelets. however, you can read below the instructions for making your cardboard discs.. AND.. from about 5 minutes into the video I show you 3 different ways of closing your Kumihimo friendship bracelets.
I do waffle on a bit (ahem sorry…), but hopefully the different ways of closing your friendship bracelets will be useful. My son likes the “permanent” knots best, whilst my daughter likes using beads.
How to make your cardboard loom for friendship bracelets –
- Using a tin can or similar, cut out a cardboard circle
- Draw 4 lines across your kumihimo cardboard disc to create 8 equal segments. I found that if they are not exactly equal it isn’t really a problem. Just get it as neat as possible.
- Make a hole in the middle (big enough to thread all 7 pieces of yarn through, I use small scissors to push them through)
- Cut 1cm into each line you drawn – so you have approximately 1cm cut, 2 cm uncut and then the hole
Your DIY Kumihimo disc is ready to get crafty with!!
How to make kumihimo friendship bracelets using a cardboard loom –
For this section refer to the video as it really makes it easier to understand.. however here are some written instructions.
- Take your seven strands of yarn and tie a knot at one end – now depending on how you finish off your bracelet, you may want to vary how you make this knot – see below for different options
- Thread your strands through the hole in the disc. I find using scissors to push them through really helps!
- Now you 7 strands dangling down. Take one strand at a time and slot it through one of the 1 cm strips.
- You should now have a disc that looks like the image below:
- 7 strands tucked in, with one “space slot”.
- Take the 3rd strand to the LEFT of the spare slot, lift it up, bring it down and put across the spares slot. This creates a new space.
- Rotate your disc for this to point down (you don’t have to rotate, but my kids find it easier) and now again, pick the strand 3 to the left and fold down.. repeat. Your yarn friendship bracelet will begin to “grow” on the other side of the disc, give it a gentle tug every so often.
I do think the video above helps for this section!
Easy Friendship Bracelets
Equipment
- 7 Threads in desired colours x 50cm
- Cardboard
- Scissors
- Tin can for making template (though templates are available for download)
Instructions
- Using a tin can or similar, cut out a cardboard circle. Draw 4 lines across your disc to create 8 equal segments.Make a hole in the middle.Cut 1cm into each line you drawn – so you have approximately 1cm cut, 2 cm uncut and then the hole.
- Take your seven strands of yarn and tie a knot at one end.Thread your strands through the hole in the disc.Take one strand at a time and slot it through one of the 1 cm strips. You should have 7 strands tucked in, with one “space slot”.
- Take the 3rd strand to the LEFT of the spare slot, lift it up, bring it down and put across the spares slot. This creates a new space.Rotate your disc for this to point down and pick the strand 3 to the left and fold down.Repeat. Your yarn friendship bracelet will begin to “grow” on the other side of the disc, give it a gentle tug every so often.
Video
Notes

How to secure your yarn friendship bracelets
- A simple knot. My son prefers this method. I basically “unknot” the knot you made at the beginning and the knot together beginning an end securely onto the wrist. These friendship bracelets are harder to remove!
- A loop and knot. Instead of using 7 strands, you can use 3 1m strands, fold them in half, creating a loop. Add the 7th strand and knot. This loop forms part of your closing mechanism.. either later tie the ends to this (which means you can make a shorter friendship bracelet), OR add a bead/ button to the end which can be pushed through the loop.
- Use 3 longer pieces of yarn (like in N2) thread a bead or button threw them and create a loop. Add the 7th strand and again knot. Then make proceed as above. Once your friendship bracelet is finished. Make two knots next to each other – wide apart enough for the bead/ button to fit between the knots.
We have more Friendship Bracelet DIYs for you here:

Janine Grech says
I do not see the video?!
Red Ted Art says
I have added it now! So sorry!!!
Lindsay says
These look so cute and appropriate for a variety of ages.
Would craft string work in place of the yarn? The craft string I have is about the same thickness as 6-strand cotton floss. I accidentally purchased a large bag (thought I was buying the cotton floss) and this would be a handy way of using it up.
Red Ted Art says
Yes, I am sure it would great!
Jenna says
Thanks for this. Am thinking of trying this at a kids party on Saturday with my Niece. Does it matter which way you rotate the disc? TIA x
Red Ted Art says
No, so long as you keep the same direction at all times, that is fine. ENJOY!!!
Kate says
Hi, how thick does the cardboard need to be please? Would a cereal box do
Thanks
Red Ted Art says
Yes, cereal box would do!! I would MAYBE stick two discs together to make it a little stronger but don’t think it matters!
Joan Bryson says
How o
Long does the string need to be to make this for an adult
Red Ted Art says
Oh I am not sure, I always experiment???
eyeonjewels says
These look so cute and appropriate for a variety this desgin.. Thanks
Becca Gutwirth says
I work with students in after school programs. I loved this idea and was trying to make it more accessible. I found that if you number the cuts from 1-8 in the order in which you move the threads, then students can simply follow the numbers in order. You must number carefully of course. Going around the circle clockwise, it would be 1, 4, 7, 2, 5, 8, 3, 6. I also number facing both inside and out so no matter which way the kids like to hold it, they can easily see the numbers.
Red Ted Art says
Great tip! Thank you.
Maggie Winsbro says
I love this idea and the bracelets you show are really cute. However, I can’t find the video. Can you pint me to it, please?
Red Ted Art says
Oh so sorry! You can view it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYU9mSua8zc&t=2s
Anonymous says
Thank you so much.
Maggie