Blogger / 18 September, 2025 / Nanny Anita

Kumihimo Bracelet

Normally I would do friendship bracelets during the summer, mainly because they remind me of working in summer camps.  Of course they can be made at any point in the year.  So, with the new school year having started I thought it would be nice to do have a nice easy kumihimo bracelet for kids to make for their new friends.

Make sure you follow my friendship bracelet board on Pinterest for more ideas.  Don’t forget to say the pin for later:

To make your own Kumihimo bracelet you will need:

• A small square piece of cardboard
• Scissors
• 8 threads in 2 different colours (4 in each colour) about 60cms long*

*I never really measure my string.  I eyeball it and hope for the best.

Start by cutting a hole in the middle of your square and then 9 slits.  You should have 4 slits above and below your hole and then one slit on the left had side of it.  I tried to make sure that the 4 slits above and below were in line with each other and that the hole really was in the middle of them.  You don’t have to be that precise, I just found that my bracelet was less wonky that way.  Number the slits at the top 1-4, the slits at the bottom 5-8, and the one on the left side number 9.

Tie you’re your threads together and poke the knot through the hole in the middle.  Put all of one colour in the slits numbered 1-4.  Next put the other coloured threads in the bottom slits numbered 5-8.  Leave 9 empty at the moment.

This will be a list of your moves:

1. Move the thread from slit 4 to slit 9.
2. Move thread from slit 8 to slit 4.
3. 3 goes down to 8.
4. 7 goes up to 3.
5. 2 goes down to 7.
6. 6 goes up to 2.
7. 1 goes down to 6.
8. 5 goes up to 1.
9. And finally, 9 goes down to 5.

When you have finished this sequence of moves you simply start it again and continue until your bracelet has reached its desired length. When it is finished, take all the threads off the cardboard and tie it off.

If you enjoyed this kumihimo bracelet, be sure to check out my polymer clay bracelets and 3 simple friendship bracelets.

Pin for later: