Friendship bracelets are a textile, created with knots, that is made by hand and given to a friend by the maker.http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/friendship+bracelet The custom originated in Central and South America.http://www.friendship-bracelets.net In this tutorial, you learn how to make a heart friendship bracelet for Valentine's. You can give it to a cherished friend, sweetheart or someone you have admired from a far as a Valentine's Day gift.

This particular pattern is suitable for beginners because it uses only two basic knots and a straightforward technique. The material and equipment needed is fairly simple. First, find a way to anchor your braid. You can use a safety pin anchored to your couch, T-pin in foam board or a standard clipboard. A clipboard is the recommended method for this pattern. Secondly, you need to decide on what material you want to use for the bracelet. Any thread or yarn that can hold a knot is fine. Avoid slippery ones such as rayon and metallic thread unless you are experienced in making braids with those materials. It is suggested that you use cotton embroidery floss.

Below you are instructed on how to create a left and right double half hitch knot. They are used together to construct the chevron shape, the foundation of the heart pattern. After you learn how to knot a finished heart form, you find out how to add variety with alternating hearts. Finally, the tutorial demonstrates two different ways to end your braid.

To begin the process, you have to understand how to make a double half hitch knot from the left and right directions. The left double half hitch knots make up the left side of the chevron while the right double half hitch knots form the right side of it. If you already know how to make these knots and chevrons, skip ahead to Step 2: Beginning Loop.

• Left DHH* Instructions:
• Example Instruction: Make a left dhh with strand 1 over strand 2.

1. Hold strand 1 over strand 2. It makes a L shape.
2. Pull strand 1 around the outstretched strand 2 and make a loop.
3. Create the first knot by pulling strand 1 up tight.
4. Make another knot the same way on top of the last one. The strands have changed positions.

• Right DHH Instructions:
• Example Instruction: Make a right dhh with strand 4 over strand 3.

1. Hold strand 4 over strand 3. It makes a backward L shape.
2. Pull strand 4 around the outstretched strand 3 and make a loop.
3. Create the first knot by pulling strand 4 up tight.
4. Make another knot the same way on top of the last one. The strands have changed positions.

• Note* dhh is the abbreviation used for double half hitch in this article.

• Supplies:
• Clipboard
• (2) 90 inch lengths of dark cotton embroidery floss
• (2) 90 inch lengths of light cotton embroidery floss

• Loop Fastener:

You start the bracelet with a loop. It is a four strand round braid.

1. Holding all four strands together, find the midpoint. Tie a loose overhand knot in it an inch above the middle.
2. Anchor the loose knot on the clipboard.
3. Hold the two dark strands in your right hand while placing the two light ones in your left hand. Keep the strands flat and in order with your thumbs.
4. Take the dark strand in the fourth position and carry it under the other dark strand. Pull it up between the two light strands.
5. Place it next to the other dark strand. It is now in the third strand position.
6. Pull your hands apart and up to tighten the braid.
7. Now, take the light strand in first position and carry it under the other light thread. Pull it up between the two dark strands.
8. Put it next to the other light strand. It is now in the second position.
9. Tighten the braid.
10. Repeat this process until the braid is around one inch long.
11. Remove it from the clipboard then untie the loose overhand knot.
12. Fold the braid in half and hold together. Secure the body of the braid in the clipboard.
13. Isolate one dark strand on the left and one on the right. The other cords remain in the middle for now and act as one unit core. You make a square knot with the isolated strands over the core to close the loop.
14. Hold the left dark strand over the top of the core threads but under the other dark strands. It forms a L shape.
15. Carry the right dark strand under the core and over the left dark thread. Pull the strands tight in opposite directions. The cords have changed positions.
16. Place the new right dark cord over the core and beneath the new left strand. It makes a backward L form.
17. Bring the left dark thread under the core then over the right dark strand.
18. Pull the dark threads taut in opposite directions. The square knot is complete.

Now, you start to knot the actual heart pattern. These instructions create a dark heart on a light background. You can easily make a light heart on a dark background by starting with an opposite strand arrangement from the one described below.

• Making a Chevron:

1. Start on the left hand side and make a left dhh over strand 2. Using the same strand you started with, make another left dhh over strand 3 then strand 4. Now, your initial strand 1 is the new strand 4.
2. Now, you mirror your actions on the right side. Create a right dhh with strand 8 over strand 7. Using that same cord, make a right dhh over strand 6 then over strand 5. It is now the new strand 5.
3. To close the chevron, construct a right dhh with strand 5 over strand 4. The cords change positions.

• Initial Strand Arrangement:
• Arrange the strands in the following order:
• Dark/light/dark/light/light/dark/light/dark

• Start Bracelet:

1. Create a dark chevron with strand 1 and strand 8. New Color Arrangement: light/dark/light/dark/dark/light/dark/light.
2. Make a light chevron with strand 1 and strand 8. New Color Arrangement: dark/light/dark/light/light/dark/light/dark.
3. -Start of Pattern Repeat- Construct a dark chevron with strands 1 and 8. New Color Arrangement: light/dark/light/dark/dark/light/dark/light.
4. Make a right dhh with strand 2 over strand 1. It is now the new strand 1. Put it down for now. Use strand 7 to make a left dhh over strand 8. It is the new strand 8. Place it aside. New Color Arrangement: dark/light/light/dark/dark/light/light/dark.
5. Back on the left, create a left dhh with strand 2 over strand 3 then strand 4. It is the new strand 4. (You need to pull extra tight on the knot between the second and third cords to close the gap.)
6. On the right side, make a right dhh with strand 7 over strand 6 then strand 5. It is the new strand 5. (You need to pull tighter on the knot between the sixth and seventh cords to close the space.)
7. Close this small light chevron by making a right dhh with strand 5 over strand 4. New Color Arrangement: dark/light/dark/light/light/dark/light/dark. -End of Pattern Repeat-
8. Continue the pattern from Start of Pattern Repeat to End of Pattern Repeat until the friendship bracelet is 5 to 6 inches in length depending on the size of the wrist.

Once you have finished your bracelet, it is time to tie off the loose ends. They add to the overall decorative look as well as provide a functional way to secure the bracelet around your wrist using the beginning loop.

• Finish Technique 1 - Four Strand Braid:
• Initial Strand Arrangement:
• Arrange the strands in the following order:
• Dark/light/dark/light/light/dark/light/dark

1. Start off by just working with the first four strands. Lay the others aside for now. Ultimately, you will make two separate braids.
2. Re-order the four strands so that you have the following: dark/light/light/dark.
3. Hold strands 1 and 2 in the left hand while holding strands 3 and 4 in the right.
4. Cross strand 4 over to the left behind strand 2. It is the new strand 3.
5. Move strand 1 to the right hand in front of strand 4. It is the new strand 3.
6. Now, pull your hands apart then upwards to tighten.
7. Repeat this process until the braid is 3 inches long.
8. Then, tie an overhand knot to secure it.
9. Finally, repeat the instructions for the remaining four strands.

• Finish Technique 2 - Pigtail Braid:
• Strand Arrangement:
• Arrange the strands in the following order:
• Dark/dark/light/light/light/light/dark/dark

1. In this braid, you use groups of cords to represent one unit. The two dark cords on the left represent bunch 1, the four light cords are bunch 2 and the last two dark cords are bunch 3.
2. Cross bunch 3 over bunch 2. Now, it is in the second position.
3. Bring bunch 1 over the new bunch 2. Pull tightly.
4. Repeat the procedure for 3 inches in length.

Note: If you use the pigtail finish, your starting bracelet loop should be 2 inches long instead of one to accommodate the size of the end braid.

• Alternating Hearts Variation:

The following variation creates alternating light and dark hearts on contrasting backgrounds.

1. Follow the steps for the main heart pattern except the last one.
2. Make a dark chevron with strands 1 and 8. This completes the dark heart.
3. Then, create a light chevron with strand 1 and strand 8. This starts the beginning of the light heart.
4. Construct a right dhh with strand 2 over strand 1. It is the new strand 1. Put it aside for the moment. Make a left dhh with strand 7 over strand 8. It is the new strand 8. Hold to the side for now.
5. Make a left dhh with strand 2 over strand 3 then strand 4. It is the new strand 4.
6. Create a right dhh with strand 7 over strand 6 then strand 5. It is the new strand 5.
7. Close this small dark chevron by making a right dhh with strand 5 over strand 4.
8. Construct a light chevron with strands 1 and 8. -New End of Pattern Repeat-
9. Continue the pattern from Start of Pattern Repeat to New End of Pattern Repeat until the friendship bracelet is 5 to 6 inches in length depending on the wrist dimensions.