Soft statement bracelets- crochet and fabric tutorial

These bracelets are one of my new favorite projects. I like crocheted bracelets, Spoonflower fabric, and quotes.

The fabrics for these bracelets is available here- Bracelet Swatch Fabrics, a swatch is 5.00 USD and will make 5 bracelets, or you can use some of it as appliques. I'll be adding more quotes as time goes on. These are too much fun.

The first part is making your very own fabric.

You'll need a graphics program, a quote and an idea for how you want it to look. Remember that making it too busy makes it hard to read the quote. I love my 1st Amendment bracelet, but it's a lot of text on a rainbow background and very busy. Using a soft stroke outline on the text helps it stand out a bit.

Open an image 8 inches wide and 1.6 inches tall at 150 ppi minimum. Lay out your background and text, but remember it has to fit your wrist, so 6 inches wide and 1 inch tall for the text works well. Add graphics if you want, keeping them within the borders of what will fit your wrist when it's stitched into place.

Upload your design to Spoonflower. Set it up so the ppi matches the ppi of your design. Order a swatch. I used their woven cotton.

OR!! You can get really crafty and embroider your statement on fabric!

To make the bracelet:

You will need

• yarn
• appropriate sized hook
• button or buttons
• needle to weave in ends
• fabric
• pinking shears
• embroidery floss
• tapestry needle

Pick a yarn.

 This is Darn Good Yarn Lace Weight Silk Yarn in Exotic Rainbow. It's gorgeous with really short color changes so it's very colorful even on small scale projects. The hand is very soft.

This is a basic size 3 crochet cotton thread. More structure than the silk, and it's a heavier weight so it works up quicker.

Yes, you can use worsted weight, that will be chunkier, but that's a neat look too.

Both bracelets are made close to the same way. Chain approximately 1.5 inches, single crochet a few rows, then you make your button hole. The button hole is made by figuring how big the button you're using is, and how many stitches across that is, then you subtract that number from the number in your base row, and divide that number by 2. sc that many stitches, chain the number of stitches for your hole, skip those stitches, and then sc to the end. So for the cotton bracelet, it was 8 stitches wide, and my button would fit into a 4 stitch hole.
8-4=4
4/2=2
Sc in first 2 stitches, chain 4, skip 4 stitch, sc in last 2 stitches, turn.

Then continue working back and forth until it's long enough to fit around your wrist with a 1 inch overlap. Break off, weave in ends.

For the silk, I used a size 0 steel hook and 11 stitches. For the cotton, I used a size D hook and 8 stitches.

The fabric needs to be washed, but because it's just a very small piece, I hand washed it and laid it flat to dry. Use the pinking shears to cut the strip and cut off the ends to fit on your bracelet. Press the fabric. Again, tiny piece. Rather than set up an ironing board and iron, I just used my daughter's hair straightening iron!

Stitch the strip into place. I used a running stitch. Starting it, I made a knot at the end of the thread with a few inches tail. Pulled it up through the fabric alone, then went down into both the fabric and the crocheted bracelet, then stitched around the entire patch. When I got to the end, I tied the thread off to the tail in a firm knot, then buried the ends in the crochet.

The button on the 1st Amendment bracelet is one from my mom's button box. The buttons on the Nevertheless bracelet are stacked inexpensive plastic buttons because I love how the colors pop that way.

The No Censorship pinback is from the early 90s. My family was advocating against a local measure and I still have several of them.

Darn Good Cuff Bracelet Tutorial (crochet)

I love recycled sari yarn. It has all the things my little hippie heart adores. It's recycled from saris, it's silk!, it's got all sorts of colors and fun texture things going on. A lot of people like it but then don't know what to do with it. It's almost too much goodness. I didn't have that problem with this skein because I ordered it knowing it was going to be bracelets and accessories.

The company that sells it is Darn Good Yarn- and if you use my link, you'll get a coupon for a good savings and I'll get a credit on my next order. Win win right? Then you can refer your friends and they can get a coupon and you can get credit. Awesome loyalty program.

This is the yarn I bought from them in my first order and what I plan to do with it. The 4 skeins on the right hand side are a chiffon ribbon yarn that I'll be using to make a purse. The one in the forefront is the Recycled Photon Rainbow Sport Weight Recycled Silk Yarn that I used to make the bracelet above.

So the bracelet is simple enough to make. It's single crochets, chains and a pretty button. The yarn has so much going on that I wanted to simply show off the yarn. The problem is, because of the length of color changes, simply crocheting back and forth didn't work. It just made stripes instead of the sort of organic shape color changes I wanted. You can see my bracelet on top in this picture- and what it looks like working back and forth in the bottom picture.

So to get the color changes, I worked in 2 directions.

Darn Good Cuff Pattern:

You'll need a size D or E hook

• 1 skein of sport weight recycled sari silk yarn
• Large needle for weaving in ends
• attractive/8ths to 7/8th inch button

Chain 4

Row 1: sc in second chain from hook, sc in next 2 chains

Row 2-32: Ch 1 to turn, sc in each st (3 sts)

(adjust rows as needed for size. You want it to fit with an inch of overlap for the button) 

Switch direction! 

Row 34: Ch 1, working down the long side, sc in next 2 sts, ch 3, skip 3 sts, sc in the rest of the sts

Row 35-37: ch 1, sc in each st down the length

Round 1: ch 1, sc in st, sc down length, 3 sc in corner, sc across end, 3 sc in corner, sc down length, 3 sc in corn, sc across end, 2 sc in last st, sl st to first sc of round to join.  Break off

Weave in all ends.  Stitch button on opposite side of button hole. I just used some of the yarn.

The yarn is very strong, and very crisp feeling. It looks kind of like jute twine, but it's very soft to the touch with a nice amount of structure. You can gently handwash finished pieces, lay flat to dry. If you want your finished item softer, putting it in a dryer on delicate/low heat for a few minutes will soften the yarn.  One skein will make a lot of small projects like this with 147 yards per skein.

Chunky Soft Bobble Bangles- Crochet

I love making soft bangles! This pattern was supposed to be posted yesterday because the one on the far left was done day before yesterday. But then I decided it would look good with 2 colors of yarn and my geeky daughter picked the yarn. She decided on Portal blue and orange

So after I finished one, she also decided she needed one with the opposite colorway. Fortunately they are very quick but that's why the pattern is being posted today instead of yesterday. My examples are in Lily Sugar 'n Cream yarn. The bottom is Psychedelic Ombre, the top two (Portal!) are in Hot Orange and Hot Blue.

You will need:

• Worsted weight yarn in one or two colors- a small amount will do.
• Size H hook (5mm)
• Scissors
• yarn needle

Stitches used: 

ch=chain

sc=single crochet

bobble= 3dc bobble

To make the bobbles- yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull loop through stitch, yarn over, pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yarn over, insert hook in same stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch, yarn over, pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), yarn over, inset hook in same stitch, yarn over, pull though stitch, yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, pull through all loops. 

To work with 2 colors- the contrast color is carried along the main color after the first chain. Pull out some of the contrast color and lay it over the chain with a tail to weave in- crochet over it as you work the first row of single crochets. Then for the next row, the last yarn over of each stitch is done with the color you will use for the next stitch. This is an easy color change here since the color changes with each stitch, so for the single crochets, you'll insert the hook, yarn over, pull through stitch, yarn over with the other color and pull through the 2 loops on the hook. For the bobbles, you'll work in that color until the last yarn over then switch and pull through all loops. Then the final round, work in the main color working over the contrast color across the top of the stitches.

Chain 28 loosely, slip stitch to join, being careful not to twist the ring.

Rnd 1: ch 1 tightly (does not count as first stitch) single crochet in each stitch around. Slip stitch to join.

Rnd 2: ch 1 tightly (does not count as first stitch) single crochet in first stitch, bobble in next stitch, work that way around alternating single crochets and bobbles. Slip stitch to join (14 bobbles)

Rnd 3: ch 1 tightly (does not count as first stitch), single crochet in each stitch around, slip stitch to join. 

Break off, and weave in the ends!

If 28 is too small or too big, you can increase or decrease the size by working any even number of stitches.

These are so fast! Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Crochet Blocks Ribbon Pattern

This ribbon pattern is so easy to make, it just uses chains and single crochets to create nice neat rows of diagonally set blocks. I used the ribbons to make bracelets by stitching snaps on the ends.

American terminology
ch=chain
sc= single crochet

Worst weighted yarn version:
You will need:

• worsted weight yarn
• size G (4.25mm) hook
• yarn needle
• scissors

Chain 5

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook, sc in each ch (4 sc)
Row 2: ch 1 to turn (does not count as first sc), sc in each st across
Row 3: Repeat row 2
Row 4: ch 1 to turn (does not count as first sc), sc in each st across, ch 3 (first block made)

Row 5: Sc in second ch from hook, sc in next ch, sc in next 2 stitches (4 sc)

Row 6: ch 1 to turn (does not count as first sc), sc in each st across
Row 7: Repeat row 2
Row 8: ch 1 to turn (does not count as first sc), sc in each st across, ch 3 (block made)

Repeat rows 5-8 for as long as you want the strip to be, on the last block, skip the ending chain 3, and break off yarn to weave in ends.

Size 10 thread version:
You will need:

• Size 10 thread
• Size 5 steel hook (1.7mm)
• Chenille or ribbon needle to weave in ends
• scissors

Chain 7

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook, sc in each ch (6 sc)
Row 2: ch 1 to turn (does not count as first sc), sc in each st across
Row 3-5: Repeat row 2
Row 6: ch 1 to turn (does not count as first sc), sc in each st across, ch 4 (first block made)


Row 7: Sc in second ch from hook, sc in next 2 ch, sc in next 3 stitches (6 sc)

Row 8: ch 1 to turn (does not count as first sc), sc in each st across
Row 9-11: Repeat row 2
Row 12: ch 1 to turn (does not count as first sc), sc in each st across, ch 4 (block made)

Repeat rows 7-12 for as long as you want the strip to be, on the last block, skip the ending chain 4 and break off thread to weave in ends.

To make bracelets-
you will also need sewing thread, hand sewing needle and sew on snaps.
Make strips long enough to wrap around you wrist and overlap one block. For the worsted weight, that wound up being 8 blocks, for the thread it was 10 blocks.
Stitch the snaps on each end of the bracelet, with one side of the snap in the middle of one block on one end, then flip the ribbon over and sew the other side of the snap in the middle of the block on the other end.

You could stitch the edges together offset by 2 and 3 respectively to make a bangle but the blocks will stretch more that way. Snaps seemed a good option for keeping the shaping without having to reblock every time I wore the bracelet!

For the worsted weight, I used a stash yarn in cotton. For the thread version, I used Aunt Lydia's crochet cotton in Aspen. I love how the colorway created pretty striping on the finished project.

Crochet Beaded Wrap Bracelet Pattern

I used light spring colors, but this would work in other shades, and the basic technique will work with other weights of yarn. Just size the beads up or down to match and the number of stitches.

You will need:

• size 10 thread (bedspread weight)
• size 6 steel crochet hook (1.6 mm)
• tapestry needle
• 5/8th inch button
• size 8 seed beads - a size 8 seed bead is about 3mm
• needle and thread for loading beads

All of the supplies for mine came from my stash, the thread is from a thrift store, the button is from my button box, and the beads are one of my favorite colors, Orange Opal Gold-Lined. 

American terminology

• ch=chain
• sc=single crochet
• repeat ** means repeat the step between the asterisks.

To work a beaded single crochet: Insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull loop through stitch, push up bead, yarn over, finish stitch. 

Loading beads on size 10 thread is easy, if you're using hanked beads, you'll pull a string loose, take off a couple of beads, then tie the thread and string together and slide the beads off the hank onto the thread. For beads that aren't on a hank, thread the small needle with sewing thread, double it and tie in a knot, then put the crochet thread through the loop, and load the beads on the needle and slide them down on to the crochet thread.

String 61 beads on thread (66 for a large wrist, 56 for a smaller wrist, 51 for a child)

Loosely chain 147 (157, 137, 127)

Row 1: Beaded single crochet in 17th chain from hook (button loop formed),* ch 1, skip stitch, beaded single crochet* repeat **, sc in last 10 chains.

Row 2: Ch 1 to turn (does not count as first stitch), sc in last sc of previous row, sc in next 9 stitches, sc in beaded sc,* sc in ch space, sc in beaded sc*, repeat ** to the end of the beaded section, 16 sc in ch 16 space, sc in each stitch down the other side. On the last stitch, cut the thread, leaving a tail to weave in, and pull through last stitch. I secured the last stitch with a half hitch knot, then wove in the ends.

Sew button to center of the 10 stitch single crochet end. 

You can also make this a choker style necklace. 

Zig Zag Soft Bangle Bracelet Pattern- crochet

This is the easiest of all my crocheted bracelet patterns. It's just chains and single crochets, worked in a strip then sewn together to make a ring. My daughter loves her chunky soft bangles, including these.
The ones shown above were made using Lion Brand Fun Yarn, which is an acrylic yarn that comes in small skeins that using a 20% off yarn coupon at my local Fred Meyers costs 80¢. It comes in bright colors, and I got several skeins for my daughter to use in her projects.

You will need:

• Worsted weight yarn
• Size F or 3.75mm hook
• Yarn needle

Pattern written in American terminology

Chain 4
Row 1: 2 sc in first chain, ch 3
Row 2: 2 sc in last sc of previous row, chain 3
Row 3-24: Repeat row 2
Break off yarn and stitch ends together, making sure they aren't twisted. Weave in ends. Size it up or down in 2 row increments.

This simple technique creates a nice soft zig-zag effect and works up super fast. Great way to use up small amounts of yarn. It can be done in other yarns, just use a hook size that's 1 or 2 smaller than the hook recommended and increase or decrease the rows as needed for length. Good project for beginning crocheters or crocheters who just want a super simple tv watching project.

Previously posted crocheted bracelet patterns on this site-
A thread and button bangle bracelet pattern
Thread crocheted cuff fastened with buttons pattern
Ribbed yarn bangle bracelet pattern
Yarn bangle bracelet pattern-2 colors

Crocheted Button Bangle

This pattern, like my dice bag pattern, is very modifiable. It can be adjusted according to the thread, hook sizes and buttons you have. My instructions are for size 10 thread with a size 6 (US) steel hook (1.8 mm), and vintage 3/8th inch buttons from my collection. US terminology.

The button crochets are done by sliding the button up the thread to the bracelet and inserting the hook into the stitch behind the button yarn over, pull through the stitch, 2 loops on hook, yarn over, and pull through the loops. So basically it's a just a single crochet after you push the button up.

This pattern is confusing in the second part. Just try it. It works up fairly fast since it's only 64 stitches and 3 rows, if the last row doesn't work right for you the first time, pull it out and try again. 

Button Bangle Pattern:

Size 6 (US) steel hook

Size 10 Bedspread weight cotton

8 3/8th inch buttons with 4 holes

Tapestry needle that you can thread with the size 10 cotton and that will go through the button holes

Scissors

Thread the 8 buttons on the cotton making sure they are all facing the same way.

Chain 64, join chain with a slip stitch, be careful not to twist.

Row 1: Chain 1,single crochet in each stitch around, slip stitch to join

Row 2: Repeat row 1

Row 3: ch 1, single crochet in first 3 stitches, slide button up to the bracelet, single crochet in stitch behind button, *single crochet in next 7 stitches, add button single crochet*, repeat **  6 times (until all buttons are added), single crochet in next 4 stitches, slip stitch to join, break off thread.

Now for the kind of tricky part. Thread the 8 buttons on the thread the hole diagonal from the first one and slide down the thread. You'll need to be able to slide it down the thread a few times to finish this, just pull up a thread after the 4th button to make a loop from the ball of thread, then pull it through the other 4 buttons to give yourself more working thread.

Chain 64, join chain with a slip stitch, be careful not to twist.

Row 1: Chain 1,single crochet in each stitch around, slip stitch to join

Row 2: Repeat row 1

Loosen up the thread in buttons so the bracelet is open, and put the part you just worked inside the first part of the bracelet, add more thread to your working thread as needed by pulling it off the ball and pulling up loops between the buttons a little at a time until you have enough thread to work with.

Row 3: ch 1, sc in first 3 stitches, pull the thread between the first and second buttons until your working end is right up against the button, button single crochet, single crochet in next 7 stitches, now you need to take a good look at your bracelet to see which direction to go in, spreading out the this part inside the first part worked best for me. Pull thread between the second and third button until the row you are working is flush with the button, button single crochet. Continue that around, with 7 single crochets between each button single crochet, ending with 4 single crochets and a slip stitch to join.

Weave in ends.

Modifying this pattern is easy. Just make sure you have a number of stitches divisible by the number of buttons you want to use and that the buttons won't be too crowded, you can also adjust size this way. So if the best fit for your wrist is 70 stitches, you could use 7 or 10 buttons easily. Because it's a soft bangle, you can make it a bit smaller than your favorite metal bangle. The flexibility makes it easier to put on.  With smaller thread you may want more plain rows. 

Check out my Ravelry pattern page here.

Crocheted Bracelet Pattern

First, thank you for the nice comments on my post about my mother's birthday. My family had a lovely time going out to eat and going to the thrift store. Someone had come in and bought ALL their craft books that day so I missed out on those, but I did find a great little pamphlet of honey recipes and some pressed glass dessert dishes exactly like mom's. The teens both found things they wanted and I found a mechanical egg beater for a 1.00 that just needed a minor fix. Mike fixed it and the Turnip is thrilled. She just thinks it's the neatest thing ever.

2 Color Crochet Bangle Bracelet
The ribbed crocheted bangles are still being worn a lot by my daughter. Last night I made her this one as well.

It's very quick to stitch, 2 chains, 7 rows total, and 2 hook sizes, then sew it together.

You'll need:

yarn- worsted weight - 2 colors- I used stashed kitchen cotton yarns (the kind you use for dishcloths or potholders)

a size F hook

a size G hook

yarn needle

scissors

ch=chain

sl st= slip stitch

sc= single crochet

dc=double crochet

With the base color,  F hook 

Ch 32, slip stitch to join, being careful not to twist the chain

Round 1: Ch 1 (does not count as first stitch), sc in each stitch around, sl st in first sc to join.

Round 2-4: Repeat round 1 (I said this was easy right?)

Break off yarn and weave in ends. 

The inside of your bracelet is done. Now to do the outside.

Contract color, G hook

Leave a 12-15 inch long tail for stitching one side of this part of the bracelet to the other part. 

Ch 32, slip stitch to join, being careful not to twist the chain

Round 1: Ch 1 (does not count as first ch), sc in each stitch around, sl st in first sc to join.

Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc and ch space), ch 1, skip one stitch, dc in next stitch,* ch 1,skip one stitch, dc in next stitch*, repeat ** around, ch 1, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 3 to join. (16 spaces total)

Round 3: Ch 1 (does not count as first ch), sc in each stitch around, sl st in first sc to join.

Break off yarn leaving a long tail for sewing and weave in ends.

Put the first part of the bangle inside the part you just finished, and sew them together using a running stitch. Try not to pull the stitches  tight, you want to have some give in the bracelet. Weave ends in.

Ribbed Soft Bangle (crocheted)

Originally, I was going to make a wrist wallet for my daughter who doesn't always like to carry her purse or wear something with pockets if she's just going to the convenience store. The idea didn't work out as planned so a few rows in, I decided "bangle bracelet".

That's the one on the bottom. She loved the bangle and has worn it every day since I finished it.

Really easy to make, and I think I'm going to try a beaded variation soon.

Abbreviations:

ch= chain

sc= single crochet

sl st= slip stitch

fpdc= front post double crochet, yarn over,  insert your hook around the post of the dc on the previous row from the front, finish double crochet as usual.

bpdc= back post double crochet, yarn over, insert your hook around the post of the dc on the previous row from the back, finish double crochet as usual.

After the first row of fpdc and bpdc all the fpdcs and bpdcs are worked on the previous row of them which forms the ribbing. It's a very simple technique if you haven't tried it before.

Ribbed Soft Bangle Pattern

Supplies:

Worsted weight cotton (dishcloth type yarn)

Size F hook

Size G hook

As shown, the finished bracelets have a 3 inch inner diameter.

For both bracelets:

Chain 30 loosely and join chain with a slip stitch being careful not to twist the chain.

For different sizes, a multiple of 6 for the top bracelet, a multiple of 2 for the bottom.

With F hook

Round 1-5: Ch 1(does not count as first stitch), sc in each stitch around, sl st to join.

For the bottom bracelet:

Switch to G hook

Round 6: ch 2 (counts as first dc), dc in back loop of each stitch around. Sl st to join.

Round 7: ch 2 (counts as first dc), fpdc in next stitch, bpdc in next stitch, alternate fpdc and bpdc all the way around, ending on a fpcd. Sl st to join.

Round 8: ch 2 (counts as first dc), fpdc in fpdc of previous round, bpdc in bpdc of previous round. Repeat all the way around ending with a fpdc, sl st to join. 

Break off yarn leaving a long (at least 14 inches) tail. 

Fold the tube in half with the single crochet rows on the inside and the ribbing on the outside. Stitch closed all the way around working in the back loops of the ribbed rows and through the beginning chain on the single crochet side. Weave in all ends.

For the top bracelet:

Switch to G hook

Round 6: ch 2 (counts as first dc), dc in back loop of each stitch around. Sl st to join.

Round 7: ch 2 (counts as first dc), bpdc in next 2 stitches, fpdc in next 3 stitches,* bpdc in next 3 stitches, fpdc in next 3 stitches*, repeat ** around ending with 3 fpdc. Sl st to join.

Round 8: ch 2 (counts as first dc), bpdc in all bpdcs, fpdc in all fpdcs. Join with sl st. 

 Break off yarn leaving a long (at least 14 inches) tail. 

Fold the tube in half with the single crochet rows on the inside and the ribbing on the outside. Stitch closed all the way around working in the back loops of the ribbed rows and through the beginning chain on the single crochet side. Weave in all ends.

You can vary the ribbing counts to make different styles. It makes a nice, chunky soft bangle bracelet.