Diamond friendship bracelet pattern

A chain of diamond outlines on a plain background, tied from a 10-string knot chart. Pick your colours and see it before you start.

Your colours

Click a colour to change it. The preview updates as you go.

Strings to cut

10 strings of embroidery floss, each about 90 cm (36 in) long:

8 × A DMC 3865 Winter White
2 × B DMC 208 Lavender Very Dark

Left to right:AAAABBAAAA

Knot chart

Strings along the top. Tie each row left to right, then repeat the rows from the top. Every circle is one knot, in the colour that shows.

Row by row

Row 11–2 3–4 5–6 7–8 9–10
Row 22–3 4–5 6–7 8–9
Row 31–2 3–4 5–6 7–8 9–10
Row 42–3 4–5 6–7 8–9
Row 51–2 3–4 5–6 7–8 9–10
Row 62–3 4–5 6–7 8–9
Row 71–2 3–4 5–6 7–8 9–10
Row 82–3 4–5 6–7 8–9

How to make the diamond bracelet

Cut and set up. Cut 10 strings about 90 cm (36 in) long: 2 in the diamond colour (B) and 8 in the background (A). Lay them out with the B strings in the middle.
Follow the chart. Tie each row left to right. The B strings move apart, out to the edges, and back together, drawing the diamond.
Watch the turns. Where a B string turns back at an edge, the chart shows a > or < knot, which keeps it in place for a row.
Repeat. After the last row, go back to row 1. Every repeat makes one diamond.

The four knots

Every normal friendship bracelet is made from four knots. Each one is two half hitches, and each shows the colour of the string that does the knotting.

Forward knot. Make a "4" shape with the left string over the right one, loop it under and back up through the gap, and pull it up to the top. Do it twice. The left colour shows and that string moves one place right.
Backward knot. The mirror image: a backward "4" with the right string over the left one, twice. The right colour shows and that string moves one place left.
Forward-backward knot (>). One forward half hitch, then one backward. The left colour shows and both strings stay where they were.
Backward-forward knot (<). One backward half hitch, then one forward. The right colour shows and both strings stay put.

Hold the string being knotted over tight while you pull, so each knot slides up neatly. That's what keeps patterns even.

See all friendship bracelet patterns, or try the heart pattern next.

Questions

How many strings does the diamond bracelet need?

10 strings: 2 for the diamond outline in the middle and 8 for the background, each about 90 cm (36 in) long.

How do the diamonds form?

The two outline strings travel out to the edges and back, crossing in the middle. Where they turn, a forward-backward or backward-forward knot keeps them in place for a row.

Can I fill the diamonds with another colour?

This pattern keeps the inside plain, so it has only 2 colours. Pick any 2 above to see how it looks.

How do I read the knot chart?

The strings are along the top. Tie each row left to right, joining strings 1–2, 3–4 and so on, or 2–3, 4–5 on the next row. Each arrow is the knot to tie and the circle is the colour that shows.

Which knots do I need?

Mostly forward and backward knots, plus one forward-backward (>) and one backward-forward (<) in each repeat.