DIY Friendship Bracelets: Fishtail Braid.

Today’s fishtail braid friendship bracelet project is inspired by one of my favorite things to do to my hair in the summer – the fishtail braid. Β (A Cup of Jo has a fun twist on it – check it out.) Β The end result is snazzier than a classic braid, but considerably easier to make than a classic knotted friendship bracelet, with the same chevron pattern. Β My personal favorite is to use a bunch of similar shades for an ombre effect rather than the classic candy stripe, but you can really do anything… get creative to switch up your friendship bracelet patterns!

Also: a few fun friendship bracelets I love mixing in with these:

DIY Friendship Bracelets:

Fishtail Braid

{All you need for this project is some embroidery floss.Β  Also, the tiny delicate bracelet is a new fave from gorjana.}

steps1-4

1. Β Organize your thread. Β You’ll need three forty inch strands of floss, in 5 colors (15 total strands.) Β // Β 2. Β Fold bundle of floss in half, and carefully knot at the top, forming a loop. Β You’ll want your loop to be large enough later to wrap the ends through to tie it on to your wrist. Β // 3. Β Sort your thread. Β On both the left side and right side, there should be three strands of each of your five colors. Β Keep each color together. Β // 4. Β Begin the bracelet by criss-crossing the first color (bundle of three strands, I find it easier to start with the strand on the left) over to the opposite side.

steps5-8

5. Β Continue the bracelet by crossing the same color over from the opposite side. Β // 6. Β Repeat steps 4 and 5 with your next color. Β Note – it won’t look very pretty at first. Β // 7. Β Continue to repeat steps 4 and 5 with every color, keeping the floss tight and organized. Β // 8. Β A really beautiful chevron pattern will emerge!

step9-12

9. Β Continue to braid until you reach your desired length. Β // 10. Β Stop braiding. Β (Is this even really a step?) // 11. Β Tie an overhand knot. Β // 12. Leaving about 3 inches of floss, trim the ends. Β You’re all done!

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95 Comments

  1. RealGirlGlam:

    Simple and easy to do, but makes a big impact! A great DIY as usual!

    6.18.12 Reply
    • graceatwood:

      thank you!!

      6.18.12 Reply
      • Linda:

        Yeah thanx sooo much!

        8.17.13 Reply
    • Sara:

      Thanks sooooo much it helped a lot I raised Β£103.56 selling these and the shambalas for 50p

      11.15.14 Reply
  2. christin schindewolf:

    I think telling people to stop braiding is a step. You can neverΒ underestimateΒ the intelligence of the public.Β 

    6.18.12 Reply
    • graceatwood:

      my thoughts exactly πŸ˜‰

      6.18.12 Reply
  3. ALyson -- TAGG:

    Totally simple and realistic to do. Must buy embroidery floss. PS: you would have been so proud of me yesterday. Went to Michael’s and I walked out with THREE DIY projects I want to accomplish. YAY!Β 

    6.18.12 Reply
    • graceatwood:

      I am so, so proud! Can’t wait to see what you whip up!

      6.18.12 Reply
  4. Elizabeth Schneider:

    This looks much easier than attempting a fish tail braid on my head. The perfect splash of color!

    6.18.12 Reply
    • Grace Atwood:

      it’s so easy! Β But I know you could do it on your head, too!! Β Just read TBD’s tutorial – they make it really simple.

      6.18.12 Reply
  5. Kelsey Miller:

    Friendship bracelets scream summer to me! I love the fishtail, too!
    tortoiseinthesun.blogspot.com

    6.18.12 Reply
    • graceatwood:

      thanks, kelsey! sooo fun + summery!!

      6.18.12 Reply
    • Lylah:

      Same

      5.24.22 Reply
  6. KatharsisKulture:

    Ill practice making these, so I can finally fishbraid my own hair!

    http://www.KatharsisKulture.com

    6.18.12 Reply
    • graceatwood:

      great idea! you can do it!! πŸ™‚

      6.18.12 Reply
  7. Brynn {chartreuse & a twist}:

    I just love this so much πŸ™‚ I have always been so uncoordinated with any kind of braid…especially the fishtail. But these are just too cute…I may have to give it a shot! XO brynn

    6.18.12 Reply
    • graceatwood:

      thanks, Brynn! I really hope you try it – seriously, very easy… you can do it!!

      6.18.12 Reply
  8. nancy @ adore to adorn:

    love love LOVE this! =)Β 
    xo,
    nancy

    6.18.12 Reply
    • graceatwood:

      thank you, Nancy!! xo

      6.18.12 Reply
  9. Clara Artschwager:

    Love this, Grace! It was so wonderful meeting you this weekend- your DIYs and blog in general is so impressive. I’m definitely going to make the rope necklace!

    6.18.12 Reply
    • graceatwood:

      Thank you, Clara! I am loving your blog, too! It was so great to meet you on Saturday!!

      6.18.12 Reply
  10. pinkjulep:

    LOVE THESE!!!!

    6.18.12 Reply
    • graceatwood:

      thank you so much!

      6.18.12 Reply
  11. Katie @ Katie's Bliss:

    These are so cute! I remember making ones similar to them at camp when I was younger πŸ™‚

    katiesbliss.com

    6.18.12 Reply
    • Grace Atwood:

      Thanks, Katie! Β I hope you make some this summer!!

      6.19.12 Reply
  12. Alex Hubbard:

    Super cute and bright! Love love!

    6.18.12 Reply
    • Grace Atwood:

      Thanks Alex! πŸ™‚

      6.19.12 Reply
  13. How to be Fancy:

    I can’t get enough friendship bracelets this summer. Oh, and thank you times a million for sharing where your tiny bracelet is from…it’s adorable!! xx

    6.18.12 Reply
    • graceatwood:

      Me either! And you are welcome. Gorjana has so many pretty little bracelets – love them!

      6.19.12 Reply
  14. Frankie hearts fashion:

    you are too clever! Love these. xoxo

    6.19.12 Reply
    • graceatwood:

      aw, thanks lady! xox

      6.19.12 Reply
  15. Greta:

    I really love this becuase all the other interesting bracelets like the chevron take forever because you have to loop around each individual strand but with this you can get a pretty thick braclet with a cool design with multiple colors easily and quickly! πŸ™‚

    6.19.12 Reply
    • graceatwood:

      Thanks Greta, I feel exactly the same way!!

      6.19.12 Reply
  16. MAGS:

    Ooh these are so cute! Love this DIY! (:Β 
    noragsformags.blogspot.com

    6.23.12 Reply
    • graceatwood:

      thank you!!

      6.24.12 Reply
  17. Erin G.:

    Just made this and it came out perfectly!! So incredibly easy. You don’t even have to know how to do the fishtail to hair to be able to do this. I make chevrons all the time but they take soooo long to make, this a great and quick alternative.

    6.24.12 Reply
    • graceatwood:

      I am so happy to hear that! Would love to see a pic!

      6.24.12 Reply
  18. Tara Celeste:

    Love this trendy twist on a summer classic!

    6.25.12 Reply
    • graceatwood:

      I’m so happy you like it, Tara! Hope you give the project a try. πŸ™‚

      6.25.12 Reply
  19. Khadija Mumtaz:

    Made this today and it came out great πŸ™‚

    7.23.12 Reply
    • graceatwood:

      Yay! Would love for you to email me a pic… (stripesandsequins@gmail.com,) I will post it to the S+S Facebook page! xx

      7.24.12 Reply
  20. kim:

    ok this may sound like a silly question but at the end to put it on your wrist – are you just putting the end knot inside the loop to secure it closed?

    8.2.12 Reply
    • graceatwood:

      Hi Kim! I put half of the strands through the loop and then left half outside of the loop. From there, I just tie a knot! Hope that helps. πŸ™‚

      8.5.12 Reply
  21. Philothea:

    how do you tie at the end?

    9.27.12 Reply
    • graceatwood:

      For these, I just knotted them. But you could finish by tying ’em in two braids. πŸ™‚

      10.1.12 Reply
  22. Yoshi Wang:

    This is so perfect! I love the pattern and the simplicity; no complicated pattern. Just wish I could do this with my hair, but that’s a whole other story..

    gizmoandyoshi.blogspot.com

    10.10.12 Reply
  23. Lilycoppedge:

    love it so much

    10.13.12 Reply
  24. Vianca:

    Oh my Gosh! This is so beautiful friendship BRACELET! And this is easy to do I think… Gotta make this one and give it to my friends!.. nice job… LOVE It! …. do more diy bracelets, necklaces, and etc.

    11.17.12 Reply
  25. Markwell:

    Beautiful! SImple and very nicely made!

    Check my blog here!

    12.19.12 Reply
  26. Daniela:

    I just found this DIY bracelet tutorial and it looks awesome! Some of the pictures aren’t loading though and I’m not managing well with the written instructions alone, unfortunately πŸ™ I’ll keep trying but hopefully the pictures will come back someday?

    3.10.13 Reply
  27. Kelly G β₯:

    omg! I just became a fan of your DIY website. ahaha, I know that this was posted almost a year ago, but I just wanted to thank you! I can say I’m obsessed x

    5.11.13 Reply
  28. Lora:

    Pictures 2-3-4 are “broken” … all the ones that show the steps πŸ™

    5.11.13 Reply
    • Grace Atwood:

      Hi Lora, So sorry about that! I just fixed the post.

      7.7.13 Reply
  29. Adrian:

    i just want to use black and white, is there any way i can do that? if there is, please tell me!

    8.5.13 Reply
    • Grace Atwood:

      Yes, definitely! Just alternate pulling black + white strands from the back to the front. I think this will look really pretty!

      8.6.13 Reply
  30. Alien:

    Amazing!!!! I thought it would be so difficult but it wasnt. It was easy peasy!!!!

    8.14.13 Reply
  31. Cynthia:

    How many strings do i need to make the thin pink one you have there

    8.19.13 Reply
    • Grace Atwood:

      Hi Cynthia,
      You need 15 strands (3 strands of each color.) Good luck!

      8.19.13 Reply
  32. Ella:

    this was a really good tutorial and very well explained! thankyou πŸ™‚

    8.23.13 Reply
  33. sophie:

    too complicated and didn’t turn out to be at all as i wanted it to be. can you provide more detail?
    sorry!

    8.23.13 Reply
  34. sam:

    nice…………………..

    9.12.13 Reply
  35. Laila:

    Would this work with only three colors?

    10.14.13 Reply
    • Marissa:

      Yeah, it can because you can make almost any bracelet as many colors as you want.

      9.20.14 Reply
  36. Elly:

    Thanks I was looking for a new and easy braclet to make and this is just what I was looking for
    Thanks

    12.24.13 Reply
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    9.3.14 Reply
  38. Marissa:

    My sister fishtails hair, now I fishtail bracelets. Maybe I should try it on her hair! πŸ™‚

    9.20.14 Reply
  39. Lone Grove:

    Nice and very easy to follow your instruktions. Thank you. Love from Denmark

    4.20.15 Reply
  40. ines velez:

    gracias por compartir tus creaciones. faciles y muy bonitas.Dios te bendiga.

    5.2.15 Reply
  41. Anonymous:

    I’m so excited to be making some bracelets for my mom!❀️

    5.25.15 Reply
  42. Cheyanne:

    I love this style of bracelet since I was a kid. I have been surfing for years and would love to know if there are more than this kind of surfing bracelets if anyone could let me know that would be great.

    6.22.15 Reply
  43. linda parisella:

    i’ll be making these for my next
    craft show

    8.22.15 Reply
  44. paige carter:

    thank you very helpful πŸ™‚

    7.18.17 Reply
  45. Moon:

    Do we need embroidery floss or we can use something else?

    8.8.19 Reply
  46. Alexys:

    the bracelets are really cool can i have one

    11.16.19 Reply
  47. Annie:

    nice

    8.2.20 Reply
  48. et:

    I loooove this! Thank you so much!

    10.15.20 Reply
  49. Effie Loubardias:

    what a great design. I didn’t think I was doing right in the beginning. It worked out in the end.
    Thank you,
    F.E

    11.27.21 Reply