Friendship Bracelet - USA

Hi, all! I love collecting different colors and styles of friendship bracelets, don’t you? As a kid, it was always such a special, sweet thing to exchange friendship bracelets! I loved picking out colors they’d like, and trying new styles of knots. So let’s make some friendship bracelets for each other! ♥

Who can join? Anyone with a 4.98 rating or higher who has at least 10 type 3 swaps completed and rated. I reserve the right to ban anyone who doesn't meet these requirements or who I feel may compromise the integrity of this swap. This is the first public swap I am hosting, and I will be checking profiles thoroughly. Also, I am keeping this swap USA-only for the time being, but please comment below if you are interested in doing an international version of this swap.

The details:

I know there are a lot of different kinds of friendship bracelets, but for this swap we are going to stick to the most iconic type of friendship bracelets: the “normal” bracelet. (Anticlimactic, I know.) ;D No crazy alpha designs, braided, or non-flat designs, please.

We are going to make one bracelet for one partner. You should be able to mail it in an envelope, but please make sure you use a sturdy envelope! Also, please be sure to add enough postage! If your envelope ends up being lumpy, be sure to add the extra 15 cents for the non-machinable surcharge!

Protip: To make an envelope more sturdy, you can try laminating it with packing tape. To keep your envelope flat, you can try folding a notecard or piece of cardstock over your flat friendship bracelet. (If it's right on the edge of being 1/4" thick - thus requiring more postage - you can put your sealed envelope under a pile of heavy books overnight to help flatten it out.)

Please take a look at your partner's profile to see if they have any favorite colors (or colors they hate)! It's always nice to receive something you personally love; and isn't that the point - to put a smile on someone's face? :) That being said, please don't rate down if you receive a bracelet that isn't in the colors you like.

Don't be intimidated if you've never made a friendship bracelet before! They are so much fun and fairly easy to make. There are SO many tutorials on YouTube and other websites (not to mention, library books!), and it is totally fine to make a simple one if this is your first time. (Just be sure to read "THE BRACELET" for guidelines below.)

Useful stuff:

• I made a Pinterest board for inspiration!
• Here's an AWESOME written tutorial that also has great ways to finish your bracelet.
• Here's a useful video tutorial for a basic striped bracelet.
• Another video tutorial for a basic chevron bracelet.
• A website with a million friendship bracelet patterns.
• Annnnd another one. Just in case you couldn't find one you liked. ;)

The Bracelet

• Please use embroidery floss! No yarn or other fibers.
• Please use at least 5 strings (or 3 if you are folding them in half to get a total of 6).
• Make the main, flat part of your bracelet between 4.5-5 inches (11.5-13cm) long.
• DO NOT add a button or clasp! Everyone's wrist is a different size, so these need to have either tie-able ends or some sort of adjustable clasp. (There are so many options here - just Google "how to finish a friendship bracelet." Typically the ends are braided and knotted.)
• Please make the end (or ends) of your friendship bracelet long enough to tie: about 2-3 inches (5-8cm).
• You may use as many or as few colors as you like. I have seen some beautiful monochrome bracelets. (Please be aware that one-color bracelets can be more difficult to make if you are a beginner.)
• The design is completely up to you! :)

Summary:

1. Wait until partners are assigned, and take a peek at their profile for color preferences or dislikes.

2. Make a flat "normal" friendship bracelet within the guidelines above.

3. Include a little note with the swap name, your username, and a "hello" for your partner. :)

4. Mail on time and mark is as sent.

5. Rate when you receive your swap!

Please rate your partner a 5 if they mailed on time and you received a flat "normal" friendship bracelet within the bracelet guidelines above and a note. Please be polite and contact your partner and myself before rating a 1. If you have to rate them a 1, I am more than happy to angel this swap. ♥

Cheers to everyone, and happy friendship bracelet swapping! If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to message me or comment down below. (If you are a veteran swapper and see any problem swappers, please send me a message rather than commenting. Thank you!)