How to Make a 2 Color Macrame Square Knot Bracelet (Reversible!)
Learn how to make these easy DIY macrame friendship bracelets with two colors in today’s step by step written and video tutorial for beginners!
Want to remember this? Post this 2 Color Macrame Bracelet tutorial to your favorite DIY Pinterest board!
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This bracelet features an adjustable closure so you can easily take it off and put it back on. We’ll be using square knots to make this easy piece of jewelry, and I’ll give you detailed instructions on how to make that basic macrame knot.
I’ll show you how to make these bracelets with 3 different types of cord:
- 2 mm Satin Rat Tail Nylon Cord
- Bulky Cotton yarn
- Worsted Weight Cotton yarn
You can share these bracelets with all of your best friends, and you can make them in all sorts of colors!
It’s also easy to customize these bracelets and add wooden beads or alphabet beads in between square knots.
You could also make these with hemp cord if you prefer hemp bracelets, just follow along with the cotton version down below or check out this square knot hemp bracelet tutorial.
If you’re new to macrame and want to learn more basic knots, be sure to check out my Beginner Macrame Knot guide post right here!
You’ll learn 15 of the most important knots that you need to know.
The first knot a lot of people learn in macrame is the square knot, and that’s what we’ll be using for today’s fun project.
Supplies You’ll Need
FOR THE 1ST VERSION (SILKY NYLON BRACELET)
- 2 mm Satin Rat Tail Nylon Cord
- 2 pieces @ 18″ long (center cords)
- 2 pieces @ 34″ long (working cords) use 2 different colors for the reversible effect
- 1 piece @ 14″ long (sliding knot closure)
- lighter to melt ends
- scissors
FOR THE 2ND VERSION (BULKY COTTON BRACELET)
- Bulky Cotton Yarn
- 2 pieces @ 18″ long (center cords)
- 2 pieces @ 40″ long (working cords) use 2 different colors for the reversible effect
- 1 piece @ 18″ long (sliding knot closure)
- large eye blunt needle
- scissors
- washable glue
FOR THE 3RD VERSION (WORSTED WEIGHT COTTON BRACELET)
- Worsted Weight Cotton Yarn
- 2 pieces @ 18″ long (center cords)
- 2 pieces @ 40″ long (working cords) use 2 different colors for the reversible effect
- 1 piece @ 18″ long (sliding knot closure)
- large eye blunt needle
- scissors
- washable glue
More Macrame Bracelet Patterns
- 3 Hemp Bracelet Patterns (with sliding knot closure)
- 6 Easy Friendship Bracelet Patterns with Embroidery Floss
2 Color Square Knot Macrame Bracelet Tutorial
Check out the video for this project over on my YouTube channel, and don’t forget to subscribe!
1ST VERSION – Satin Rat Tail Nylon Cord
Step 1: Tape or pin cords down to surface
Take your center cords and hold them together. Lay them on your work surface and tape or pin them down a few inches down from the top.
Lay one working cord on the right side of the middle strands, and lay the other piece on the left side of the center cords.
Tape or pin them down at the same place that you taped down the center cords, leaving at least an inch of cord at the top.
I went a little crazy with the washi tape for mine, lol.
Step 2: Tie square knots
NOTE: You’ll want to measure the size of the persons wrist that you’re making a bracelet for, and tie knots until they’re that length.
With the 2 mm satin cord, I found that 25 knots was perfect for an adult size bracelet.
Take the left working strand and fold it across the center cords in a “4” shape.
Take the right working cord and lay it over the crossed over left cord. Then bring the end under the center cords and through the loop on the left.
Pull the ends of the cords to tighten. This is the first half of the square knot.
Repeat that process in reverse. Take the right strand and cross it over the center cords in a reverse “4” shape.
Take the left working cord and lay it over the crossed over right cord. Then bring the end under the center strands and through the loop on the right.
Pull the ends of the cords to tighten.
Congratulations, that completes the first full square knot!
Continue making square knots until your bracelet is your desired length. I did 25 knots.
Step 3: Melt ends of working cords
Untape or unpin your cords from your work surface.
Tighten the top square knot, it tends to come a little loose.
Now we’re going to trim down the ends of the working cords on one end at a time and use a lighter to melt the ends.
DISCLAIMER: BE VERY CAREFUL for this step! Fire is involved and, well, you know fire is hot. Please don’t burn yourself.
If you’re a kid making this bracelet, have an adult help you out with this step. And if you don’t want to do this part, check out the cotton bracelets down below that don’t require any fire!
Starting on one end of the square knots, trim down the working cords to about 1/4″ long.
Use the lighter to carefully melt the ends of the cord, and press the melted cord against the side of the lighter to mush it down. You want to flatten it and kind of make the end wider so it doesn’t come undone.
Repeat that with the 3 other working cord ends.
Step 4: Get everything adjusted
Now you’ll need to slide the square knot section down so there’s an equal amount of the center cords sticking out of both sides.
I found it was easiest to sort of inch worm the square knot part down until it was even.
Measure the square knot section when you’re finished to make sure it’s not all squished down or stretched out.
It should measure the same length as it did before (about 6″ if you’re making an adult bracelet with 25 knots).
Tie an overhand knot in the ends of the center cords. Trim off any excess cord on the ends.
Step 5: Make sliding knot closure
Lay the center cords side by side going in opposite directions.
Take the 14″ long piece of cord and bring it behind the center cords. Make sure the ends are even.
Tie 3 square knots over the overlapped center cords.
Again, trim down the ends of the working cords and carefully use the lighter to melt down the ends.
Done!
2ND & 3RD VERSION – Bulky Cotton Yarn or Worsted Weight Cotton Yarn
Make sure to use the correct lengths of cord depending on if you’re making a bracelet with the bulky yarn or worsted weight yarn. (See supply list above)
Besides that, the process is basically the same.
Step 1: Tape or pin yarn down to surface
Take your center cords and hold them together. Lay them on your work surface and tape or pin them down a few inches down from the top.
Lay one working cord on the right side of the center cords, and lay the other piece on the left side of the center cords.
Tape or pin them down at the same place that you taped down the center cords, leaving at least 3 inches of yarn at the top.
Step 2: Tie square knots
You’ll want to measure the size of the persons wrist that you’re making a bracelet for, and tie knots until they’re that length.
With the bulky yarn, I found that 25 knots was perfect for an adult size bracelet.
Worsted weight yarn took more knots, mine hit 6 inches at about 33 knots.
Take the left working cord and fold it across the center cords in a “4” shape.
Take the right working cord and lay it over the crossed over left cord. Then bring the end under the center cords and through the loop on the left.
Pull the ends of the cords to tighten. This is the first half of the square knot.
Repeat that process in reverse. Take the right strand and cross it over the center cords in a reverse “4” shape.
Take the left working cord and lay it over the crossed over right cord. Then bring the end under the center cords and through the loop on the right.
Pull the ends of the cords to tighten.
That completes the first square knot.
Continue making square knots until your bracelet is your desired length. I did 25 knots for bulky yarn and 33 knots for worsted weight.
Step 3: Weave in ends of working cords
Untape or unpin your yarn from your work surface.
Tighten up the top square knot if it’s a little loose.
Grab your blunt tipped large eye needle and thread one of the working cords onto it.
You’re going to thread the needle up under the center of 3 or 4 of the square knots, making sure to go under the side that’s the same color as the cord you’re working in. Trim off the excess yarn.
Repeat that with the 3 other working cord ends.
Step 4: Get everything adjusted
Now you’ll need to slide the square knot section down so there’s an equal amount of the center cords sticking out of both sides.
I found it was easiest to sort of inch worm the square knot part down until it was even.
Measure the square knot section when you’re finished to make sure it’s not all squished down or stretched out. It should measure the same length as it did before (about 6″ if you’re making an adult bracelet).
Tie an overhand knot in the ends of the center cords. Trim off any excess cord on the ends.
Step 5: Make sliding knot closure
Lay the center cords side by side going in opposite directions.
Take the 18″ long piece of cord and bring it behind the center cords. Make sure the ends are even.
Tie 3 square knots over the overlapped center cords. If you’re using worsted weight yarn, I recommend tying 4 square knots.
Thread one of the working yarn ends onto your blunt tipped needle.
Before you sew the working cord end along the side edge of the square knots, add a little dab of washable glue right where the yarn is coming out.
Make sure not to accidentally get the glue on the center cord (white cord) or it won’t slide easily.
Sew the thread back and forth down the side of the square knots you just tied. Cut the excess cord and repeat with the other working cord.
Done!
I hope you enjoyed this 2 color reversible macrame square knot bracelet tutorial! (That’s a mouthful!)
If you make one of these, please share a pic over on Instagram and tag me @marchingnorth so I can take a look. I love seeing all of your awesome creations!
Be sure to check out these other tutorials below!
More Macrame Patterns & Tutorials