Wren Handmade: Crocheted Bracelets

The breathtaking pieces of the extremely talented and generous artist, Laura Normandin, include paper goods, granny square art, jewelry, handmade dolls, and these wonderfully charming crocheted bracelets that she has kindly agreed to teach us to make. Influenced by larger scale handicrafts that surrounded her during her youth, Laura's refined, miniature creations leave you speechless.

Materials

Valdani thread colors pictured above:

• #6 Natural (or #4 Ivory)
• #145 Brown
• #14 Deep Rusty Orange
• #10 Lemon
• #114 Marine
• #118 Pearl Gray
• #120 Medium Gray
• #872 Medium Dusty Blue
• #244 Love of Life
• #3 White

Thread colors used for pattern images below:

• 1 ball Valdani thread color #120 (Color 1)
• 1 ball Valdani thread color #3 White (Color 2)

Tools + Notions

• 1 size 9/1.40mm crochet hook
• 3/8-inch button (we suggest using extra shirt buttons)

The Pattern

Gauge:

13 stitches = 1-inch

Finished sizes (approximate)

Small = 6.25-inches around

Medium = 6.5-inches around

Large = 7-inches around

Below in pattern as follows S (M, L)

Abbreviations:

Chain = ch

Slip Stitch = sl st

Single crochet = sc

Double crochet = dc

Half double crochet = hdc: yo, insert hook in st, draw lp through, yo, draw through all 3 loops (lps) on hook.

Note: When changing colors, carry thread along side of work, do not cut ends of thread until finished.

If you are new to crochet or need to brush up on your skills, click here to find our Crochet Basics Tutorial.

Ch 81 (85, 89) in color 1, ch 1 turn.

Row 1: In second ch from hook, *sc, hdc, dc, hdc, repeat from * across row ending with a sc, change to color 2, ch 2 turn.

Row 2: *dc, hdc, sc, hdc, repeat from * across row ending with a dc, ch 2 turn.

Row 3: *dc, hdc, sc, hdc, repeat from * across row ending with a dc, change to color 1, ch 1 turn.

Row 4: *sc, hdc, dc into dc st directly below in previous color 1 row, hdc, repeat from * across row ending with a sc, ch 1 turn.

Row 5: *sc, hdc, dc, hdc, repeat from * across row ending with a sc, change to color 2, ch 2 turn.

Row 6: *dc, hdc, sc, hdc, repeat from * across row ending with a dc, ch 2 turn.

Row 7: *dc, hdc, sc, hdc, repeat from * across row ending with a dc, change to color 1, ch 1 turn.

Row 8: *sc, hdc, dc, into dc st directly below in previous color 1 row, hdc, repeat from * across row ending with a sc, ch 1, turn corner and work sc in each of edge sts, ch 1 turn, sc in each of the next 3 sts, ch 5, sc in last 3 sts, turn corner again to above previous row.

Row 9: Loosely sl st in each st across, turn corner to finish off edge, cut color 2 thread with a 3-inch tail, sc in each edge st working over the loose thread ends to bind, fasten off. Weave in last loose end and trim excess threads.

For wider bracelet:

Follow same directions until row 7.

Row 8: * sc, hdc, dc into dc st directly below in previous color 1 row, hdc, repeat from * across row ending with a sc, ch 1 turn.

Row 9: *sc, hdc, dc, hdc, repeat from * across row ending with a sc, change to color 2, ch 2 turn.

Row 10: *dc, hdc, sc, hdc, repeat from * across row ending with a dc, change to color 1, ch 1 turn.

Row 11: *dc, hdc, sc, hdc, repeat from * across row ending with a dc, change to color 2,ch 1 turn.

Row 12: *sc, hdc, dc into dc st directly below in previous color 1 row, hdc, repeat from * across row ending with a sc, ch 1, turn corner and work sc in each of the edge sts, ch 1 turn, sc in each of next 3 sts, ch 5, sc in each of last 3 sts, turn corner again to above previous row.

Row 13: Loosely sl st in each st across, turn corner to finish off edge, cut color 2 thread with a 3-inch tail, sc in each edge st working over loose thread ends to bind, fasten off. Weave in last loose end and trim excess threads.

For both size bracelets:

Steam flat. Sew on matching button (make sure it slips through the loop) with needle and sewing thread.

Comments

[ina and gumby]

... what a treasure ... thanks for sharing laura's bracelets with us ... happy days ...

[Bettina Groh]

My crocheting skills are minimal! But my quilting group has crocheters of great skill... so I'll be requesting "help" at our first fall meeting!
Thank you... this looks like fun.

[Casey]

I can't wait to give this a try! Thank you so much for sharing!

[Petra]

lovely!

[mims]

I am the proud owner of two of Laura's crochet bracelets. I just adore them, but alas, they are looking a little forlorn from all the wearing/washing. Maybe I will try to make my own....but I think my eyes must not be as young as hers Time for progressives...

[maura]

Thanks so much for sharing this! I have admired these bracelets for a long time... one thing - I think there is a mistake in Row 8 or 9... the instructions seem to be reversed/mixed up for finishing the bracelet (slip stitching maybe should be before the row with 3 sc/5 chain/3sc? Maybe my brain is just not working... either way, thank you!

[Leila]

I've wanted one of these bracelets forever but couldn't (as a crocheter) justify to myself buying one but couldn't (as a not-very-experienced-crocheter) figure out how to make one for myself. Now I can do it! I've even had thread for over a year with an idea that I'd figure it out some day. Thank you soooo much Laura!

[Martha]

I've started making the bracelet but mine is not coming out looking like little squares. it just looks like long strips. Can you tell me what I'm doing wrong.

[purl bee]

Hi Martha,
The bracelets are made lengthwise, the squares don't show till the end. Hope this helps, but let us know if you still have questions!

[Laura Normandin]

Hi Martha,
One reason yours could look like strips instead of squares is that you have to do the double crochets of color 1 down into the double crochets of the previous color 1 row.

Hope that helps.
Thanks,
Laura

[Jessiner]

This looks like just the thing to make for my daughter for back-to-school. She might start a new trend. A variation on the popular friendship bracelets.

[erinn johnson]

I am a huge wren handmade fan. How nice of Laura to share!

[Rachel]

Yes, I agree with Jessiner... At 26 I can hardly sport the old chevron stripes (and they were SO time consuming to make, anyway!) These are a great grown-up version. I also don't have much experience with crochet so this is a great starter project for me. Thanks so much for sharing, Laura!

[Constance]

Is it possible to make these bracelets with laceweight yarn?

[Rebecca]

I am planning on using this pattern next summer to teach my daughters and their friends to crochet. That is allowed, right? We join a skills group co-op in the summer with each mom taking a turn to host in her home and teach the girls a skill or craft. These bracelets look like they can be completed in an afternoon, and the girls can choose their own colors. Making a bracelet is much more appealing than crocheting a dish cloth for a first project. Thanks for sharing,

[Sanna SK]

Rebecca: here's hoping you see this. I've been crocheting for many years, and one bracelet took me about 3 days to make. Because it's so insanely tiny, you simply will not progress very quickly at all. As for teaching teens or children new to crocheting, I would not recommend this pattern as written. It's simply too fine work and takes such a time investment for a physically small-sized payoff. The bracelet is adorable and I enjoyed making mine, and I will enjoy making more in the future, but a new or young crocheter, I believe, needs more immediate and substantial satisfaction than such small hookwork will provide. At the very least, take the pattern and alter it to use worsted weight Red Heart or similar yarn and an H or I hook. They could still make bracelets, but don't start them out on crochet thread and tiny hooks, or, like my grandmother, they'll never learn to love yarnwork, and will instead hate it forever. And we don't want that : xxxxx.

[Best Craft Blog: floralshowers]

These are so cute! i absolutely love your site, and you ideas. And I love to crochet! Thanks a bunch!

Anne

[LindaLustig]

Hey, I love these bracelets and I just have to try to make me one. I will link to this description on my blog, if it is not ok please tell me and I will remove the link. :-)

[Birgitta]

Very fine.

[laura]

I really adore these bracelets and sent away for the gorgeous Vandani embrod thread, forgetting that it is indeed THREAD. I am trying very hard to do this but it is sooooo tiny. Your pics are somewhat misleading, your macro lens is so good it makes the thread look like nice workable yarn. I am an experienced crocheter and my fingers are just not able to do this.....sigh. I think I will try to do this in a larger thread.

[purl bee]

Hi Laura-
We tried to be clear about the size by giving the gauge early in the pattern but we're so sorry if you're having problems. Please let us know how it goes with the larger yarn. I bet it will be beautiful! - Molly

[Christi]

I can't believe I missed this tutorial - am on here all the time, but forget to look at the patterns. I've been a fan of Laura's work for about four/five years, now, and these bracelets have always been a fave. I was so inspired by her, I started making my own bracelets (http://ow.ly/14trL) using mostly really, really old crocheted trim patterns (some are turn-of-the-century). I love making them - it's a struggle the first couple of time, but like most things, it becomes second-nature once you've done it a few time. Thanks so much! Love this!

[Christi]

Ouch! Just realized I'm a bad typist AND my link doesn't work. Try again - thanks!!
http://ow.ly/14AoR

[Bethany]

Thank you so much for the beautiful pattern! I was looking for something to make in the summer that was non-winter wear and these are perfect!

[kat]

Hello,
Thanks you very much for this wonderful post! I am a new crocheter, already made some nice things and i adore to make these nice bracelets! However i am afraid i am not good at reading patterns! Could you please explain to me what i should do in row 1? Should i make a sc, hdc, dc, hdc in the same stitch till the row ends? or you mean in 2nd stitch start a sc then in 3rd stitch hdc, in 4th dc etc and repeat till the end of the row?
Hope i didnt confuse you!
thanks!

[Lovestitch]

Thanks so much for your great tutorial! I just love love love it, really really cute!
I also made some for my own, with your easy to make pattern, and so happy wearing it! If you get a moment, please come to check out my blog to see what I've done with your tutorial...
Thanks again,
Lovestitch.

[Emily]

I am looking for a decorative crochet curtain tie pattern and this looks like what I want. Thanks for sharing. :) First I think I will make a braclet.

[Chrissy]

I've been making my own version of Laura's bracelets since I fist saw them some 5-6 years ago. I use Victorian edging patterns to create modern bracelets. I wanted to make hers so badly, but even though I found a lot of brick washcloth patterns, couldn't quite figure it out. I bought from her at Renegade, but it still didn't stop me from wanting to make my own. I'm more excited that you'll ever know to see this post - a million thanks to Laura and also to you guys!

[Kirsten]

I am a fairly experienced crocheter, and I tried this pattern tonight and found it insanely frustrating. Allowing this may just be my own expertise and not the pattern, I had a few questions. Does this pattern really use size 12 embroidery thread? I agree with the comment about the photos being misleading. I nearly finished row 3 after some hours, and found myself wanting to cut the whole thing up because I can't make out legible stitches that I'm stitching into, and I have excellent eyesight.

[purl bee]

Hi Kirsten,
Sorry you're getting frustrated!
It does use size 12 embroidery thread ,but it's a particular thread from Valdanii (you can find it at the link below). You may want to try using this thread to see if you have better luck with it. Maybe go up one size in your hook too so you can distinguish between the stitches a little better.
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/6367-Valdani-Pearl-Cotton-Embroidery-Thread
Hope this helps!

[Liz]

Hi! This bracelet is fantastic, and I’ve already made a few for friends! They've been bragging about it to everyone, and apparently I now have a handful of requests for crocheted bracelets. I’m just a student though and have neither the time nor the money to be handing these out for free, but I don’t want to sell any without permission. I completely understand if you don’t wish me selling these, from experience I know that most pattern authors who offer their patterns free have that stipulation, just thought I’d ask :)

[purl bee]

Hi Liz-

All of the patterns on our site are for personal use only and cannot be sold.

Thank you for your question!

[Jess]

Hi! These bracelets are super cute!
I've crocheted bracelets with plarn {recycled plastic shopping bags made into yarn}
http://www.etsy.com/shop/theindecisivenerdyma?section_id=8038759

[Dianewr]

This is a great tutorial. You might be interested in entering our contest at Blooming Sisters! You can find it here: http://bloomingsisters.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/are-you-ready-for-another-contest/
Happy Blogging to you!

[Jill]

Love these, maybe they would look good stacked! Will be adding them to my never ending project list! Thanks so much for the tutorial! Does anyone know where to purchase craft supplies online with good prices plus dependability?

[purl bee]

Hi Jill-

We sell off of the supplies we feature on The Purl Bee at our online store: http://www.purlsoho.com/purl

Thank you!

Molly

[Jill]

Thanks so much Molly, I will check it out! Happy Holidays!
Jillie

[Donna Campbell]

I love, love, love "The Purl Bee". When I see a free pattern listed online that I like it always seems to be from "The Purl Bee". These bracelets looks like so much fun to make for my daughters (and me too).

Donna

[Crochet Girl]

I don't quite understand row 4. Someone help?

[purl bee]

Hi Crochet Girl-

We'd be happy to help you with this! Can you let us know what specifically about row 4 is giving you trouble?

Thank you!

Molly