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Patterns

Friendship bracelets – a variety of diagonally-tied patterns

Tying a friendship bracelet.

There are different types of friendship bracelets for example normal bracelets or alpha bracelets that are tied in different ways. Normal bracelets are tied diagonally while alpha bracelets are tied horizontally.

For each of the different types of friendship bracelets there is a big number of different patterns that get passed on from person to person or can be found in books or on websites. The amount of possible patterns is infinite. Some of these patterns are based on the styles of Navajo weaving. Only the most well known and most commonly used ones have names. These names vary slightly depending on location, but are overall similar.

Folklore

According to tradition, one ties a bracelet onto the wrist of a friend as a symbol of friendship and may wish for something at that moment. The bracelet should be worn until it is totally worn out and falls off by itself to honor the hard work and love put into making it. The moment at which the band falls off on its own, the wish is supposed to come true. Another Native American tradition says that removing a bracelet before it has worn off naturally is a sign that the friendship has ended.[1]