How to Make a Round Braid

If friendship bracelets are frustrating, try learning how to make a round braid. After set up, there’s just one repeating step, but you still get a complex looking braid.

MATERIALS

• Yarn

• Chipboard, or clean food box

• Scissors

• Circle template, approx. 3.5″ wide

DIRECTIONS

1. Trace any cup to make a circle about 3.5″ wide. A little larger or smaller will work too. I used the back of a cereal box.

2. Draw four lines to divide the circle into 8 equal sections. Super precise measurements are not necessary, eyeball guesses will be OK.

3. Cut eight notches out of the circle and add slits. Cut the center hole with a small scissors.

4. Cut 7 equal sections of yarn, about 18″ long. If you start with anything longer, the yarn tends to tangle up. Tie one end with a knot.

5. Place the knot in the hole and slide all 7 ends into slots as shown. One will be empty. Align as shown above so that the empty is at the 12:00 position.

6. Take the 4:00 yarn out of its slot.

7. Insert the yarn into the 12:00 slot.

8. Rotate the cardboard to the left so that the empty slot now sets at the 12:00 position. Repeat so that the 4:00 yarn is always moving to the empty 12:00. Always rotate the cardboard to the left and repeat, keeping the yarns taut for a neat braid.