Sun Sensitive Summer Bracelets

Your kids will be delighted as they watch these UV sensitive beads change colour in the sun!

I was super excited to get these UV sensitive beads from my kids' school this summer (a quick check on Amazon and I see that you also get glow in the dark ones!). I've been planning to make summer bracelets and ones that change colour in the sun are surely the best summer bracelets of all! I used a basic macrame knot - the square knot - to thread the beads onto the bracelet. The actual tying of the knot is beyond my kids' abilities so we worked together. I tied the knot, they threaded the bead, I tied the next knot, they added the next bead. It doesn't take long at all to whip these up once you have mastered the square knot. Here's how:

Find some nice cord. This was from the dollar store. Cheap and very cheerful!

Cut six lengths. Mine were about 40cm long (15.5 inches). Make two of the six cords about 5cm (2 inches) longer. These are your main threads that you will use in tying your square knots.

Tie a knot at the top as shown and cut the end cords free so that you have six free cords. Then begin to knot the cord.

The end cords to the far left and right will be your main cords which will basically snake down the bracelet back and forward. In the above picture, the blue/green cord is the main cord that will be used to make the current knot. Lay it over the four middle cords and under the far left cord.

Take the far left cord (the pink cord) and tie it under the green/yellow cord you just brought along to the left side. Bring the pink cord out at the right hand side, effectively making a knot around the four middle cords. Pull tightly. I always hold the middle four cords as I do this to maintain even tension. This is important if you want the bracelet to look neat! For the next row, you will take the pink cord and pass it over the four middle cords from left to right and a knot with the yellow/green cord passing round the back (the opposite of the previous know). And so on, taking turns with the far left and far right cords going over the front and back.

After you have made a few knots on their own, start to thread the beads onto the four centre cords.

Twist up the four main cords and secure with tape to keep them together and making threading the beads easier.

Make a few knots at the end without beads and tie together as shown. Bracelet complete! Now all you need is sunny weather!

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