These easy yarn bracelets are fun for tweens and teens to make and trade. Using just a pipe cleaner and yarn, each bracelet takes less than 15 minutes to make, so it’s a great craft for Brownies, Girl Scouts, craft camp or an after-school craft session with friends. The best thing about our bracelets? There’s no braiding, weaving or tying involved.
If your kids love crafting and creating with yarn, we’ve added another fun and easy project to our terrific collection of yarn crafts.
This time it’s a simple yarn bracelet that takes just 2 supplies – a pipe cleaner and some yarn – and 15 minutes to make.
Best for ages 10 and up
I recommend this craft for ages 10 and up although younger children with advanced fine-motor skills may enjoy it as well.
Easier than traditional friendship bracelets
Similar to friendship bracelets, these bracelets are fun to make and trade with friends, but they’re easier because there’s no braiding, weaving or tying involved. All you have to do is wrap some yarn around a pipe cleaner, and voila… you have a bracelet.
Your kids can make a pile of them in all kinds of colours to go with anything in their wardrobe. Wear a few at a time, or mix and match a whole bunch, and stack them up your arm.
Variations:
Want a multi-coloured bracelet? Use variegated yarn (multicoloured) wrap your bracelet in blocks of colour, using several different yarns.
Want a thicker bracelet? Wrap several pipe cleaners at once instead of just one (see image below).
Get creative with the process and have fun!
Make trivets and coasters too!
If your kids enjoyed making our yarn bracelets, show them our yarn and pipe cleaner trivets and coasters too. Same technique, and they make beautiful homemade gifts for parents or grandparents.
Supplies:
Instructions:
Time needed: 15 minutes
How to Make a Pipe Cleaner and Yarn Bracelet
- Trim pipe cleaner to fit
To measure your pipe cleaner, wrap it around your wrist to form a circle that you can slide on and off your wrist without any trouble. Cut the pipe cleaner 1 and 1/2 inches longer than this to allow extra length for twisting the ends together.
- Begin wrapping pipe cleaner with yarn
Starting 3/4 inch in from one end begin wrapping your yarn around and around your pipe cleaner. Hold the tail of the yarn against the pipe cleaner and wrap the yarn around it to secure it in place.
- Continue wrapping
Continue wrapping the pipe cleaner, making sure none of the pipe cleaner shows through the yarn. Note: thicker yarns provide better/easier coverage.
- Twist ends together
Stop wrapping when you’re about an inch and a quarter away from the end of the pipe cleaner. Double check to make sure the bracelet will fit and then twist and pinch the ends together.
- Secure your yarn
Wrap your yarn over the joined ends to conceal them, trim yarn to leave a 2 inch tail. Use a plastic sewing needle to weave this tail into the bracelet to secure it in place.
How fun and easy was that?
They’re so much quicker and easier to make than traditional friendship bracelets but they’re just as cool for wearing and trading. And they’re a great way to use up scrap yarn from the craft cupboard!
More Yarn Crafts Tweens and Teens
Huichol Yarn Art – “Painting” with Yarn
Yarn-Wrapped Initials (tween/teen room decor)
Yarn String Art (no nails or wood required)
or find all of our Yarn Crafts for All Ages here.
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Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
