Author: Talha
I am a crochet designer, macramé maker and a crafter who also loves doing MATH.
Learn how to DIY a colorful, striped spiral bracelet, aka a Chinese staircase bracelet, with this macrame friendship bracelet tutorial. You can make this bracelet in 2 or 3 colors, using just 3 yarn strands. It is a 1-knot repeat pattern that every beginner can make. Be sure to make one and give it as a gift to your dear friend.
I made mine and have demonstrated here using yellow, purple, and green yarn. The stripe pattern will repeat thrice, and you make each stripe any longer.
I am finally back with another Friendship bracelet tutorial, and I promise it will be easier than you think. Also, because you only have to work with 1 yarn strand per row. I have already taught you how to make the solid spiral bracelet as well as the square knot bracelet. This is different from them and actually easier. So, let me teach you how to macrame one!
About Making the Chinese Staircase
This is a twisted stripes bracelet, also known as the Chinese ladder. The reason this bracelet pattern is so special is that we achieve an elegant spiral and striped design using just the Forward Knot around the remaining two yarn strands. You repeat that with one color (about 8 – 16 times).
So, this bracelet is a perfect introductory project for beginners. You can then try the Chevron bracelet, which also requires the Backward Knot.
Quickly Learning to Make a 3-Strand Chinese Ladder
- Step #1: Cut 3 strands of equal length of 3 colors from your yarn or embroidery floss skein.
- Step #2: Line all three strands and make an overhand knot near one of the ends, and secure the work on the table using duct or paper tape. Arrange as A, B, &D.
- Step #3: Choose any of 3 colors as the active strand and tape the other two straight and parallel on the surface.
- Step #4: With the active strand, make a Forward Knot (pass through the bottom to the right, cross over, cross through the loop, and pull tight).
- Step #5: Make about 8 – 16 such knots before you remove the tape from the base strands and pair the active strand with any of the base strands so you can work with another color. Make the knots with the 2nd color, then with the 3rd color, and repeat from the beginning.
- Step #6: And that’s how you will make a Chinese staircase. Braid the 3 strands in the end and secure with the slip knot!
3-Strand Chinese Staircase Spiral Bracelet: Step-by-Step Instructions
Colors:
- Yellow (Color A)
- Purple (Color B)
- Green (Color B)
Knots Needed:
- Forward Hitch
- Slip Knot
- Overhand knot
- Braid
Supplies Needed
- Yarn: Such as Embroidery floss or macramé cord (I will be using the macramé cord of 1.5 mm thickness while demonstrating)
- Colors: 3 colors with good contrast
- Tape: Can be transparent or the recommended paper tape.
- A flat surface, such as a table, to tape the work over. If you are using the transparent tape, be sure the surface is dry.
Preparation
Cut about 39 inches of yarn (or more if you are using thin embroidery floss or polycherry thread) from 3 different-colored skeins. Line the strands tip-to-tip and from the top, make an overhand knot (make a loop, pass all three strands through this loop).
Secure the work on the table by X-taping the knot and its strands. Be sure you use a strong tape so strands don’t slide through. Separate the colors!
Now, choose any of the three colors as the first active color. Like the yellow in my case. Hold the other 2, line them up, and apply tape over so we can easily work around the strands.
Forward Knot or Forward Knot
- Now, let’s make a forward knot with COLOR A for the first stripe of the Chinese spiral bracelet. To do so, cross the COLOR A over both the COLOR B & COLOR C to the right such that on the left, you leave a U-shaped loop.
- Now, pick up the tip of the COLOR A and pass it below the COLOR C and COLOR B to the right. Then, on the left, pass it over itself, too. This makes a tangle that can be knotted by pulling and is called the Forward Hitch Tangle.
- Pull the strand tight towards you, such that you keep the COLOR B & COLOR C pressed. This will let you bring the knot exactly below the knot (no spacing!). This is the first forward hitch. Now, if you would like to make the hitch in pairs, the knots will be called the forward knot. Let’s complete it!
- And that’s how you will make the forward knot! Just repeat this multiple times. Since I was in a hurry, I only made 8 knots. For a two-spiral pattern, you can make the 16 hitches.
- Here are the 6 forward hitches. Just the following: cross to the right (over), cross to the left (below), cross itself (over).
- Now, let’s work with the COLOR B. To do so, be sure to remove the tape like this!
- Now, tape purple and yellow in place and work repeatedly from the beginning, working with the green yarn and then with the purple strand. To finish it off, I recommend braiding the excess and making a slip knot for securing the bracelet around the wrist.
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