Friendship bracelet supplies

[Susie]

Frivolous distraction post...

We're having a Taylor Swift themed bday party for my soon to be 9 year old, and one of the activities the girls are going to do is making friendship bracelets.  For an uninitiated mom who is only a casual TS fan... any recs for supplies?  This is my first friendship bracelet rodeo.

Preferred thickness of elastic?

Tips on beads?

Do I need glue for the ends of the elastic?

Do they need some kind of threader device?

Anything else?

We will have up to 9 kids making bracelets (depending on RSVPs), I assume they'll all want to make a few to possibly a stack of bracelets.  If anyone has a sense of how many beads/etc. that might translate to, that would also be helpful!

TIA for any guidance.  DD is super excited about this, so I want it to go well for her!

[waverly]

We just picked up one of the bead kits off of Amazon. You want the ones with letters because you will need to spell out names of albums and songs etc. We didn't have any problem threading them. The correct size elastic to fit the beads comes with the kit.

[noodleoo]

Susie , I really like this thread for bracelets. It is way easier to tie tightly than the plastic thread. I don't have to use any glue, just tie a tight knot (I do a double knot to be safe) and it is good. They don't need a threader, even 6 year old DD2 can do it straight onto the thread.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TQF2578/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My kids have several of the clay bead sets from amazon from different sellers. They all seem pretty much the same.   A lot of them come with letters, but you may want an extra pack so you don't run out of vowels.

My only other advice is to have them make the bracelets over trays or plates if possible to collect the beads when someone inevitably drops their bracelet before they are done.  Your group might be old enough that it isn't as big a problem.

[bex1973]

Nov 6, 2024 14:09:43 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Susie , I really like this thread for bracelets. It is way easier to tie tightly than the plastic thread. I don't have to use any glue, just tie a tight knot (I do a double knot to be safe) and it is good. They don't need a threader, even 6 year old DD2 can do it straight onto the thread.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TQF2578/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My kids have several of the clay bead sets from amazon from different sellers. They all seem pretty much the same.   A lot of them come with letters, but you may want an extra pack so you don't run out of vowels.

My only other advice is to have them make the bracelets over trays or plates if possible to collect the beads when someone inevitably drops their bracelet before they are done.  Your group might be old enough that it isn't as big a problem.

We still do this and my kid is 11 so it's solid advice!

[expectantsteelerfan]

Like pp said, any kit should be fine, we used one like this for our TS bracelets:
www.amazon.com/DICOBD-10800pcs-1200pcs-Bracelets-Necklaces/dp/B083JFST4N/ref=sr_1_6?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Ppuz7T1PfcCo0t7wCmeiHtnkqPztMyFuv4KAvELZ2J23Eb6quAaavVQIY3uRX44lvb6mlJIqOAkCo8vP4jidteat5iTS4-PorcSwwG72KlftulHT8s0XIQQTmD_yLvLzokSBpm8xYS_e0NwNALog3OH9FaPjjeCnXY3ITmTNjop4Ofyjk9V_12y-hV1i9OZLOEBT55AhszaS5KuLnF1SxZmXA1QHbE6C2zVZ3VqJIU3zQOelhoZqe_2xe28mL7gv3U-z7YZ-9kWPBS1aXQ5jTOYmPRij0ycd5v4Vhw_2GIc.F5BFXMMjdTzQQpMbG7djYjCHyxJJRKIOi0Oj6tptsw0&dib_tag=se&keywords=friendship%2Bbracelet%2Bletter%2Bkit&qid=1730920775&sr=8-6&th=1

While my DD enjoys clay bead kits, we find they take much longer to make and are much easier to 'spill' and lead to frustration than the bigger beads, so I'd avoid those (they are the really thin beads that fit together, but you'd still need bigger letter beads anyway).

[sadie]

Pro tip: instead of glue, use a dab of clear nail polish on the joining knot.

[meanie]

We got DD this bead set, it comes organized in trays which is super helpful:


www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CPSBDTTH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1


We also bought this elastic cord:

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WZPNHCF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1


I would pre cut the cord lengths and knot or glue one side.

Sounds fun!

[jeaniebueller]

have a clipboard for each of them to hold their elastic as they string beads (a lot of newer clipboards may not touch at the base, the older kind are the best). 

[Susie]

So many good suggestions, thank you all!

[ssmjlm]

If you have a box of binder clips laying around use those to secure at least one end.

[mccallister84]

Maybe my daughter and her friends were an anomaly but we did this at her TS party last year and it lasted all of about 5 minutes. I think they each made one and moved on. I honestly expected them to spend much of the party doing this because when DD has friends over one on one they will make bracelets the entire time.

[Susie]

To follow up, we had the party last night and bracelet making turned out to be a huge hit.  We had a few die hard Swifties who are super into bracelet making as well as all other things TS, and a few girls who were not as into TS but bracelet making proved an engaging craft.  Lots of bracelets made.

I precut the elastic, and binder clipped the ends to baking dishes.  It worked out great.  By the end I was pretty tired of tying knots, but the girls had fun!  We did all the eating in the dining room, set up the kitchen table for bracelet making, and had the Eras Tour movie playing on the TV in the family room (visible from the kitchen).  They went back and forth to dancing and singing during favorite songs and bracelet making during other songs.  

We decorated with mirror balls, streamers, and fake jewels (Bejeweled).  I did the invitation and cake with 1989 album art theme since she was turning 9.  DD seemed super anxious ahead of the party ahead of time, and I couldn't quite tell if she was worried about it being sufficiently "cool" or going well or what but it really seemed like they all had fun.  Honestly I did too

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[bex1973]

I love this Susie! Thanks for the update!!