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Easy DIY Nautical Knot Bracelet | Sailor’s Knot Bracelet Tutorial

I am really loving my new DIY nautical knot bracelet – okay, technically my four new nautical knot bracelets.  I ended up making a bunch because they’re so easy and inexpensive to make!  With the help of my nautical loving Hubby, I tried a few different kinds of knots before finding an awesome one that lies flat, works perfectly, and looks so pretty as a bracelet.  Here’s how we made these summery DIY nautical knot bracelets (sometimes called a Sailor’s knot bracelet)!

Nautical knot bracelet DIY

Supplies:

Make a silk cord bracelet

How to Make a DIY Nautical Knot Bracelet:

How to Make an Easy DIY Nautical Knot Bracelet Tutorial

Before you get started on your DIY nautical knot bracelet, open up the crimp ends a little, using pliers.

Gold ribbon crimp ends

Take one length of cord, fold it in half.  Lay it down on your work surface so it forms a loop.  For my bracelets, I used 2 pieces of cord, each 22″ long, and that made a 6″ long bracelet (including the clasp).  Use more cord if you have thicker cord or want a longer bracelet.

Make a nautical knot

Sneak your second length of cord (also folded in half), under the loop.

Make a nautical knot

Loop the bottom cord over and then under the tails of the loop you made.

Make a nautical knot

Then wrap it over one half of the loop, then under itself and then over the second half of the loop.

Make a nautical knot

Gently pull the knot tight, shaping it a bit so it lies flat and the ends are even.

Make a nautical knot

Measure how long you would like your bracelet (don’t forget the clasp adds length).  Place tape all the way around the four strands where you want to cut them.

Make a knotted cord bracelet

Using sharp scissors, cut all four ends after the tape so the tape holds the cord together.  This type of cord unravels quickly, so we immediately added epoxy to the ends.  Some tutorials show gluing on the sides of the cord but then it shows, so we glued the ends and only a millimeter between each cord to hold them together invisibly.  We mixed the two-part epoxy with a toothpick and used the toothpick to spread on the glue and coax a little between the cords.

How to finish off a satin cord bracelet
Hubby’s hands!

Let the epoxy dry for a minute, just so it’s tacky but not hard (this epoxy dries rock hard).

How to use a ribbon crimp end with cord bracelet

Place the cord into the opened ribbon crimp and use a toothpick to push it all in.  It’s wriggly and will try to escape, but the epoxy (still pliable but not totally glued) will help hold it together.

How to use a ribbon crimp end

Close the crimp with needle nosed pliers and let your new DIY nautical knot bracelet dry 24 hours.

How to use a ribbon crimp end

Add a clasp using two small jump rings.  Our clasps were provided by the Etsy shop, Antiqued and I really love them because they already come with tag connectors and look really sleek.  At this point, you can also add some chain in lieu of the connector to make the length adjustable.

DIY Knotted silk cord braceletEasy DIY cord bracelet

These easy DIY nautical knot bracelets took minutes to make (and cost only $1-2 per bracelet), so we made a bunch!

Summery bracelet tutorialBright yellow braceletKnotted bracelet tutorial

This DIY nautical knot bracelet is lightweight and really cheery, which makes it perfect for summer.  Plus it’s light and crushable, so it’s the perfect accessory to pack when traveling because it won’t add much weight to luggage but it adds a fun pop of color to any outfit.   

Bracelets for $1-2 DIYKnotted coral cord bracelet

P.S. My DIY nautical knot bracelet looks super cute with my Prada-inspired DIY raffia straw hat!

DIY nautical knot bracelet tutorialHow to make a knotted satin cord bracelet - nautical, colorful

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42 Comments

  1. Dana@Mid2Mod
    May 15, 2013 / 6:29 pm

    Those are super cute!

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      May 15, 2013 / 7:13 pm

      Thanks Dana 🙂

  2. Lets just build a house!
    May 15, 2013 / 11:48 pm

    I LOVE THEM! you should probably have offered these as a giveaway because they are adorable!

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      May 16, 2013 / 1:30 am

      Aww, you're sweet! They are so easy to make, I didn't think they'd have the giveaway lure 😉

  3. Donatella M.
    May 16, 2013 / 5:55 am

    Hi Tanya, thanks for linking to my post! Love the pastel colors – I can never have enough of cords and knots!! 🙂 xox, d.www.inspirationrealisation.com

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      May 16, 2013 / 2:48 pm

      It's definitely addictive to make these!! Thanks for the inspiration.

  4. Kaci
    May 16, 2013 / 10:40 am

    These are so cute! I love simple bracelets – especially ones I can make myself;) Thanks for the tutorial!

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      May 16, 2013 / 2:47 pm

      I'm happy you like! I'd love to see your version if you make some 🙂

  5. Laura_Hickman
    May 16, 2013 / 2:02 pm

    These are adorable. What size cording did you use and where did you find it? Ty.

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      May 16, 2013 / 2:47 pm

      Hi Laura, my cord is about 5mm thick, but thicker or thinner will both work. I had some cord half this size that made a really delicate bracelet but I just wasn't feeling the colour.

  6. Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication
    May 17, 2013 / 1:35 am

    That is so cute! I want one!

  7. Cheryl
    May 17, 2013 / 11:50 am

    They look awesome! I am pinning this so my teen and I can make a few this summer.

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      May 17, 2013 / 6:47 pm

      Fun!! You will both have such a great time making these 🙂 Buy extra ribbon crimps because you'll want to make oodles once you make one. We only made four each because that's all I ordered and we were both disappointed (and greedy)! Happy crafting 🙂

  8. Ann Martin
    May 17, 2013 / 2:21 pm

    Beautiful! (as are your photos!) I hope you'll offer these for sale. 🙂

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      May 17, 2013 / 6:51 pm

      I promise these are super easy 🙂 I likely won't be making them for sale because there are so many knotted cord bracelets for sale on Etsy. But I'm flattered!

  9. Cup of Threads
    May 20, 2013 / 6:04 am

    Omg I love this! I come across very few jewelry tutorials that I would actually do one day, but I can totally see myself doing and wearing this. thanks!

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      May 20, 2013 / 10:06 pm

      I'm so happy to hear that! Happy crafting!

  10. chrissy
    May 20, 2013 / 7:41 pm

    your blog (and home, and diy results…) are gorgeous!

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      May 20, 2013 / 10:08 pm

      Awww, thanks 🙂 I share some DIY doozies, too, don't worry! Some of my projects are major flops. (I'm currently saving a flop in the garage). But that's part of DIY!

  11. Lys
    May 22, 2013 / 12:28 pm

    I love this! I've been thinking about making my own bracelet/jewellery and this looks like a fun one to try out. Thanks for the idea!

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      May 22, 2013 / 1:01 pm

      Making jewellery is super addictive, let me warn you 🙂 I started in high school and it's a hobby I still do occasionally. Happy crafting!

  12. Δέσποινα
    May 23, 2013 / 12:21 pm

    I did it!!!!It is super cute!!!!Thank you for the tutorial!!!I post it on my blog!!!

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      May 23, 2013 / 3:43 pm

      Your bracelet turned out beautifully! I love the colour cord you used. I'm so happy the tutorial worked for you!! YAY 🙂

  13. Wendy
    May 23, 2013 / 6:16 pm

    lovely! NOw I just have to find some suitable rope…

  14. Samantha Baldwin
    May 30, 2013 / 8:38 pm

    OOoo, crimp ends. This could change my life. Nice job.

  15. Connie K.
    July 21, 2013 / 7:04 pm

    Wish there was a video.

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      July 21, 2013 / 11:34 pm

      Think of it like lumosity brain training (http://www.lumosity.com/), but free! Keeps us sharp-minded.;)It might take a few tries fiddling with the cord, but once you get it, you get it! Let me know if you have any questions.

  16. Anonymous
    October 23, 2013 / 2:13 pm

    super new twist on an old girl guide skill I spy an easy fundraiser for christmas

  17. Pearl Blay
    November 17, 2013 / 12:37 am

    Simply stunning! Thanks for taking the time to figure out the right knot to use!

  18. SimplyEnid
    February 17, 2014 / 11:05 am

    It's beautiful!! Thanks for sharing.

  19. Cindy Wilson
    April 15, 2014 / 6:10 pm

    I think the knotted cord bracelet looks really great! I feel like it would fit into the style of any teenager nowadays since it is very colorful without being too loud. I’m sure it’ll fit any outfit in any style. Thanks for the tutorial, by the way. Cindy Wilson

  20. Christine Golingho
    May 6, 2014 / 3:39 pm

    Hi! I love this bracelet and want to make one. What is the size of crimp end? Is it 16mm? Thanks!

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      May 10, 2014 / 5:22 pm

      The crimp ends we used were around 25 mm. You could use larger or smaller, and work with thinner or thick cord. My friend Erica (linked to in the post) made some using the same crimp ends but much thicker cord. Happy crafting!

  21. Joyce Craig
    June 11, 2014 / 3:06 pm

    This is a great tutorial and I can't wait to make some of these. Your pictures were very precise and helpful. Thanks!

  22. Joyce Craig
    June 11, 2014 / 3:09 pm

    This tutorial is the clearest and easiest one to follow that I've ever seen. I'm not great with knots, but you make this look simple enough, that I might even be able to do a few! Thanks for sharing your talent!

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      July 22, 2014 / 3:49 pm

      I'm so happy that you're going to try this project!

  23. Nadou
    June 26, 2014 / 5:41 pm

    Merci pour ce tuto qui est très intéressant et le rendu est vraiment superBonne soiréeNadou

  24. crazyfashionsince1998
    July 21, 2014 / 5:39 pm

    i need help… LOL!

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      July 22, 2014 / 3:49 pm

      oh no 🙂

  25. Top Alaskan Brown Bear Hunts coastal
    September 24, 2014 / 5:04 am

    Wow that bracelet is beautiful! I am so gonna make one of these. Thanks for sharing this with us!

  26. Marilyn M
    June 24, 2015 / 10:52 pm

    Love your bracelet. Gonna try and make one. What size cord did you use?

  27. AD Richards
    September 9, 2017 / 10:32 am

    Brilliant..such a clear tutorial..thanks again for sharing x

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