How to Make Macrame Bracelets With Rhinestone Detail - Easy Tutorial

Tools and materials:

• Tray or something similar
• G-S Hypo Cement or other hobby glue
• 20 inches of rattail cord or any other type of string
• Decorative loop-back button
• A few inches of rhinestone chain 
• 2.2 Yards of Chinese knotting cord
• 24 Inches of leather cord
• Thread zapper or lighter
• Chain nose pliers

1. Place the button and knot the leather cord

To begin, slide your button to the center of the leather cord. Then, bring the two ends of the cord together and make a knot. 

2. Loop around the button

Next, make a loop in the center of the rattail cord or other string, and insert the button through the loop. This string is solely used for securing the bracelet while you’re working on it, so you can use whatever kind of string you have lying around. 

3. Secure the cord and string to the tray

Place the part of the cord with the button on it at the top of your tray. Run the securing string over the edge of the tray and around to the back. Run one end of the string through the space between the two sides of the leather cord, pull it taut, and tie the string in a knot in the back of the tray. 

4. Make square knots

Begin making square knots with the Chinese knotting cord along the leather cord, starting about a quarter-inch below the button.

To make a square macrame knot, simply remember your "ps and qs"! Take your Chinese knotting cord and find the middle. Place it behind the leather to start.

Create a "p" shape with a loop to the right - the end of the loop goes on top of the leather. The lefthand side of the cord, the tail, points down, over the loop end. Next, thread the tail under the loop end and tail, into the loop on the right, then pull through to create the knot.

Then, repeat the process on the opposite side. Create a "q" shape with a loop and tail, then thread the tail under the middle and through the loop. Tighten into a knot.

The knots don't have to be perfect - you have a lot of Chinese knotting cord to work with - but do make sure they are tight. It takes a while to get into the rhythm, but once you have your "ps and qs" down, you'll find you can work quickly and efficiently.

5. Add rhinestones

Once you have about 2.5 inches of knots along the leather cord, it's time to add your rhinestones. Balance the rhinestone chain in the center of the leather cords, and make a square knot between the first and second rhinestones on the chain.

Make sure you do a full square knot (a p and a q!) by knotting the cord on one side of the leather and then the other, before moving onto the next rhinestone. Repeat between each rhinestone on the chain.

6. Secure knots with glue

Once the rhinestones are secured in place, continue to make another 2 inches of square knots along the leather cord. Then, apply the hobby glue to the final half an inch of the leather cord before making the last half-inch of square knots. This will help keep everything in place. 

7. Knot the end

Make a single knot with the knotting cord on the front of the bracelet, and then a surgeon’s knot on the back. Pull it tight to secure. 

8. Cut and burn

Cut the excess knotting cord and burn the frayed ends with a thread zapper or lighter. 

9. Squeeze 

Squeeze the knot with chain nose pliers to soften the edges of the knot a bit. 

10. Knot the leather and cut

Make an overhand knot at the end of the bracelet, right on top of the macrame end. Then, make a second overhand knot a bit farther down the leather cord, leaving enough space to push the button through the two sides of the leather cord. This will be your closure.

Once you’re happy with the placement of your knots, trim the excess leather. 

11. Apply glue

Apply glue to the knots to ensure they don’t come undone. 

How to make macrame bracelets tutorial

You’ve made a gorgeous, handmade macrame bracelet! Let me know what you think of this DIY macrame bracelet tutorial. If you use this tutorial to make a macrame bracelet of your own, please share your macrame bracelet ideas in the comments!