Forum - Bracelet tying - Alpha Bracelet string length??

ondinaevan

Bracelet King

1 year, 7 months ago by ondinaevan

Hi everyone 🙂 Although I'm an experienced bracelet maker in terms of normal bracelets, I've never completed an alpha bracelet, but I recently learned how to make them and would love to make some.

However, I'm a little worried about string length. For the designs, I normally just use the bobbins/string skein and tie it that way, and that's all fine and dandy. However, I'm completely lost on how to estimate how much of a background colour I will need. I'm wondering if one 8m skein is usually enough for a background thread?? Will I use up all of it, and therefore is it safer to have 2?

I don't want to start a bracelet and run out without having a backup colour, but I also don't want to start a bracelet with a colour I really love and not be able to use it for any other bracelets until I buy it again (I buy some of my thread from other countries when I travel)

Here's an example of 2 patterns I'd love to make:

#149065
#142036

Would love and appreciate any help on this <3 Thanks! ❤️

halokiwi

Moderator

1 year, 7 months ago by halokiwi

My advice:
Knot a test swatch of a certain amount of knots. Measure/calculate the amount of string you needed for that.
Based on that you should be able to roughly calculate the amount of string needed for a certain colour based on how many knots you are going to make for it.
You'll also need to consider the loose strings in the back because you will use up string without making knots of its colour there.

lilpiggy11

Bracelet King

1 year, 7 months ago by lilpiggy11

Hi, I would say that for either of those two patterns 1 skien would be probably be enough for the background of one of them, but it's definitely safer to have 2. I would anticipate using most of one skien, if not all, so you'd probably run out of that colour for other bracelets. To save string you can always shorten the pattern and make the ties longer if you'd like, also try not to have excess string being pulled across the back (sometimes having two separate strings of the same colour can save string)🙂

ondinaevan Bracelet King	1 year, 7 months ago by ondinaevan Hi everyone 🙂 Although I'm an experienced bracelet maker in terms of normal bracelets, I've never completed an alpha bracelet, but I recently learned how to make them and would love to make some. However, I'm a little worried about string length. For the designs, I normally just use the bobbins/string skein and tie it that way, and that's all fine and dandy. However, I'm completely lost on how to estimate how much of a background colour I will need. I'm wondering if one 8m skein is usually enough for a background thread?? Will I use up all of it, and therefore is it safer to have 2? I don't want to start a bracelet and run out without having a backup colour, but I also don't want to start a bracelet with a colour I really love and not be able to use it for any other bracelets until I buy it again (I buy some of my thread from other countries when I travel) Here's an example of 2 patterns I'd love to make: #149065 #142036 Would love and appreciate any help on this <3 Thanks! ❤️
halokiwi Moderator	1 year, 7 months ago by halokiwi My advice: Knot a test swatch of a certain amount of knots. Measure/calculate the amount of string you needed for that. Based on that you should be able to roughly calculate the amount of string needed for a certain colour based on how many knots you are going to make for it. You'll also need to consider the loose strings in the back because you will use up string without making knots of its colour there.
lilpiggy11 Bracelet King	1 year, 7 months ago by lilpiggy11 Hi, I would say that for either of those two patterns 1 skien would be probably be enough for the background of one of them, but it's definitely safer to have 2. I would anticipate using most of one skien, if not all, so you'd probably run out of that colour for other bracelets. To save string you can always shorten the pattern and make the ties longer if you'd like, also try not to have excess string being pulled across the back (sometimes having two separate strings of the same colour can save string)🙂

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Alpha Bracelet string length??