Calculate Thread Length for Normal Bracelets!

Hello and welcome to this tutorial on how to calculate the thread length needed for macrame normal patterns.
In this tutorial, I will explain step-by-step how to calculate the length of the longest string so that you don't run out halfway through tying your bracelet.



In this tutorial, you will create a sample of the bracelet that will be one repetition of the pattern. What's great about this method is that since it uses a sample, it can apply to any person or any normal pattern.

First, you will look at the pattern you want to make. You will need to see the dimensions. In my case, there are 12 rows (you will need to multiply by 2 the amount of rows), and 8 strings. For example, if there are 12 rows and 8 strings, cut 8 strings (2 colors in my case) at 24cm each (12 rows x 2).

You will complete the pattern once. Once you finish it, you will measure the “bracelet” part, and you will write it on a paper.

Next, you will grab the leftover strings and measure the smaller one, and you will write it on the same paper.

You will measure the other part of the bracelet, and you will add to the other result.

Your paper should look like this.

You will write how many strings you used and the length of the strings used. Following, you will write how much cm you want your bracelet.

Now you will do this simple formula to calculate the length of string used during the pattern test. You can get help with a calculator.

pattern test ≈ I used - Strings left

Then you will use the simple proportion, also named as a rule of three proportion.

You will write:

Pattern test ➜ Pattern
X ➜ I want

Then you will replace them with your actual values.
And solve it.

Add an extra 30 cm to account for loops, additional knots, and any unforeseen extras in your macramé project. In the example I made, my final result is 130cm per string. So in this pattern, I will need 8 strings, each one 130 cm.

In this tutorial, I explained to you how to calculate the length needed for the string that needs to be the longest. This guarantees that you do not run out of string.
 In a normal pattern, not all strings need to be the same length. You can also calculate the exact length needed for all the other strings in the bracelet. This is a little more effort, but it helps to not have as much left-over string. For this, you do the exact same calculation for each individual string that you did for the shortest string in your sample.

Sometimes strings don't end in the same position they started at. In this case, you have to calculate the average of all strings that switch places with each other. In this pattern, none of the strings end up in their original position. All the strings of colour A switch places with each other. That means you have to calculate the average string length needed for colour A. All the strings of colour B also switch places with each other. That means you have to calculate the average for colour B as well.

And that covers the full process for calculating the exact thread length you need for any macrame normal bracelet pattern! 🎉

I hope this tutorial helps! 😊

Pattern I used: #163188.