Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Spectacular Friendship Bracelets: A Step-by-Step Guide to 34 Sensational Designs
Photographer: Ran Laurie
Nonfiction Craft Book
For ages 9 and up
Charlesbridge, 2016 ISBN: 978-1623540814
Friendships are very precious things, and they should be appreciated and celebrated. Many people around the world like to honor a special friendship by giving the people they care for the most a piece of jewelry to wear. For many years now people of all ages have been giving each other friendship bracelets to commemorate their relationship. These gifts are popular because they can be handmade, and thus given a personal touch. Friendship bracelets can be beautiful and at the same time that are easy to make.
Using this excellent craft book, people who would like to make unique friendship bracelets will learn how to do so. The author is a skilled artist and jewelry designer who has applied her considerable knowledge and experience to create thirty designs that anyone can make.
The author begins by telling us what we are going to need to make our friendship bracelets. We are given a list of tools and a list of supplies. The supplies can be found either online or in craft shops. She then goes on to go over some basic techniques that crafters need to know to be able to complete the projects in the book. This includes how to do several kinds of knots and a simple stitch.
The projects come next and they are arranged in order of difficulty. The first bracelet is a simple onyx piece that has a knotted closure. Versions of this bracelet follow, getting more elaborate as we go. We then come to the Infinite Energy Bracelet which requires the use of two chords of different colors. The knotting in this design is a bit more complex, but the effect is quite special.
For every project found in the book the crafter is provided with a list of materials and tools, a photo of the finished bracelet, and photos with notes that show how the bracelet is made, step by step. The projects come in many different styles, so there should be something here to suit everyone.
