Summer Wave Friendship Bracelet Tutorial 🌊🤍 | Pattern 35707

There’s something timeless about friendship bracelets. Whether you made your first one at summer camp, traded them with your best friend before a long school year apart, or discovered the craft through a community of makers online, these small woven bands carry a meaning that goes far beyond their size. This summer, we’re diving into one of the most requested patterns in our community — Pattern 35707, a stunning wave design that captures everything we love about warm weather, salty air, and the connections that keep us grounded. This is the Summer Wave Friendship Bracelet Tutorial, and by the end of this post, you’ll have everything you need to create your own.

What Makes the Wave Pattern So Special?

Before we pick up a single thread, let’s talk about why the wave motif has become such a beloved design in the friendship bracelet world. Waves are one of those universal symbols that speak to almost everyone. They represent movement, freedom, the pull of something greater than yourself, and the rhythm of life. In bracelet form, the wave pattern creates a gorgeous diagonal ripple effect that looks incredibly complex but is actually very achievable once you understand the core knotting technique.

Pattern 35707 is a chevron-based wave pattern that uses alternating forward and backward knots to create that flowing, undulating line across the bracelet. The result is a design that looks different depending on the color combination you choose — calm and coastal with pale blues and whites, bold and vibrant with sunset oranges and coral pinks, or moody and mysterious with deep navy and gold. One of the most exciting things about this pattern is how dramatically it transforms depending on your thread choices.

Supplies You’ll Need

Getting started is simple, and most of what you need is already affordable and widely available. Here’s a complete list of everything you’ll want to have on hand before you begin.

Embroidery floss is the standard choice for friendship bracelets, and for good reason. It’s strong, comes in hundreds of colors, and has just the right amount of texture for knots to grip each other well. For Pattern 35707, you’ll want six strands in at least three colors. The classic Summer Wave colorway uses a deep ocean blue, a soft seafoam or aqua, and a creamy white or ivory. You can absolutely use more colors — up to six different shades — for a more gradient or rainbow effect.

You’ll also need a clipboard or a piece of tape to anchor your work, a pair of small scissors, a measuring tape or ruler, and optionally a safety pin or knotting board if you prefer working on a padded surface. Some makers also like to use a beading needle at the end to weave in the finishing threads, though this is optional.

When cutting your threads, cut each strand to approximately 60 to 65 inches long. This gives you enough length to complete a standard 7-inch bracelet with a bit of extra for the knotted closure at each end. If your wrist is larger or you want a longer bracelet to wrap multiple times, add another 10 to 15 inches per strand.

Setting Up Pattern 35707

The setup is one of the most important steps and one that beginners sometimes rush through. Take your time here and you’ll be rewarded with a much smoother knotting process.

Gather your six strands and fold them in half. Bring the folded midpoints together and make a simple overhand knot about an inch down from the loop. This loop and knot will form part of your closure at the end. Now you have 12 working threads instead of 6 — this is exactly what you want for this pattern.

Lay your threads flat and arrange them in the following order, working from left to right. This arrangement creates the mirrored symmetry that produces the wave effect. For a three-color wave using blue (B), aqua (A), and white (W), arrange them like this: B, B, A, A, W, W, W, W, A, A, B, B. The colors mirror each other on either side of the center, which is key to how this pattern works.

Clip your anchor knot to your clipboard and spread the threads out so you can clearly see each individual strand. Number them mentally from 1 to 12, left to right, before you begin.

Understanding the Basic Knots

Friendship bracelet patterns are built on two fundamental knots: the forward knot and the backward knot. If you’ve never made a bracelet before, this is the most important section to read carefully. If you’re already experienced, feel free to skim ahead to the pattern-specific instructions.

The forward knot begins with your working thread (the one doing the knotting) crossing over the carrier thread (the one being knotted onto) to form the shape of the number 4. You then pull the working thread up through the hole of the 4 and tighten it upward. Do this twice with the same working thread on the same carrier thread — two identical motions make one complete forward knot. The working thread always moves to the right when you use forward knots.

The backward knot is essentially the mirror image. Your working thread crosses behind the carrier thread to form a backwards 4 (or a P shape). Pull up through and tighten. Again, repeat this motion twice to complete one knot. The working thread always moves to the left when you use backward knots.

There are also two combined knots worth knowing for this pattern: the forward-backward knot (stays in place rather than moving) and the backward-forward knot (also stays in place). These are used in certain sections of the wave pattern to keep a thread anchored at the center.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Pattern 35707

Now for the part you’ve been waiting for — the actual knotting sequence that creates the Summer Wave pattern.

Starting the First Row

Working from the left side of your bracelet, pick up thread 1 (your first blue strand). Using forward knots, knot it across threads 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 until it reaches the center. Now pick up thread 12 (your matching blue strand on the far right). Using backward knots, knot it across threads 11, 10, 9, 8, and 7 until it also reaches the center. When threads 1 and 12 meet at the center, connect them with a forward-backward knot. This completes your first row.

Continuing the Wave Sequence

For the second row, repeat the same process using your next two outer threads — threads 2 and 11, which should now be your aqua strands based on the arrangement you set up. Knot thread 2 forward from left to center, knot thread 11 backward from right to center, and connect them at the middle.

Row three uses threads 3 and 10, your next aqua strands. Row four uses threads 4 and 9, your first white strands. At this point, you’ve completed one full wave cycle across the width of your bracelet.

Creating the Wave Undulation

This is where Pattern 35707 starts to show its magic. After completing those four rows, you’ll notice that your center threads have shifted and the chevron is forming beautifully. To create the wave illusion rather than a straight chevron, you’ll alternate the direction of your diagonal on every fourth row.

On row five, instead of starting from the outermost threads, you’ll work the inner pairs slightly ahead of the outer ones. This offset is subtle but it’s what creates the sense of movement — like the pattern is flowing across the bracelet rather than simply repeating in a straight line. Some pattern guides describe this as a “staggered chevron” or a “wave chevron,” and it’s the defining feature of Pattern 35707 specifically.

To execute this, begin row five by knotting threads 3 and 10 before threads 1 and 12. This might feel counterintuitive but stick with it — after a few rows you’ll start to see the wave crest appearing, and it’s genuinely one of the most satisfying moments in friendship bracelet making.

Repeating the Pattern

Continue this sequence, repeating the standard chevron rows and then the staggered offset rows in alternating groups of four. After about 20 to 24 rows, depending on how tightly you knot, you’ll have a clearly visible wave running along the length of your bracelet. This is the point where most makers stop to photograph their progress, and honestly, who could blame them — the pattern is stunning.

Keep going until your bracelet reaches your desired length, typically around 5 to 5.5 inches of knotted section before you add the closure.

Finishing Your Summer Wave Bracelet

Once you’ve reached your target length, it’s time to finish the bracelet. Divide your remaining threads into two equal groups of six. Braid each group into a simple three-strand braid (you can combine two threads per strand for a thicker braid) for about an inch. Tie an overhand knot at the end of each braid and trim the excess thread, leaving a small tassel if you like.

To wear the bracelet, thread one braided end through the loop you created at the beginning and tie the two braided ends together. This adjustable closure means you can easily get the bracelet on and off, and you can also adjust it to fit different wrist sizes — which makes it a wonderful gift.

Color Combinations to Try

One of the most enjoyable parts of making multiple bracelets with the same pattern is experimenting with different color stories. Here are some suggestions that work beautifully with Pattern 35707.

Coastal Classic uses navy, cerulean, and crisp white for that clean nautical look. This combination photographs beautifully and is a crowd-pleaser for beach-themed gifts or accessories.

Sunset Tide brings warm coral, peach, and soft gold together to evoke a beach at golden hour. This is a romantic, warm-toned combination that looks incredible against tanned summer skin.

Sea Glass uses sage green, dusty teal, and opalescent white — inspired by those smooth, frosted pieces of glass you find on old beaches. This combination feels vintage and bohemian.

Tropical Waters goes bold with electric turquoise, bright teal, and vivid white. This is the combination for the person who wants their bracelet to stand out against any outfit.

Night Ocean is a moody, dramatic choice: deep indigo, midnight purple, and silver metallic thread. This turns the summer wave into something that works even for fall and winter.

Tips for Getting Clean, Even Knots

No tutorial is complete without a few technique tips that make the difference between a bracelet that looks handmade in the best possible way and one that looks uneven or rushed.

Tension is everything. The most common mistake beginners make is pulling some knots too tight and leaving others too loose. Aim for consistent, firm pressure every time you slide a knot upward. The knot should sit snugly against the one above it but not be so tight that it puckers the threads.

Always knot in the same direction for each type of knot. It sounds obvious, but in the middle of a long pattern it’s easy to lose track and accidentally do a forward knot where a backward knot should go. If this happens, you’ll notice the thread has moved in the wrong direction — just carefully slide the knot back off (they usually loosen with a bit of gentle manipulation using a pin or needle) and redo it.

Keep your threads untangled as you go. Rotate your work periodically and gently comb the hanging threads with your fingers to prevent them from twisting around each other. A small amount of detangling time during the process saves a lot of frustration later.

Work in good light. This sounds like a small thing but it makes an enormous difference, especially when you’re working with similar shades of blue and teal and need to keep track of which thread is which.

Don’t rush. A friendship bracelet made with care and intention is a completely different object from one made while distracted. Take breaks, put on a playlist or a podcast, and enjoy the process. The meditative quality of the repetitive knotting is genuinely one of the best things about this craft.

The Meaning Behind the Bracelet

There’s a reason friendship bracelets have never really gone out of style despite trends coming and going around them. Something about the act of making something with your hands and giving it to someone you care about never loses its resonance. Pattern 35707, with its flowing wave design, carries a particularly lovely symbolic weight.

Waves are about cycles, about things coming and going and returning. A friendship can weather distance, time, change, and challenge — and like the ocean, it keeps moving. Giving someone a Summer Wave bracelet is a way of saying that your connection is dynamic and enduring, that it moves and breathes and doesn’t stand still. It’s a much more interesting sentiment than a simple static design, and it’s the kind of thing that people actually notice when they look closely at what you’ve made.

Sharing Your Bracelet with the Community

If you make Pattern 35707, we would love to see it. Share your finished bracelet on Instagram or Pinterest and tag your post so other makers can find it and be inspired by your color choices and technique. The friendship bracelet community is one of the most welcoming and generous crafting communities online — beginners are always celebrated, and experienced makers love sharing what they know.

You can also find Pattern 35707 charted out visually on various bracelet pattern databases if you prefer to follow a color-coded grid rather than written instructions. Both methods work equally well; it really comes down to which style of learning suits you better.

Final Thoughts

The Summer Wave Friendship Bracelet using Pattern 35707 is one of those projects that rewards you at every stage. Setting up the threads feels satisfying. Watching the first few rows come together is exciting. Seeing the wave appear as you work through the staggered rows is genuinely delightful. And finishing a bracelet you’ll wear all summer or give to someone you love is simply one of the best feelings this craft has to offer.

Whether you’re a complete beginner picking up embroidery floss for the first time or an experienced maker looking for a new pattern to add to your rotation, this one is worth your time. It’s manageable enough to complete in a single long afternoon but detailed enough to hold your attention and produce something that looks genuinely impressive.

Grab your threads, find a sunny spot, and make some waves. 🌊🤍