How to Make Rubber Band Bracelets - WITHOUT the Loom!
There are several rubber band bracelet designs that can be easily made without using the loom.
Source: All photos by Valerie Bloom
Rubber Band Bracelets: Several Patterns That Don't Require a Loom!
I was excited and intrigued when my sons told me about bracelets that "every kid" in their elementary school was making.
They are bracelets made by linking together small, colorful rubber bands, sold under the brand name Rainbow Loom.
While I was prepared to spring for the loom kit, which sells for $16-$18, I soon learned that I might not have to buy the whole kit. Our nine-year-old cousin said she knew how to make the bracelets without the loom and would be happy to give us a lesson!
Rubber Bands
BlueDot Trading 600-Piece Do-It-Yourself Bracelet Kit Refill Pack, Includes Rubber Band and S-Clips for Loom Art/Kids Craft with Rainbow, Pink
To make a rubber band bracelet, you don't have to buy a loom. But you will need to get rubber bands!
These come in "rainbow" or single-color packs. Most packs include 600 rubber bands, along with 24 c-clasps.
Many have free shipping available through Amazon!
Completed chain bracelet
A Risk-free Experiment
I hoped that my kids would have fun making bracelets without the added cost of the loom. And going "loom-free" would mean just a little less clutter in the house!
I figured if the process of making the bracelets by hand proved to be too difficult, I would be happy to buy the Rainbow Loom. Therefore, I didn't feel like it was risky to purchase the rubber bands without the loom.
A simple and beautiful chain bracelet
Learning to Make a Chain Bracelet
As she promised, our cousin came over to show us how to link the rubber bands together to create a bracelet.
My sons, nine and six years old, were initially frustrated. I was a little confused myself at first -- but I also understood that these kinds of projects often seem difficult until something clicks in your head and you realize that it's really very simple.
And that was exactly the case! Once we figured out the process, we were able to easily put together simple chains, attached at the ends with small plastic c-clasps that were included with the pack of rubber bands.
Chain bracelet
Detailed Instructions for How to Make a Rubber Band Chain Bracelet
NOTE: There's a link to a great video below, so if the written instructions are confusing, check out the video!
- Slide a segment of a rubber band into a c-clip. Ideally, the rubber band should be doubled over (make a figure-8 and fold it over on itself to create a small circle) and slipped inside the c-clip. Let's call this rubber band #1.
- Now another rubber band (let's call it #2) is slipped halfway through rubber band #1. Try not to twist #2. You then grab the two sides of #2 and hold them together. #2 is looped through #1 but will easily slip out if you let go.
- Now, carefully gripping #2, you slide the next rubber band, #3, through the hole created by stretching #2. As you hold #3 and let go of #2, you'll see that #2 is firmly attached to the bracelet and you need to hold #3 to prevent it from slipping out from #2.
- Hold #3, stretching it out to create an opening, which you then slide #4 halfway through. Grab the two sides of #4, letting go of #3, and slide #5 halfway through #4. Continue this pattern.
This process creates a simple chain. When the bracelet is long enough to fit comfortably around your wrist -- not too tightly -- then take the last rubber band in the line and slip one side of it through the other (one loop through the other) and pull it tightly to firmly attach it to the previous rubber band. Now slip the last rubber band's loop into the same c-clip that is holding the first rubber band.
Tah-dah!
You can choose to not use the c-clips at all and can simply tie the ends of the bracelets together. It's a good idea to knot the ends first by sliding one loop of the band through the other (as above) and then tying the ends together.
See the following excellent video that clearly shows how to make the same kind of rubber band bracelet that our cousin taught us how to make. Rubber bands are simply looped together to form a chain. Starting it is the hardest part; stringing the bands together is a piece of cake!
How to Make a Basic Rubber Band Bracelet - Video
Looking for Another Kind of Bracelet?
Check out my article: How to Make a Survival Bracelet
A bracelet made with teamwork
Helping Younger Kids
When we were first shown how to make the simple chain bracelet by hand, both of my sons were overwhelmed at the prospect of doing it themselves. And this is completely understandable, since it does feel like you need three or four hands!
And so we used four hands.
My job was to hold the most recently added rubber band in place. I held it securely, making sure it didn't fall out of the bracelet and stretching it open so that my son could choose the next color band and slide it through the one I was holding. Without the stress of trying to hold a rubber band in place, my sons started to enthusiastically string the rubber bands together, and it only took less than 10 minutes to complete each bracelet.
After working with me to create a couple of bracelets, my older son got the hang of it and started doing them completely on his own. My younger son still prefers to have help, which is fine -- creating the bracelets as a team is a lot of fun!
Organize Your Bands!
Darice 14-Inch by 8.5-Inch by 1.875-Inch Adjustable Organizer with 4 Removable Sections
If you really get busy with rubber band bracelets, you may want to organize your materials. This style of crafting box is very popular and can be used for any number of applications.
You can arrange the dividers inside the box to suit your needs, and they can even allow for a Rainbow Loom to fit!
Different Patterns
Rubber Band Bracelets
With our first lesson, we cranked out several bracelets. Then it occurred to me that perhaps something more than the basic chain could be made without using the loom.
Looking on youtube, I found two good videos showing two other patterns. One is called the fishtail, and the other the dragon scale. (Scroll down to see these videos.)
Once we got the hang of these patterns, my sons and I were able to make the bracelets without much difficulty.
Fishtail Pattern - Thicker and more sturdy than a chain
Click thumbnail to view full-size
I really like the look and feel of the fishtail pattern. And the instructions are easy to follow!
How to Make a Fishtail Bracelet - Video
This video clearly demonstrates the technique to make a fishtail bracelet, using two markers as a loom.
It's best to use three colors, at least for your first bracelet, because it makes the pattern very easy to follow.
What to Do with Rubber Band Bracelets
- Make them to wear
- Trade them with friends
- Give as inexpensive, homemade gifts
- Sell to raise money for charity
Dragon Scale Pattern - I love how this uses a fork as a loom!
Click thumbnail to view full-size
The Dragon Scale pattern creates a wider bracelet. Sharply contrasting colors look great for this pattern!
How to Make a Dragon Scale Bracelet - Video
As with the other patterns, once you get the hang of it, it's extremely simple!
Make sure to give a tug on the bracelet as you add to it in order to keep the stitches tight and in the right place.
So What's Wrong with the Loom? - NOTHING!
There is absolutely nothing wrong with using the Rainbow Loom! Everyone I know who has one is very happy with it. There are many more designs that can be made using the loom than by hand.
Twistz Bandz Rainbow Loom
If you are interested in doing more complex designs, it would be worth your while to invest in a loom!
More Advanced Designs
These are all intriguing designs that can be made without using a rubber band loom.
While I like all of these designs and enjoyed watching the videos, these techniques are beyond my sons' patience level, so we have not done them ourselves.
Most of these techniques use two forks, secured back-to-back, as the loom!
Cornrow
The artist does a great job of explaining each step.
This really helps me to understand the process much better than the videos that have only music on the sound track.
Double Cross Spiral Twist
I love this spiral design!
The video has only music in the background. Since there's no narrative description of the steps, you have to watch carefully to see what's going on.
Starburst
The Starburst is a compelling and complex design.
I was surprised to see this could be done without a loom!
No comments:
Post a Comment