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(( How To... )) Estimating String Lengths

Table of contents
1 - Bracelet Closures
   1.0 -
Buckle
   1.1 -
Braids
1 -
Pattern types
   1.0 -
Normal Patterns
      1.0.0 -
Bigger vs. smaller
      1.0.1 -
Diamonds
      1.0.2 -
Percentage of knots made in the colour of the string
         1.0.2.0 -
Example pattern #1
         1.0.2.1 -
Example pattern #1112
   1.0 -
Kumihimo Patterns
   1.1 -
Alpha Patterns
1 -
Wrist size
A lot of people ask how long the strings should be so I decided I should make a tutorial on it so maybe it will help some people.

Bracelet Closures



Buckle


If you start with a buckle, you want to add 2 or 3 more inches to the strings making the buckle. If you just start with a loop but no buckle, you don't need to add any string.

Braids


If you start with braids at the beginning and end, you want to add about 6 to 12 inches. Make the knot about 3 to 6 inches from the end before you start the bracelet so you have enough string to braid with.

Pattern types



Normal Patterns



The average string length is usually 30" to 40" or 60" to 70" folded in half.

Bigger vs. smaller


Smaller patterns are going to use less string than bigger more complex patterns.

Diamonds


If the pattern you have chosen has diamonds in it like pattern #66581, you are going to need to add more inches to the strings making the diamonds.

Percentage of knots made in the colour of the string



With the following formula, you can calculate the string length needed for each individual string in a normal pattern. The formula works for a bracelet of 14cm length with 8cm long twisted ties on both ends and has been tested out for bracelets with 8 strings.*

*You might need to make little adjustments to the formula or create your own formula from scratch, because everyone knots a little differently.

String length (in cm) = 45 + percentage of knots made in the colour of the string

The 45 consist of 20cm of string that you need for each string even if the string makes no knots of its own colour and 25cm of string used for the twisted ties (and a little bit extra for safety).

Example pattern #1




In pattern 1 all strings reach their original position after 16 rows. Until this point they have made 7 knots of their own colour. 7 divided by 16 is 0,4375 which is 47,75%. For pattern #1 all strings need a length of 45cm + 47,75cm = 92,75cm. The same applies to pattern 2.

Example pattern #1112




In pattern 1112 all strings reach their original position after 16 rows. Until this point they have made different amounts of knots.

The strings of colour A all make 7 knots of their own colour, so just like in pattern #1 and #2, you'll need about 92,75cm of them.

The 2nd and the 7th string make 5 knots of their own colour. 5 divided by 16 is 0,3125 which is 31,25%. The 2nd and the 7th string need a length of 45cm + 31,25cm = 76,25cm.

The 4th and 5th string make 9 knots of their own colour. 9 divided by 16 is 0,5625 which is 56,25%. The 4th and the 5rg string need a length of 45cm + 56,25cm = 101,25cm.

Kumihimo Patterns


Kumihimo bracelets don't take up as much string as normal patterns. You usually need about 20 to 25 inches for them. Again depending on how you start and finish the bracelet.

Alpha Patterns


The base strings of a multi colored alpha needs to be about 2 to 3 inches bigger than your wrist plus how you start or end. For the background colors, I usually just use the whole skein.
For 2 color alphas, the base strings need to be about 30 to 40 inches and the background needs to be the whole skein.

Wrist size


If you have a bigger than average wrist, you may need to add more string than if you have a smaller wrist. Then you may have to take away some string. The best way to tell is to cut string and make a bracelet and see if you had more or less than needed. Then you can get a better estimate of how much you need.

I hope this helped and feel free to edit anything or add anything I missed

Editors

The original author of this tutorial is wildcattz98 but it was also edited by Kestrel, iheartmrbump and halokiwi.

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