Forum - Bracelet tying - How Long to cut strings for Chain Bracelets?

ab_crafts

Bracelet King

3 days, 13 hours ago by ab_crafts

Hi, all!
I'm about to attempt my first 'chain' style bracelet (#143631). The String-length calculator I usually use is not going to be accurate, because of all the missed knots. 🤔 I'd guess I should use much less string than I normally would, but have no clue as to how much less. I will be folding the strings over to make a loop.
Does anyone have experience or tried-and-true lengths that they use for chain-style bracelets?
Thanks in advance!

BabyWren12

Bracelet King

3 days, 12 hours ago by BabyWren12

Okay what I'm abt to yap is pretty much just how I normally calculate string so I'm sorry in advance if its a bit long but it works for chains.
Step 1: Figure out the base number of knots. Basically, if this was a candy stripe how many knots would each string tie (candy stripe or any pattern where they all tie equal numbers). So, to do this divide the number of rows by 2 and then multiple that number by the number of knots per row. ***There should be two numbers and you seperately multiply by each!!**** (In this case, 3 and 2). Then I add those two sums up and divide it by the number of strings getting you the base number of knots a string would tie. This number will represent our 100% and (unless you have particularly big/small wrists/wingspan) it should be your wingspan.
Step 2: Figure out how many knots each string should tie (BB has a really nice feature where you can highlight strings so you can easily follow their path and count the knots they will TIE not be tied on)
Step 3: Now you can use the proportions of the numbers in comparison to the base number to figure out how much longer or shorter it should be in comparison to our 100%. For example, if the 100% is 12 and a string ties 14 we know it needs to be about 7/6 the length of our wingspan. You could get particularly mathematical on this part if you really wanted to but generally I do rough estimates and it works out.
There you go! Lmk if you have any questions

BabyWren12

Bracelet King

3 days, 12 hours ago by BabyWren12

*number of POSSIBLE knots per row

ab_crafts

Bracelet King

3 days, 11 hours ago by ab_crafts

Thanks, @BabyWren12!

🤔 I'm thinking I'm following what you're saying. I believe the string calculator does this math, or similar, for me. It asks how many rows, how many strings total, then how many strings of each color, and then how many knots does each color knot. Math-magic: gives me cm for each string. I double the length and halve the number of strings, (because I almost always use a loop with even # of strings per color, at least), then convert to inches.
The difficulty I have with the chain is that the calculator doesn't account for the gaps. It's looking for 105 knots, but the pattern only has 61 knots per iteration.

I watched the start of a few YT vids of chains, and they seem to be indicating 65-80 inches, or so - but that's how much I'd use in a regular, like, 20 string bracelet without holes.
I know the pattern uses all three colors evenly. I thought maybe I'd pick a length, like 48 or 55 inches or so, and see how far that gets me. .. I guess the string calculator is saying 25" of each ... so maybe it's still telling me right, even if the number of knots doesn't match. 🤔

Thanks! I'll try it out.

ab_crafts Bracelet King	3 days, 13 hours ago by ab_crafts Hi, all! I'm about to attempt my first 'chain' style bracelet (#143631). The String-length calculator I usually use is not going to be accurate, because of all the missed knots. 🤔 I'd guess I should use much less string than I normally would, but have no clue as to how much less. I will be folding the strings over to make a loop. Does anyone have experience or tried-and-true lengths that they use for chain-style bracelets? Thanks in advance!
BabyWren12 Bracelet King	3 days, 12 hours ago by BabyWren12 Okay what I'm abt to yap is pretty much just how I normally calculate string so I'm sorry in advance if its a bit long but it works for chains. Step 1: Figure out the base number of knots. Basically, if this was a candy stripe how many knots would each string tie (candy stripe or any pattern where they all tie equal numbers). So, to do this divide the number of rows by 2 and then multiple that number by the number of knots per row. *There should be two numbers and you seperately multiply by each!!** (In this case, 3 and 2). Then I add those two sums up and divide it by the number of strings getting you the base number of knots a string would tie. This number will represent our 100% and (unless you have particularly big/small wrists/wingspan) it should be your wingspan. Step 2: Figure out how many knots each string should tie (BB has a really nice feature where you can highlight strings so you can easily follow their path and count the knots they will TIE not be tied on) Step 3: Now you can use the proportions of the numbers in comparison to the base number to figure out how much longer or shorter it should be in comparison to our 100%. For example, if the 100% is 12 and a string ties 14 we know it needs to be about 7/6 the length of our wingspan. You could get particularly mathematical on this part if you really wanted to but generally I do rough estimates and it works out. There you go! Lmk if you have any questions
BabyWren12 Bracelet King	3 days, 12 hours ago by BabyWren12 *number of POSSIBLE knots per row
ab_crafts Bracelet King	3 days, 11 hours ago by ab_crafts Thanks, @BabyWren12! 🤔 I'm thinking I'm following what you're saying. I believe the string calculator does this math, or similar, for me. It asks how many rows, how many strings total, then how many strings of each color, and then how many knots does each color knot. Math-magic: gives me cm for each string. I double the length and halve the number of strings, (because I almost always use a loop with even # of strings per color, at least), then convert to inches. The difficulty I have with the chain is that the calculator doesn't account for the gaps. It's looking for 105 knots, but the pattern only has 61 knots per iteration. I watched the start of a few YT vids of chains, and they seem to be indicating 65-80 inches, or so - but that's how much I'd use in a regular, like, 20 string bracelet without holes. I know the pattern uses all three colors evenly. I thought maybe I'd pick a length, like 48 or 55 inches or so, and see how far that gets me. .. I guess the string calculator is saying 25" of each ... so maybe it's still telling me right, even if the number of knots doesn't match. 🤔 Thanks! I'll try it out.

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How Long to cut strings for Chain Bracelets?