WHAT AGE KIDS MAKE THESE?
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SukiSnicks
Professional
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2 months ago by SukiSnicks
Hello, 50YO childless cat lady here. I’d like to teach a 12 year old how to make bracelets. Are these too advanced for her? I’m sure skill level varies from kid to kid. I learned how to do it around age 14 and I’m not sure if I would have just been frustrated at 12, I can’t remember that far back. I was thinking of starting with a basic 4 strand normal stripe? Also thought maybe some kumi would be easy to learn. I would appreciate any advice about how and what age you learned and any tips to make it easy/non-frustrating. Thank you!
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8renda
Bracelet King
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2 months ago by 8renda
I started making regular macrame bracelets when I was around 5 when my older sisters taught me, and I made simpler normals like candy stripes and chevrons when I was around 10. After I got comfortable with those, I learned how to make different normal patterns and alphas using Kinsey B’s and Masha Knots’s tutorials. I think you should teach her the basic knots and see if tutorials help her, too.
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GiuseppeK
Bracelet King
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2 months ago by GiuseppeK
Without knowing more about the kiddo, one thing that might make all the difference is her attention span. As many a 20th century fox has discovered when on a first date, we simply can't compete with her phone...Just a couple weeks ago, I was hosting my honorary Japanese niece (also twelve) and her folks for a visit. Since I was the acting chauffeur, it never dawned on me until a day or two into their stay that she didn't have a phone of her own. While probably wise on the part of her parents, it was hardly fair while all the adults minus me had their noses deep into their scrolling (and I had a bracelet pinned to my pant leg) as we were all chilling at a beachside café. I scooted up next to her and asked if she was bored. In her adorable, quiet way, she confided that yes indeed, she was. I'd already gifted her a bracelet nearly as soon as she arrived (#56291, based on her favorite anime), and I had caught her admiring the process when she'd see me in action. Tying a bandana just above her knee and bestowing her with a safety pin of her own, for the next hour or two she learned the ways of The Force. I typically have a fistful of barely started bracelets in my daily carry, so she had an established candystripe of her own to master (she was really gettin' the hang of it; I'll make it my avatar temporarily). The best advice I can give is to hover only a bit--slowly show how it's done, maybe (if she's cool with it) hold her hands as she makes the first couple knots to teach her the tension, and supervise as she completes that first row or so. Also, giving her a work already in progress might help make things less daunting for you both--we can worry about teaching them how to set up *after* they've got the hang of being knotty and they decide if it's a pastime they genuinely want to pursue when we're not around. While I worked on something more complicated, she happily went on her way. I'd only periodically check up on her, and when she made a goof, I was standing by to teach her the necessary surgery to fix a bad knot. I only asked her once (maybe twice) if she was enjoying things, to which she beamed and assured me it was indeed fun. She's a terrible liar, so I know that was coming straight from the heart. When we finally hugged and bowed to one another at the airport, I slipped her a just started basic chevron into her paw for the trip home. Good luck, and keep us posted, 'aight? 😎 |
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GiuseppeK
Bracelet King
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2 months ago by GiuseppeK
Oh, and since you asked and it completely slipped my mind while composing the wall of text contributed above (sorry; this old timer do ramble on, don't he...?) I was well into my thirties when my favorite ex taught me the ropes. It kept my hands busy during idle moments on long deployments, and now I JUST CAN'T STAAAAAWP...!!!In any case, that does mean I know as well as anyone the potential frustration that goes along with the learning curve--so much stuff, I had to figure out on my own with no one around to guide me. Be there for her. 👍 |
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fishyknots
Bracelet King
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2 months ago by fishyknots
yes, 12 years old is a perfectly good age to learn friendship bracelets! i started making them around that age as well. with more complex patterns there's definitely a learning curve but just be patient, she'll get it eventually! best of luck
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201217
Bracelet King
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2 months ago by 201217
I started making bracelets when I was 8 and reading patterns when I was 10 so I personally do not think it is too hard to understand or learn for younger ages. I have taught 12 and younger kids how to make bracelets. I would start with thin normals but 1st you should teach her either candy stripe or chevron and make sure to have her practice common knots like forwards knots, backwards knots, backwards forwards, and forward backwards. Teach her how to read patterns a little after. When I started I even made myself a key for reading patterns which might be a good idea too. These are just some ideas that might help.
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martha9999
Bracelet King
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2 months ago by martha9999
I started at 11 😁
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YoasobiLvr
Bracelet King
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2 months ago by YoasobiLvr
@SukiSnicks I started making bracelets with a very small age. I think I started making disc bracelets with 7 or 8 and they seemed very simple. With 9 yrs, I started knotting stripes and chevrons and I got more and more experienced. Reading BB patterns was a topic at 10yrs with alpha patterns. I think 12 yrs is a good age starting knotting. I'm 12 too and I find this totally OK. When you manage to do it, teach her at first Chinese staircase, then move on with stripes.
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halokiwi
Moderator
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2 months ago by halokiwi
A few years ago I was hiking with my parents. We were taking a break at a little farm that offered coffee and cake. The owner saw my bracelets and asked, if her daughter (5 years old) and her cousin (not sure how old, but a teenager), could show me their bracelets and talk with me about making bracelets. The 5 year old had just learned to do them along with her cousin and they were both really great at it. I showed them some patterns and tricks and in the end I got my cake for free.
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Charli_126
Advanced
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2 months ago by Charli_126
I’m 14 and learned when I was 13 so I think it would be just fine to teach them around 12
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dragonzzz
Bracelet King
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1 month, 4 weeks ago by dragonzzz
I started at age 8 so they should be fine. I’m 12 now and knotting bigger and bigger normal bracelet, but I remember having no issues with chevrons and candystripe to start. I also used to teach fellow 8 year olds to knot and most were fine, with some practice it should be no issue for a 12 year old to learn.
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kambri1224
Bracelet King
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1 month, 4 weeks ago by kambri1224
i learned when i was 11, i was a bit frustrated at the beginning but i got the hang of it pretty quickly, so i think 12 is good!
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TEAMALPHA
Professional
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1 month, 3 weeks ago by TEAMALPHA
I learned at 10, so 12 seems good to learn 😊.
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pal563701
Skiller
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1 month, 2 weeks ago by pal563701
I started to learn when I was around 10 so I think 12 is a great to
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floppycat7
Professional
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1 month, 2 weeks ago by floppycat7
I've taught people between the ages of 4 and 32 how to make bracelets, so I don't think there's any specific age that makes things easier or harder to learn. I technically didn't start until I was around 20 but I had a background in knitting, sewing, micro macrame, and origami so it was easy for me to pick up. The biggest thing that helped me when I started was the repetition of just doing the knots and not getting discouraged when i messed up. Then again, I taught myself so it was a matter of pride that I wanted to make better quality bracelets.
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