Last Updated: April 2026
TL;DR:
- Most friendship bracelets use embroidery floss — 6-strand Z-twist cotton. It’s the default because it’s colorfast, easy to knot, and widely available from brands like DMC, Anchor, and J&P Coats.
- Hemp cord is the eco-conscious alternative: sturdier, earthier aesthetic, but limited color range and rougher against skin than cotton floss.
- Pearl cotton and macramé cord are niche but legitimate — pearl cotton for high luster and a finer finish; macramé for structural, architectural bracelet designs.
The material you choose for a friendship bracelet determines how it wears, how the colors hold, and how long it survives daily contact with water, sweat, and everything else your wrist encounters. I’ve worked with all five major friendship bracelet thread types, and they’re not interchangeable — each has a specific sweet spot. For color meaning behind the thread you choose, see our guide to what colors mean in friendship bracelets — once you know the material, the color choice becomes the next decision.
What Are Most Friendship Bracelets Made Of?
Most friendship bracelets are made from embroidery floss — a 6-strand Z-twist cotton thread. It dominates the category because it’s cheap, available in hundreds of colors, colorfast through washing, and easy to split into thinner strands for delicate patterns. DMC, Anchor, and J&P Coats are the main quality brands. A single skein retails for under $1 and contains enough thread for several bracelets.
The 6-strand structure is key. You can use all 6 strands together for a chunkier bracelet with more visible color, or split into 3+3, 2+4, or individual strands for finer knotwork. Most traditional chevron and candy stripe patterns use 2–3 strands per color. The Z-twist refers to the direction the strands are twisted together — it affects how the thread behaves when you knot it. According to standard embroidery thread classifications, Z-twist cotton maintains consistent tension during knotting, which is why it became the industry default for bracelet-making.
Embroidery Floss vs. Craft Thread — What’s the Difference?
Embroidery floss and craft thread look similar but aren’t the same. Embroidery floss (like DMC) is a premium 6-strand mercerized cotton with a consistent sheen and superior colorfastness. Craft thread is a budget-category product — also 6-strand but often lower-twist, with more limited color options and faster fading. The price difference is $0.30 vs. $0.80 per skein — worth paying for the quality version.
In my experience, the color fading difference is the most noticeable on bracelets worn daily. Craft thread at 6 months of regular wear looks significantly duller than quality embroidery floss at the same point. For a gift you want to last, the extra $0.50 per skein isn’t a decision — it’s a given. Brands like DMC use a mercerization process that permanently raises the luster and dye absorption of the cotton, which is what gives their threads the consistent color payoff that cheap craft thread can’t replicate.
What Is Macramé Cord and When Should You Use It?
Macramé cord is a braided or twisted cord — either jute (natural plant fiber) or synthetic nylon/polyester. It’s thicker and stiffer than embroidery floss, which makes it suitable for bracelet designs that require structural integrity: square knots, spiral knots, and architectural patterns that would collapse in fine cotton thread. Macramé friendship bracelets have a bolder, chunkier aesthetic than traditional floss bracelets.
The trade-off with macramé is texture. Jute macramé is rougher against skin than cotton — comfortable for occasional wear but potentially irritating for someone who keeps a bracelet on 24/7 without removing it. Synthetic macramé is softer but doesn’t have the same organic appeal. For gifting, macramé works best when the recipient specifically prefers a bold, textural bracelet over the traditional thin flat-braid style.
Pearl Cotton: The Underrated Option
Pearl cotton (also called perle cotton) is a 2-ply S-twist thread with a distinctive high luster finish. It’s non-divisible — unlike embroidery floss, you can’t split pearl cotton into thinner strands — and comes in three sizes: No. 3 (thickest), No. 5 (medium), and No. 8 (finest). The S-twist construction gives it a tighter coil that catches light differently than Z-twist floss, producing a slightly silky, almost reflective surface.
Pearl cotton’s main advantage for friendship bracelets: the colors don’t fade. The S-twist mercerization process combined with the single-ply construction means dye sits deeper in the fiber. I’ve seen pearl cotton bracelets retain color after years of wear where embroidery floss would have faded significantly. The downside: fewer color options than floss, and slightly harder to find at general craft stores. For a high-end gift bracelet where longevity matters, pearl cotton No. 5 is worth tracking down. See our broader coverage of why friendship bracelets remain popular in 2026 for context on the craft revival driving premium material demand.
Hemp Cord: The Eco-Friendly Choice
Hemp cord is made from natural hemp plant fiber — typically 100% organic, biodegradable, and eco-certified. It comes in two standard weights for bracelet-making: 10lb (thinner, better for fine knotwork) and 20lb (thicker, better for macramé-style designs). Hemp’s natural color range is limited to earthy tones — brown, tan, cream, and muted greens — which makes it unsuitable for vibrant multicolor designs.
Hemp cord is durable. It resists rot and UV degradation better than cotton, which matters for outdoor wear — if the bracelet wearer surfs, gardens, or works outdoors, hemp will outlast cotton floss significantly. The texture is coarser than cotton, which some people love (earthy, handmade feel) and others find uncomfortable. Hemp is also difficult to dye to bright colors — if you’ve seen a vivid red hemp bracelet, the dye process is either synthetic or the color will fade aggressively. For guys who wear friendship bracelets, hemp in natural tones tends to read as more casual-masculine than bright cotton floss. For ideas on how guys can style these, see friendship bracelet color combinations for guys.
What String Is Technically Best for Friendship Bracelets?
For most friendship bracelet purposes — traditional knotted patterns, vibrant colors, comfortable daily wear — DMC or Anchor embroidery floss (6-strand, 100% cotton) is the best material. It’s the most versatile, most colorful, and easiest to work with for beginners and experienced makers alike. Pearl cotton wins for durability and luster; hemp wins for eco-credentials and outdoor durability.
The “best” material depends on the bracelet’s purpose. A casual gift between friends: standard embroidery floss. A long-lasting keepsake: pearl cotton. A bracelet for someone with an outdoor lifestyle: hemp. An architectural statement piece: macramé cord. The detailed comparison with specific recommendations by use case lives in our guide to what string is best for friendship bracelets.
The Bottom Line
Embroidery floss is what friendship bracelets are made of in 90% of cases — 6-strand Z-twist cotton, brands DMC/Anchor/J&P Coats, colorfast and easy to use. Pearl cotton is the upgrade for serious makers who want luster and longevity. Hemp cord is for eco-minded or outdoor-oriented recipients. Macramé cord is for bold structural designs rather than traditional flat-braid patterns. Whatever material you choose, the color is still the message — choose it intentionally. And if you’re curious about why making these bracelets is worth the effort at all, see the unexpected case for why people make friendship bracelets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use regular thread to make a friendship bracelet?
Technically yes, but regular sewing thread (polyester or silk) isn’t ideal for friendship bracelets. It’s too fine for comfortable knotting and the color range for sewing thread doesn’t match embroidery floss. Regular thread also lacks the body needed for chevron and candy stripe patterns — the knots look loose and sloppy. Stick to 6-strand embroidery floss for traditional patterns.
Are friendship bracelets waterproof?
Cotton embroidery floss and hemp cord both tolerate water — they won’t dissolve or fall apart when wet. But prolonged water exposure (swimming, bathing daily with the bracelet on) will accelerate color fading and loosen the knots over time. For a bracelet you want to keep on indefinitely, brief contact with water is fine; keeping it on in chlorinated pools or salt water will shorten its life significantly.
What size thread should I use for friendship bracelets?
Standard 6-strand embroidery floss is the default — no special sizing decisions needed. If you want a thinner bracelet, split the 6-strand into 3+3 or 2+2 strands. If you want pearl cotton instead, No. 5 is the most practical size for bracelet-making — thin enough for fine patterns, substantial enough to see the luster clearly.
How much thread do I need for a friendship bracelet?
For a standard 8-strand chevron bracelet that fits a typical adult wrist (7 inches), plan on 60–75 cm (24–30 inches) per strand at the start, after folding. A single DMC skein (8 meters) is enough for 2–3 complete bracelets in a single color. For multi-color designs, buy one skein per color — you’ll likely have thread left over, which you can save for future projects.
Stephanie is a jewelry lover when she was a teenager. Her major was fashion design when she was in college. She is a jewelry designer at SOQ Jewelry and other design companies. Now she is also a writer for our website. She writes a lot of designs&brands posts with very actionable tips.