Confident beginner · free small project
Personalised alpha bracelet
Make a name bracelet with forward and backward alpha knots. The name, base strings, row count and thread estimates come from our existing bracelet engine.
Original Purlgrid recipe · engine-checked counts · diagrams are previews, not photographs of a physically made sample.
Supplies and skills
Embroidery thread in background and letter colours, scissors, a ruler and a way to hold the base strings.
- Forward alpha knots
- Backward alpha knots
- Change leading colour
How to make it
- Enter the recipient’s wrist measurement and name in the editable bracelet tool. Keep the intended closure gap and knotting gauge consistent with the way you work.
- Cut the base and leading threads from the generated list. Keep the base strings parallel and leave the stated end allowance for ties.
- Follow each written row: forward knots travel left to right, backward knots right to left. Change the leading thread colour where the chart requires it.
- Finish the end ties or your chosen closure and check the actual bracelet length. The engine’s thread estimate is a model, so keep an extra supply for your own knot tension and finishing.
The name is read with the first pattern row on the left; do not rotate or mirror the chart while working.
- Bracelet9 base strings wide, 105 rows · about 15 cm (6 in) of knotting at 7 rows per cm · “MIA” once, centred
- Cut9 base strings of 40 cm (15.75 in) each, any colour: they only show in the ties.
- background898 knots · uses about 8.9 m (9.7 yd) · 2 skeins898 × 0.95 cm + 47 × 0.3 cm carried + 2 × 10 cm ends
- letters47 knots · uses about 3.3 m (3.7 yd) · one skein is enough47 × 0.95 cm + 898 × 0.3 cm carried + 2 × 10 cm ends
- Checked6 checks passed: the written rows rebuild every knot, and the bracelet reads “MIA” when worn.
Every row, knot by knot (105 rows)
A = background, B = letters. → rows: forward knots from the left · ← rows: backward knots from the right. Numbers are knots, in the order you tie them.
- Row 1 → forward 9 A
- Row 2 ← backward 9 A
- Row 3 → forward 9 A
- Row 4 ← backward 9 A
- Row 5 → forward 9 A
- Row 6 ← backward 9 A
- Row 7 → forward 9 A
- Row 8 ← backward 9 A
- Row 9 → forward 9 A
- Row 10 ← backward 9 A
- Row 11 → forward 9 A
- Row 12 ← backward 9 A
- Row 13 → forward 9 A
- Row 14 ← backward 9 A
- Row 15 → forward 9 A
- Row 16 ← backward 9 A
- Row 17 → forward 9 A
- Row 18 ← backward 9 A
- Row 19 → forward 9 A
- Row 20 ← backward 9 A
- Row 21 → forward 9 A
- Row 22 ← backward 9 A
- Row 23 → forward 9 A
- Row 24 ← backward 9 A
- Row 25 → forward 9 A
- Row 26 ← backward 9 A
- Row 27 → forward 9 A
- Row 28 ← backward 9 A
- Row 29 → forward 9 A
- Row 30 ← backward 9 A
- Row 31 → forward 9 A
- Row 32 ← backward 9 A
- Row 33 → forward 9 A
- Row 34 ← backward 9 A
- Row 35 → forward 9 A
- Row 36 ← backward 9 A
- Row 37 → forward 9 A
- Row 38 ← backward 9 A
- Row 39 → forward 9 A
- Row 40 ← backward 9 A
- Row 41 → forward 9 A
- Row 42 ← backward 9 A
- Row 43 → forward 9 A
- Row 44 ← backward 9 A
- Row 45 → forward 9 A
- Row 46 ← backward 1 A, 7 B, 1 A
- Row 47 → forward 6 A, 1 B, 2 A
- Row 48 ← backward 3 A, 2 B, 4 A
- Row 49 → forward 6 A, 1 B, 2 A
- Row 50 ← backward 1 A, 7 B, 1 A
- Row 51 → forward 9 A
- Row 52 ← backward 1 A, 1 B, 5 A, 1 B, 1 A
- Row 53 → forward 1 A, 7 B, 1 A
- Row 54 ← backward 1 A, 1 B, 5 A, 1 B, 1 A
- Row 55 → forward 9 A
- Row 56 ← backward 2 A, 6 B, 1 A
- Row 57 → forward 4 A, 1 B, 2 A, 1 B, 1 A
- Row 58 ← backward 1 A, 1 B, 2 A, 1 B, 4 A
- Row 59 → forward 4 A, 1 B, 2 A, 1 B, 1 A
- Row 60 ← backward 2 A, 6 B, 1 A
- Row 61 → forward 9 A
- Row 62 ← backward 9 A
- Row 63 → forward 9 A
- Row 64 ← backward 9 A
- Row 65 → forward 9 A
- Row 66 ← backward 9 A
- Row 67 → forward 9 A
- Row 68 ← backward 9 A
- Row 69 → forward 9 A
- Row 70 ← backward 9 A
- Row 71 → forward 9 A
- Row 72 ← backward 9 A
- Row 73 → forward 9 A
- Row 74 ← backward 9 A
- Row 75 → forward 9 A
- Row 76 ← backward 9 A
- Row 77 → forward 9 A
- Row 78 ← backward 9 A
- Row 79 → forward 9 A
- Row 80 ← backward 9 A
- Row 81 → forward 9 A
- Row 82 ← backward 9 A
- Row 83 → forward 9 A
- Row 84 ← backward 9 A
- Row 85 → forward 9 A
- Row 86 ← backward 9 A
- Row 87 → forward 9 A
- Row 88 ← backward 9 A
- Row 89 → forward 9 A
- Row 90 ← backward 9 A
- Row 91 → forward 9 A
- Row 92 ← backward 9 A
- Row 93 → forward 9 A
- Row 94 ← backward 9 A
- Row 95 → forward 9 A
- Row 96 ← backward 9 A
- Row 97 → forward 9 A
- Row 98 ← backward 9 A
- Row 99 → forward 9 A
- Row 100 ← backward 9 A
- Row 101 → forward 9 A
- Row 102 ← backward 9 A
- Row 103 → forward 9 A
- Row 104 ← backward 9 A
- Row 105 → forward 9 A
- The name fits once in 105 rows, 1 knot of background on each side
- The 105 written rows, read on their own, rebuild every knot of the pattern
- Every row has exactly 9 knots, one on each base string
- Rows alternate: forward knots left to right, backward knots right to left
- 945 knots in all = 9 base strings × 105 rows
- Held with row 1 on the left, the bracelet reads “MIA”, not mirrored or upside down
Questions about this project
Does a long name automatically shrink to fit?
No. If the name needs more rows than the chosen bracelet length provides, the engine reports that it does not fit and suggests more room.
Are the thread lengths exact consumption measurements?
They are estimates from the knot and carrying model, with end allowances. Your knot size and finishing method can change the actual amount used.
Terms and next steps
k = knit; p = purl; sc = US single crochet; MC = main colour; CC = contrast colour. A number after a stitch abbreviation is the number of stitches to work. Read repeat instructions as written.
Abbreviation references: Craft Yarn Council knitting terms · Craft Yarn Council crochet terms and US/UK comparison.
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