Team-Color Bracelets and Spirit Accessories to Make

You can make team-color bracelets and spirit accessories with a few easy-to-find materials and simple knots or beads.

Choose colors that work together, keep accessories comfortable and secure, and check your school's dress code before wearing them.

Choose materials and colors

Start by choosing two or three colors for your bracelet or accessory. Two colors create a simple stripe or pattern, while a third can add a small accent. If you are matching a school or group, use the colors you already know; you do not need an exact shade for a coordinated look.

Embroidery floss, beads, flat shoelaces, yarn pom-poms, and lightweight plastic links are useful options. Check that cords and laces feel comfortable against your skin and that beads have smooth edges. For backpack decorations, choose materials that will not feel heavy or snag easily.

Lay out your supplies before you begin. You may also want scissors, a ruler, tape, a clip, or a small container for beads. Use scissors carefully, and keep loose beads and other small parts away from young children because they can be a choking hazard.

• For a soft bracelet: embroidery floss or yarn.
• For a bright pattern: beads and cord.
• For a backpack: a short lace, pom-pom, or lightweight chain.

Make a basic braided floss bracelet

A three-strand braid is an easy first project. Cut three lengths of embroidery floss, each long enough to wrap around your wrist several times, with extra length for tying. Longer strands are easier to work with than strands that are too short. If you want stripes, choose a different color for each strand.

Bring the ends together and tie a knot near one end, leaving a short tail. Tape the tail to a table or clip it to a firm surface so the knot stays in place while you braid. Keep the floss flat rather than twisted, and pull each crossing snug without making the braid stiff.

Move the left strand over the middle strand. Then move the right strand over the new middle strand. Repeat those steps, alternating sides, until the braid is long enough to wrap around your wrist. Check the fit as you go; leave room for tying and avoid making the bracelet tight.

Tie a knot at the end of the braid and trim the extra floss, leaving enough tail to fasten it. You can tie the two ends together with help, or make a loop at one end and a knot at the other for a simple closure. Check that the knot holds before wearing the bracelet.

• Tip: Use tape or a clip to steady the starting knot.
• Tip: Keep your braid loose enough to bend comfortably around your wrist.

Add team-color beads

For a beaded bracelet, choose beads that fit on your cord or floss. Elastic cord is convenient for a pull-on bracelet, while a non-stretch cord needs a closure or tie. Check the bead holes before you start, and make sure the cord is strong enough to hold the beads without fraying.

Cut the cord longer than your wrist measurement so you have room to tie it. Secure one end with a temporary knot or clip, then thread beads in a repeating pattern. For example, alternate two colors, or place one accent bead between groups of matching beads. Leave a little space at the ends for fastening.

Tie elastic cord with a firm knot and gently tug each side to check it. If the knot slips, retie it before wearing the bracelet. For cord that needs a clasp, ask an adult for help attaching small findings. Keep spare beads and cut cord off the floor and away from young children.

Turn a shoelace into a quick accessory

A clean, flat shoelace can become a simple wrist tie, zipper pull, or backpack accent. Pick a lace in a color that complements your other accessories. For a bracelet, wrap it around your wrist to check the length, leaving enough extra to tie a bow or knot without squeezing.

To make a wrist tie, fold the lace in half and place the fold against your wrist. Ask someone to help tie the loose ends, or make a loose knot yourself and slide your hand through. Keep the fit comfortable and easy to remove. Do not tie it around your neck or attach it where it could catch on something.

For a backpack, thread the lace through a sturdy zipper pull or fabric loop, then tie the ends in a double knot. Keep the lace short enough that it does not drag or get caught. Check the knot now and then, especially after the backpack has been opened and closed.

Make a pom-pom charm

Use a ready-made pom-pom or make one from yarn. Choose a small, lightweight pom-pom in one of your colors, then attach it to a short loop of floss, cord, or a jump ring. A loop makes it easier to fasten the charm to a zipper pull or backpack chain.

If you make a yarn pom-pom, wrap yarn around a piece of cardboard or your fingers, tie the center tightly, and cut the loops open. Trim the yarn into an even ball, keeping your fingers clear of the scissors. Ask an adult to help if you are not comfortable cutting or handling small attachment pieces.

Pull gently on the pom-pom and its loop to check that the yarn is secure. Keep the charm small and light so it does not pull on the zipper. Pom-poms can collect dirt, so remove the charm before washing a bag or clothing item.

Build a spirit chain for a backpack

A spirit chain is a row of connected links or charms that hangs from a backpack loop. Use lightweight plastic links, large beads made for crafts, or a short chain with secure connectors. Add one or two pom-poms or color accents rather than making the chain too heavy.

Connect the links one at a time, then attach the finished chain to a sturdy fabric loop or zipper pull. Close each connector fully and tug gently to test it. Avoid attaching a decoration to a loose zipper tab or a part that could bend under the weight.

Keep the chain short enough to stay close to the bag and avoid catching on doors, desks, or other items. Remove it before putting the backpack in a washing machine. If any link cracks, loosens, or has a sharp edge, take the chain off and repair or replace that part.

Wear and care for your accessories

Before wearing a bracelet, check that it is not too tight and that knots, beads, and clasps feel secure. Remove it if it catches on clothing or makes an activity uncomfortable. Keep bracelets and dangling charms away from equipment or situations where they might snag.

Store small accessories in a pouch or closed container so beads and charms do not scatter. Keep them out of reach of young children, especially if a piece has detachable beads, links, or other small parts. Check your school's dress code for rules about bracelets, backpack decorations, and accessories.