Friendship bracelets can be very simple or extremely intricate, but at heart they're just colorful embroidery floss woven into lovely patterns, to be given to dear friends (or kept for yourself).  This knotted style is known as "Snake Around the Pole" and is probably the easiest friendship bracelet to make.

The supplies you'll need are:

four different colors of embroidery floss

scissors

clipboard 

Cut 8 strands (2 of each of the colors) of the floss, each about 3 feet long.  Line the strands up together and knot together about 4-5 inches from one end. 

 Take this end and place on a clibboard, with the knot directly under the clip.  Seperate the two strands of your first color from the others.  Take these strands and cross it on top of the others, making the shape of the number 4. 

Then loop the strands under the others and bring it through the opening created by the "4" shape.

This forms a knot that you will pull tight by sliding it toward the big knot at the top.  You'll need to use your other hand to make the other strands taught for the knot to slide easily.

Repeat this with the same string for as long as you want this color.  When you are ready to change colors, replace with two strands of another color and combine the first color back in with the others.

Repeat the "4" shape knots with this color until you are wanting to change then continue knotting and changing colors until you have reached a length that fits around your wrist.  Finish with another big knot, and leave enough room to tie the bracelet around your friend's (or your own) wrist.  Trim the excess strings once you are sure the size is what you want. 

There are so many varieties you can make with just this one knotting style.  Just by changing the colors and number of strands, it can fill many a lazy summer day.  My 10 year old son and 7 year old daughter have made so many of these, and have plans to make many more.  My son picked the colors green, gray, light brown and dark brown and make a camoflauge bracelet, he hasn't taken it off in nearly a week.  My daughter made one red, white and blue for the 4th of July, she changed it to using just three colors instead of four but used three strands of each color instead of two.  The kids got the hang of it very quickly, and my husband even asked them to make him one in blue and yellow (he's a manager at a NAPA warehouse) once he saw me wearing mine today. 

Remember, these are not just for girls, President Bill Clinton sported one in the first televised interview of his post-presidential years.