How it works
- Type the name or word. Up to 40 characters; capitals are used automatically.
- Pick font and layout. Choose Tiny 3×5, Basic 5×7, Serif 7×9, Bold 6×7, Outline 7×9 or Big 10×14, then Sideways, Stacked or Horizontal.
- Set width, colours and border. Use fixed width for an exact number of knots across, pick text, background and border floss colours, and add a border if you like.
- Get the instructions. Download a PDF with the chart, string counts and row-by-row instructions, starting from row 1 at the top.
Tips for a great alpha bracelet pattern from text
Match the font to the width you enjoy knotting. In Sideways layout, Tiny 3×5 makes slim, quick bracelets: 7 knots across with the default padding, or 11 with a single border. Basic 5×7 is easier to read from a distance and comes to 9 knots, or 13 with a border. Serif 7×9 looks elegant on wider bands of 11 to 15 knots.
Two colours are often enough. Letters in one colour on a contrasting background is the classic alpha name bracelet. A third colour for the border is a nice touch, but every extra colour adds another working string to carry through each row.
Leave space between letters. Knots are wider than they are tall, so in a Sideways layout the letters run along the bracelet and spacing between them shows up as rows of plain background. One or two rows of letter spacing keeps names such as “MIMI” from blurring into a block, and the Realistic view shows the true proportions.
Add plain rows at each end. Before and after the name, a few rows of background colour give you room for the clasp or tie and let the name sit centred on the top of the wrist. Raising the padding adds these rows for you, though it also adds knots across.
Plan the full length. A name may only take 30 to 40 rows, while a wrist usually needs around 80 rows at 2 mm a row. Many makers repeat the name, add a small motif between repeats or fill the rest with a stripe. The bracelet length calculator works out the rows and string lengths for any wrist.
Cut base strings in the background colour. The base strings are hidden inside the knots, but a few may peep through on a loosely knotted bracelet. Choosing base strings in the background colour hides any gaps.
Follow the rows in order. Each row is written out knot by knot, starting at row 1 at the top. Load the PDF into the stitch tracker and highlight the current row so you do not lose your place mid-bracelet.
Want a picture beside the name? Generate the text here, then open it in the alpha pattern maker to add a small heart or star at each end.
What you get
| Sizes | 5–40 knots wide from a photo; editor up to 2,000 × 2,000 |
|---|---|
| Colours | 2–8, matched by CIEDE2000 colour difference |
| Palettes | DMC, Anchor |
| Downloads | PDF (cover, colour key, numbered chart pages, optional colour pages), PNG, SVG, shopping list CSV, .cpat project |
| Files accepted | JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP, AVIF, iPhone HEIC; .cpat and OXS patterns; PDFs made by CraftPatterns |
| Privacy | Runs in your browser. Images are never uploaded. |
| Price | Free — no sign-up, no watermark |
How it compares with other free tools
What you can expect here, every time — no tiers, no trial.
| Free printable PDF | Yes, with no watermark |
|---|---|
| Sign-up needed | No |
| Image uploaded to a server | No — processed on your device |
| Editor | Yes — pencil, fill, line, rectangle, mirror, undo |
| Progress tracker | Yes — free, works offline |
| Switch the same pattern to another craft | Yes — one tap |
Frequently asked questions
Which layout should I use for a name bracelet?
Sideways is the classic choice: the text is turned 90 degrees so the name reads along the length of the bracelet when it is on your wrist. Stacked keeps each letter upright and places them one above another, which some makers prefer for short names and initials.
How many knots across do I need for letters?
In Sideways layout the knots across are the letter height plus padding and border. With the default padding of one knot each side, Tiny 3×5 needs 7 knots, Basic 5×7 needs 9 and Serif 7×9 needs 11. A single, dotted, checker or zigzag border adds 2 knots on each side; double, hearts, stars and diamonds add 4. Stacked layout only needs the widest letter plus padding, so it can be narrower still.
What does fixed width do?
It locks the pattern to an exact number of knots across, so you can match a bracelet you are already planning or a pattern you like. Extra knots are added evenly on both sides so the text stays centred, and the materials list the base strings you need, which is always one more than the width.
Can I write a message with spaces or two words?
Yes, up to 40 characters including spaces and line breaks. Letters are set in capitals. Longer messages make longer bracelets, so very long phrases are better suited to bag straps or bookmarks.
Can I add hearts or stars?
You can choose a hearts or stars border, and the fonts include a small heart character as well as simple punctuation such as the ampersand and plus sign.
How do I give the pattern to a friend?
Copy the share link. It recreates the exact text, font, layout, border and colours, so a friend can make a matching bracelet.
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