Materials:
- Hemp Twine (length depends on person)
- Beads (as many as desired)
- Balloons
- String
Most hemp jewelry is made up of two basic knots, which are
illustrated below. These knots are basically the reverse of each other. If you
just repeat one knot over and over again, you will get a spiral pattern that
looks like a double-helix. If you alternate one knot and then the other, you
will get a flat pattern:
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| The Two Basic Knots |
But first, we need to figure out how much hemp to cut.
You will need 4 lengths of hemp. Two will
form the base (black), and should be a little longer than the finished piece will
be. The other two (blue and red) will be used to make the knots and need to be
at least 5 or 6 times longer than the finished piece. The length can vary
depending on any beads you may add - if you use a lot of large beads you will
need less hemp because you will be making fewer knots.
Tip: If you want a loop at one end of the piece (so you can
use a button or knot clasp), use only two pieces. Make them twice as long, fold
them over, and tie a loop.
Knot 1
Fold the right strand (red) over the base strands (black)
and under the left strand (blue). Bring the left strand (blue) under the base
strands (black) and then up and over the right strand (red). Tighten the
knot.
Knot 2
Then fold the left strand (red) over the base strands and
under the right strand (blue). Bring the right strand (blue) under the base
strands and then up and over the left strand (red). Tighten the second
knot. And that's it! These two knots
form the basic structure of most hemp jewelry.
Adding Beads
Adding beads to your hemp necklace is easy. Just thread it
on both base strands (black) and make a knot around it. If the bead's hole is
too small to be threaded onto the hemp, it can be attached using bead thread
(sew it on) or wire (make a loop of wire and thread that onto the base strands
like you would a bead - tighten to secure).
Here's an example of a necklace made with a flat weave
(alternating the two knots), interspersed with crow beads.
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| Necklace Made With A Flat Weave |
A flat-braid necklace with wooden rainbow beads:
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| Necklace With Wooden Rainbow Beads |
Finishing Hemp Jewelry There are several ways to finish off your hemp jewelry:
- Tie Ends Allow enough hemp to twist or braid the ends and then tie them together. This is the easiest and simplest way to finish. Bead/Button/Knot clasp This requires some forethought. When you start your piece, instead of cutting 4 strands, cut 2 twice as long, fold them over in half, and tie a loop which will be one end. When you finish, put a large bead, button, or knot at the other end. When you stick the bead through the loop, it will catch and hold.
- Slider-Knots If you don't want to use any metal or other objects in your piece, but you want to be able to adjust the length, there are a few different ways to end necklaces using just hemp slider-style knots. These are the type where there are two knots that tie over both strandsa and that slide apart to shorten the necklace... It's hard to explain and unfortunately I don't have a picture yet, but they are covered in this book: Hemp Masters: Ancient Hippie Secrets (Amazon link - full review on resources page).
- Metal Clasp You can use a regular clasp if you finish the ends of your hemp piece with metal or wire cord tips. These go over the ends of cord, leather thong, or in this case, hemp. There are two types, one has metal flaps that bend over the cord and the other has a coil, the bottom of which you crimp around your cord.
Samples of Macrame Bracelet or Choker:
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| Macrame Bracelet Collection |
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| Macrame Bracelet with Sterling Silver |
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| Macrame Bracelet With Peace Symbol Pendant |
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| Macrame Bracelet with Golden Pearl Beads |
You might want to check this out:
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