How to Make a Hemp Anklet/Bracelet/Necklace (instructional pictures included!)

Member

By jeansmith99
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating:

(4 Ratings)

Hemp can be quite beautiful when done correctly.

Hemp can be beautiful when done correctly. Here you will learn how to make an anklet/bracelet/necklace out of hemp using square knots, just one of the many kinds of knots available.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Hemp twine, 2 pieces (about 7 1/2 feet ea. for bracelet, 10 ea. for anklet, and 15 ea. for choker/necklace)
Scissors
Duct tape
Ruler
Table/desktop to work on

Step 1

Cut 2 pieces of hemp to the desired length. Hold the pieces together, and now bend them in the middle.
Step 2

Make an overhand knot, which ends up tying both strings together. Before you pull tight, make sure the loop is big enough to allow a knot through, but small enough so that the knot doesn't easily slip out. You should now have 4 strings hanging down.
Step 3

Now to begin! Tape down the loop to the top of the table (or 3/4 of the way there). Then take the two middle strings and tape them down at the base of the table. These are called the base strings, and like the name suggests, are the base. This is also where you will put beads when you want to add them, which I will discuss in an upcoming article.
Step 4

And now knotting. You have two outside strings, one on the right side of the base strings and one on the left. Pick up the right string in your right hand. Using your left hand, pass the left string over both base strings, but NOT over the right string. It should look somewhat like a "4".
Step 5

Take the right string and pass it under both the left string and the base strings. Pull it out in the space between the left string and the base strings. Now pick up both strings and pull them slightly (though not all the way up). Are they starting to look like a knot already? Good!
Step 6

If you've followed the step above, you're good to go! Pull the knot tight. Congratulations! You've made your first knot! Now onto the second.
Step 7

Remember the string that you passed under all of the others? The one that used to be the right string? It is now the one on the left, but you must still use that string to create a square knot. Repeat steps 1-6, but on the opposite side (passing the "left" string under the base and the right string now).
Step 8

Continue steps 1-7 until the anklet/bracelet/necklace is at the desired length. Make sure that the knots are all about the same size; you don't want a misshapen piece of jewelry! You can then finish off the piece. Take off all of the duct tape to free the piece, and pick it up. Simply use the end of the hemp (the unused part) to make a knot. Cut it down so there is an excess of about 8 inches. You're almost done!
Step 9

Now try passing all of the end strings through the loop at the top (this is how you would wear the bracelet). Pull gently. Does the knot easily come out of the loop? Don't worry, that's easily fixable (and that's why you left the ends long!). String a bead onto all four of the strings, and then tie another knot to secure it. Trim the ends short. You have now finished your first piece of hemp jewelry!

Comments

seabound said

Flag This Comment

on 8/17/2009 Great article! My daughter makes hemp jewelry and you instructions are right on. 5* and a recommend!

erin0597 said

on 8/17/2009 does anybody know how to make a striped woven friendship bracelet? i got the directions, but i can't quite figure out how to do it. can someone help me find the video to that?