How to Make Elaborate Hemp Jewelry
Hemp is a natural fiber that is used to make functional, decorative and wearable objects, including jewelry. One of the best ways to make hemp jewelry with an elaborate appearance is through macramé. Macramé is the art of knotting fibers to create all types of creations, from plant hangers to wall hangings. Macrame hemp jewelry has an intricate, touchable, textured appearance that makes it both unique and aesthetically pleasing. Using hemp cord of any color, you can craft a pair of eye-catching macramé hemp earrings using half-knots, which create an attractive twist, and beads.
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Things You'll Need
- 32-inch strand of hemp cord
- Scissors
- Straight pin
- Cork or foam board
- 2 beads with 1 to 2mm holes
- 2 metal ear wires
Instructions
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1
Cut the strand of hemp cord into two equal portions using scissors. Make sure each portion measures 16 inches.
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2
Hold the two pieces of hemp cord together. Fold the two pieces of cord in half. At the fold, create a simple overhand knot, leaving a loop at the top of the knot. Note that this loop will hook onto the ear wire later.
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3
Push a straight pin through the knot and attach it to a cork or foam board. This will make the process of crafting the macramé earring much easier.
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4
Spread out the four pieces of hemp cord that are now suspended from the knot. You will have a left cord, two center cords and a right cord.
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5
Bring the right cord over the two center cords and under the left cord.
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6
Bring the left cord under the two center cords and through the loop created by the right cord in step 5. Pull the left cord snugly to create a knot. Press the knot up against the first overhand knot you made.
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7
Continue making half-knots using this process. Make between 10 and 15 half-knots until you have progressed about one inch; you should see a nice twist.
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8
Grasp the two center cords. Push them through the hole in a bead. Slide the bead up so it is pressed against the last half-knot you made.
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9
Bring the left and right cords down the sides of the bead. Form another half-knot at the base of the bead. Continue to form another inch's worth of half-knots below the bead.
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10
Tie another overhand knot. Press the overhand knot up against the last half-knot you made.
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11
Trim off the excess cord with scissors. Leave about ½ to ¾ of an inch to dangle below the overhand knot at the base of the earring.
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12
Pull apart the individual strands of each of the four pieces of cord to fray the ends of the earrings.
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13
Slip the small loop at the top of the earring onto a metal ear wire. Repeat this entire process to make a matching macramé earring.
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Tips & Warnings
Use two 16-inch long pieces of hemp cord in two hues for more elaborate and colorful hemp earrings.
You can use this same process to make an elaborate hemp bracelet or necklace. Simply start out with more hemp cord, and alternate between making a series of half knots and adding a bead until you have made a bracelet or necklace of the length you desire. Hook both sides of a metal jewelry clasp to the knots at both ends of the bracelet or necklace.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit ball of hemp string image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
