|
Knotting hemp jewelry, or macramé, is an art form made by knotting cords using simple knots and hemp twine. It was very popular with early nineteenth century American and British sailors who spent long hours aboard ships tying square knots to make bell, pipe, and wheel covers, as well as other useful objects, from hemp jute. There is even some documentation that it was done in fifteenth century France and Italy. The knotting pastime faded but made a comeback in the early 20th century, showing up in belts, purses, lanyards, and other items. Making hemp jewelry, wall hangings, or other ornaments is a simple and fun hobby. You may wonder why you should use hemp cord for macramé, instead of twine made of things such as cotton, nylon, or linen. For one thing, hemp is three times stronger than cotton or silk, and up to five times stronger than synthetics such as nylon or rayon. Hemp is also versatile, inexpensive, and attractive. Making jewelry with hemp is fun and easy, and you can even sell what you make for profit. You will need no expensive tools or even a great amount of talent to get started. Here are some of the terms with which you will need to be familiar.
Bunk hemp is a section of cord or twine where two pieces have been connected, creating a bulge in the cord. This must be frayed so that the piece will look consistent.
Carrier or bead carrier is one or more cords around which knots are tied and onto which beads are threaded.
Cord versus twine: Cord and twine are wound in opposite directions when the fibers are spun. Cord is wound counter-clockwise and twine is wound clockwise.
Weight refers to the thickness of the cord or twine used.
Hip is the portion of a square knot that is created when the vertical cord passes over the horizontal cords.
Once you are familiar with these terms, you are ready to acquire the supplies you need to get started creating your own unique macramé jewelry. Hemp cord is available in many different weights. The most commonly used are 20 lb. (1mm), 45 lb. (2mm), 80 lb. (3mm), and 170 lb. (4 mm). You can buy it in craft or hobby stores, bead shops, and hardware stores. If you would like to practice before spending any money on hemp (the price of which ranges between $6-8 for 420 feet or 200 grams), try using nylon seine twine, or jute twine. Don’t use acrylic yarn or embroidery floss, as it will stretch when pulled tight for knots. When you do buy hemp, take care to notice the quality of it: how tightly it is wound and how fuzzy it is. Avoid hemp that is very uneven or too loosely wound. Polished twine may be easier for you to work with than unpolished because the latter is fuzzier. If your cord is too fuzzy, try rubbing it with a piece of solid beeswax; this is a good way to condition it. Here are some other supplies you will need.
Scissors: You probably already have these at home.
Glue: This will be used to glue ends of pieces, some closures, and general mishaps. Rubber cement works best, but you can also use super glue. Be careful if you decide to use super glue, though. Too much, combined with overhandling, or just a good tug, can make it brittle, and it may break easily.
Craft board: While helpful, this is not entirely necessary. You can instead use a piece of styrofoam, cork, or cardboard. Or, you can attach your work to a cup hook, or simply pin it to your pant leg or furniture.
Beeswax: This is available in some natural or health food stores, craft or hobby stores, or you can find it on the Internet. As mentioned before, it is used to condition the cord.
Beads: These will be the decoration for your pieces. While beads aren’t absolutely necessary, they do give a nice touch to hemp jewelry. Buy them at your local bead shop, craft or hobby store, discount store, or try searching through flea markets and thrift stores to find interesting beaded jewelry that you can take apart for beads. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to find unique beads. Old buttons can work well too.
A good book or two on hemp jewelry: This will give you step-by-step instruction on tying knots and will provide patterns.
Once you have all the necessary supplies, you are ready to begin. The first thing you will want to know is how long your cords need to be. This will depend on the style of the piece, whether it is a choker, necklace, bracelet, or anklet. For most beginners’ pieces, you will only be using two lengths of cord, folded in half, giving you four cords. Here is a guide on how long to cut your cord.
Style/Length of Piece/Cut Length/Folded Length
Necklace/18-20 in./8 ft./4 ft.
Choker/13-18 in./6-8 ft./3-4 ft.
Anklet/9-13 in./4-6 ft./2-3 ft.
Bracelet/5-8 in./3-4 ft./1.5-2 ft.
To begin your piece with the appropriate length of cord for the style you have chosen, fold both cords in half. Do not cut the cords. This will give you four equal lengths of cord with which to work. The outside cord will be your knotters, which will be referred to as right and left and are held in the right and left hand, respectively. The inside will be your carriers. When your cords are folded in half, you will have two loops at the top. Place one inside the other; the top will serve as a loop closure at the end of your finished piece. You may want to pin this to your board or whatever you are using to keep your work in place. Now you are ready to begin tying your knots.
The most basic and simple knots, used in most beginner’s patterns, are the left and right half knots, the left and right square knots, the half hitch, and the double half hitch. There are many instructional and tutorial websites where you can learn how to tie these knots, or you can use a book. It’s best to master these knots before trying more complicated knots such as the pretzel knot or the phish bone knot. These knots are both intricate and make beautiful hemp jewelry, but they are tricky. Remember that practice makes perfect. Another knot you will want to master is the larks head mounting knot. This simple and functional knot is used to mount cords on rods or jump rings, and it can also be used to connect cords or to mount a pendant or large bead on a cord. There are different variations of these knots, but you should always master the basics before attempting anything too complicated. Not only will this save time and effort, but it will also save you money and supplies.
For most people, knotting hemp jewelry comes pretty easily with practice. When you are first starting out, you will most likely want to follow patterns with step-by-step instructions. After you are more comfortable with your knotting ability, you will be able to do freestyle pieces and use your imagination to create designs that are uniquely you. Once you feel your work is good enough, you may be able to turn your hobby into profit. Since the materials used to make the jewelry are inexpensive, it is fairly easy. Smaller, simpler patterns can be sold for anywhere from $5-15, depending on the size and quality, while more complex pieces can be sold for anywhere from $15-35, the higher priced ones containing complicated knots and more beadwork. Once you have decided on how you would like to price your work, you can then pick a method or several methods of selling your wares. The following are some suggestions.
If you want to sell them independently
Free ways
1. Advertise in net classifieds. Most are free to list.
2. Make your own website. There are hundreds of helpful services on the Internet.
3. Sell them on Internet auctions. These can be very good, but always beware of fraud.
4. Have a party, and display the items you want to sell.
5. Word of mouth
Minimal money
1. Poster advertisements posted in your city
2. Local classified ads (Internet or newspaper)
3. Yard sale
Having someone else sell your jewelry
1. Sell your jewelry via a website that does all the work for you. Create pages, manage credit card transactions, etc. This is not a method recommended for small quantities of jewelry.
2. Sell it on consignment. Find a craft store or hobby store, etc., that will sell your work on consignment. Be sure to ask questions about rates, display, and general policy. A contract is probably a good idea, too.
Hopefully, with the information in this article, and some patience and practice, you can be on your way to becoming a skilled hemp jewelry artist. Just remember to have fun and take it easy; everyone learns at his/her own pace, and some may accelerate more quickly than others. Even if you don’t sell your jewelry, you will still be able to make unique, stylish accessories and gifts for yourself, your friends, and your family. Good luck!
| 
