Hemp Jewelry Designs

To continue on with how much cord you will need for a project, I have a few more tips on how to determine length of cords.

The question:

“Are these lengths like so if you used one cord for -both- strings? Like two strings this length and four strings to knot with, if that makes sense? I would imagine it’s like this, but that’s a lot of wasted chord and work if I’m thinking wrong.”

If I am understanding the question, you are asking if the tips I posted about determining cord lengths are for both sets of cords…the bearers and the knotters.

The answer:

It depends. Depending on what style of knotting you are going to use, your cord lengths for the knotters and the bearers can either be the same or they can be different.

I know if I am going to make a bracelet that will not be using the knot bearers as knotting cords (such as the switch knot) I will not need as much cord for the knot bearers. Hence, I can cut those cords shorter than the knotting cords. Usually, I measure the finished length of the piece of jewelry and then add about 6 inches to that to make sure I have enough left over cord for tie ends. (assuming that is the closure I am going to use)

If I am going to use the knot bearers somehow as knotting cords within the piece, I am going to cut the same amount of length for both the knot bearers AND knotting cords.

Is it a waste of hemp? Sometimes. But I will tell you, I would rather have TOO much hemp than NOT enough. Nothing sucks more than being in the middle of a piece of jewelry and realizing that I will not have enough cord to finish the project.

The more you work with different knotting styles, the more you will automatically know how much cord you will need for the bearers and for the knotters. At first it will be almost trial and error. But if you stick to some guidelines in the beginning that will help you along the way.

Does this make sense? If not, let me know any questions you have. IF you don’t ask questions, then I can’t help

Happy Knotting

To add to how much cord do I need post, here are a couple more tips to help you determine cord length.

I have been asked by a faithful reader a couple of good questions to help with deciding on cord length.

“Is there a way to know how -much- more or less chord I should get depending on the knot?”

The answer is yes and no For me, it just took practice and lots of trial and error to get it down to where I was not wasting alot of cord or not having enough cord. I just kept to some guidelines, and went from there.

If you are using a knot that is very ’small’–meaning, there is less cord to use to complete one knot, like the half hitch or the half knot, then you are going to use more cord to finish the piece. Does that make sense?

If you are using a knot that is ‘larger’–meaning, there is more cord needed to complete one knot, then you might not need as much cord to finish the piece of jewelry.

Let me do a for example to see if I can explain it a little bit better.

If you are making a piece of jewelry using ..oh lets say the pretzel knot, we KNOW that it will take a lot of cord to make the actually knot itself, and the knot will also take up a larger space in the design, which means less knots need to create it, meaning probably less cord will be needed. Hmmm, maybe that is confusing or not a good example.

On the other hand, if we are going to use the half hitch knot to make a necklace, we KNOW this is a simple knot and one knot is finished using very little cord, so it is going to take a lot of knots to finish the piece. Therefore, we will need more cord for this knot.

Try this experiment to see if it will help you see what I mean.

Let’s make two pieces of jewelry. One with just half knots, and one with the switch knot. We want the jewelry size to be the same size when finished, so you can see how much cord you used with both experiments. I am just pulling numbers out, hopefully this will work.

1. Cut 4 cords, 2 for knotters and 2 for knot bearers
2. Length of all cords cut at 25 inches.
3. Tie overhand knot but leave about 2 inches on the ends before you start your knotting

Ok, work with the first piece of jewelry and just make half knots for about 4 inches.  Make the ending overhand knot and set this aside.

Do the second piece of jewelry and just use the switch knot, and knot until you get 4 inches done, the end with a overhand knot.

Compare your two pieces of jewelry. See how much more cord was needed for the first one? How much cord do you have left over at the end? Compare it to the second one.

Did this experiment even work for you? lol.  Maybe I was just too long winded to say that there really isn’t a magic formula to know how much more or less cord to use depending on the knot, I wish there was, and if there is I don’t know it.

I will have to wait on the second question and answer as I over ‘talked’ in this one!

Any questions? comments? Let me know. If I confused you all to heck, well…I apologize lol.

Happy Knotting

This is what we are going to make! The knots used for this hemp anklet or hemp bracelet (whatever you wish) are the square knot and the switch knot.

This pattern is using 20# test hemp twine and 3 wooden beads. The size of this piece of jewelry is 9 inches.

What you will need:

• Macrame board (or something to pin your work down on)
• 3 Beads…any type of bead that you wish.
• 20 # hemp twine
• Patience

Please note: This pattern is for personal use only. If you wish to use it for commerial use, be nice and contact me for permission.

Step 1:

Cut 4 stands of hemp about 45-50 inches. ( I like to have extra length for good measure ) Take a look at how much cord do I need post to help you with understanding how I came to this length.

Tie all strands in an overhand knot, leaving about 3-4 inches of extra cord before the knot. (these are used to tie together for a closure)

Step 2:

Pin your knot down and make square knots for about 1 3/4 inches.  Some people like to count the square knots, I don’t, I just measure in inches.

Step 3:

Make a switch knot. Make sure you measure how long you make the switch knot because when you make the next switch knot you are going to want to make it the same size. I made mine about an inch long.

Step 4:

Add your bead! Your only going to add the bead on the center two strands (which are your knot bearing cords) and then make a square knot.

Step 5:

Make another switch knot. (Remember to make it the same length as the first one)

Step 6:

Repeat Step 4 then step 5 two more times.

Step 7:

Now make square knots until the end of your jewelry piece. For this piece it will be 1 3/4 inches. (It should be the same length as step number 2) then make an overhand knot and you are DONE!

Cut any extra length of cord left over after your overhand knot, but make sure you leave 3 or 4 inches you that you can tie it to the other end for closure

Another view of the finish piece.

If you have questions let me know!

Don’t forget this is just something to go by, feel free to modify it to your liking!

I want to see pics of your finished pieces tooooo!!!! <smiles>

Happy Knotting