Tips on Making Hemp Knots
I learned to do macrame online and from books. Some things I learned on my own, that the books or online instructions didn’t tell me. So I thought of some things that I had not written in my other posts about making hemp jewelry that I thought I would write here in one post. Some tips on how to make your hemp jewelry great!! Of course it is a matter of trial and error, but doesn’t hurt to learn from others’ mistakes or findings either!
First of all, realize that your first knots are not going to be perfect! It takes practice.
Ok, on to some tips:
- One of the most important things I have found is to anchor your cords! I use T-pins or push pins to hold down my knots that I have already have made. I use tape to hold down the knot bearer cords. These need to be tight, or taunt and secured. That is the only way to get uniform knots…well that I have found!! Some people use their feet to hold the cords, but I have NO idea how they do that!
- Make sure that when making a half knot (and more importantly a square knot) that you begin the knot on the same side! That will keep the knots uniform. FOR EXAMPLE: I always start on the right hand side of my piece of jewelry. SO, if I am making a square knot, I start with the knotting cord in my right hand, make the half knot, then use the cord in my left hand and make the half knot…one square knot done. NEXT square knot, I start with the knotting cord in my right hand again. If I do not, then the knots are not going to look right!!!
- Don’t worry at first if you have enough cord or not, learn the knots and then when you are satisfied with your knowledge and go to make your jewelry you can concentrate on cord length.
- It is better to have too much cord than not enough cord!!! Hemp is cheap, I even sell hemp twine, natural or colored.
- Make sure your knots are pulled tight. But not too tight that is squishes the knot bearers in a weird position. I know, that one is hard to picture, but I have done it.
That is about all I can think of now. I am sure I will come up with more soon.
Please, if you have any questions, contact me, I will be happy to help if I can!
Good Luck
Peace!!
Bookmark To:
December 17th, 2006 at 10:11 pm
ok
i have been trying to figure out how to make a flower design using Cowrie shells
i know how to make hemp very well i make the jewelry all of the time and that is the only thing that i have not found out how to do and i find it funny because i have figured out how that put everything else in teh jewlery on my own
So i would greatly appriciate it if you could tell em how to add that to anecklace
thank you a lot
April 26th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Hemp is very hard to make so if you get a chance plz send me some more directions….
May 15th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
i love cowrie shells although i have not used a cowrie shell star in my neckless yet i have a pretty good idea if you put them on the table laying in the star shape then use a piece of hemp and thread it through the bottom of each of the slits in the shells as if you were sewing a button then use a dab of glue in the back to make stay. once again i have never done it but i have seen it in one of those kits in wal-mart you might want to check into that.CYA
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June 1st, 2007 at 1:27 pm
I need some help with adding cowries to a hemp necklace. How do you actually string them to a necklace? (Just straight, not in a star formation)
June 5th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Mark~
Lauren S. has a great explaination on how to do it. That is exactly how I add cowry shells to a neclace.
kristy
July 19th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
some more advice:
when making a flat string (as opposed to the twisting ones) if you forget which side you last knotted, look at the edge of the knots and whichever has the vertical string down it is the side you knot next
I’m looking for new knots to learn… if anyone knows any good books/sites I’d love to teach myself more
stephanie
August 17th, 2007 at 9:49 am
stephanie,
you;re looking for some now designs to learn my sudjustion would be to buy a tube of E beads (1.76) at walmart and just take timme to have fun with your hemp and beads and you might come up with a design you could teach other people
—just a thought
August 20th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
Is there a way to knot a hemp bag?
August 21st, 2007 at 7:39 am
Becca,
Yes, I am sure there is a way to make a hemp bag, but I have no idea how it would be done. Sorry that I am no help.
October 7th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Hey, I am making what is called a “God Box” and I want to make this “collar” around the box. So things can go inside the box and not come out! It is a pretty cool idea (I got it from someone else, so it’s not mine) Anyways, I decorated this shoebox with all different types of nature photos that I took and have some sort of meaning to me and I cut a hole in the front of this shoe box so I could put my prayers,wishes or whatever I wanted to inside of it. But then I had this idea to put this like “collar” thing around it, so things can go in but not out. But, I looked everywhere for my knot making books and could not locate them, so I was hoping that you could help me out! Please! I was thinking the width of around 1″-1.5″ and I am using like six strings however I could use more or less if you had any ideas! Help ME! I would appreciate it!
October 8th, 2007 at 7:34 am
Hi Andrea,
Sounds like an awesome idea!!! I will be glad to help.
I am not quite sure what your question is. Are you wanting to know how to make the knots or what knots to use to make your “collar”? If u want to know what ones to use.. and your wanting 1″ to 1.5″ thick, you could use alternating square knots. Or you could even do the ‘zig zag’ design. Or even a braid with the 6 strings. Just double up the strings. (If that makes sense) Hope that helps? If not, let me know
Kristy
June 18th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
How do I make a flower or star shape out of split cowery shells?
August 7th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
i’m in the same boat as stephanie. i’m tired of using the traditional twisted and squares knots, anyone know of a place to learn some new ones?
thanks=D
gloria