Have you ever wanted to make yourself a braided necklace? It's much easier than the end result looks like. This step-by-step guide teaches you how to make such a necklace using the macrame technique.
Steps
Step 1. Cut the hemp rope
- Cut one piece of hemp rope 4.5 m long.
- Cut another piece, twice as long as the length of the product itself, plus about 10 cm in reserve. The necklace will be about 0.5 meters long, so a piece about one meter long will suffice.
Step 2. Fold the cord in half
Fold these segments in half, insert a short segment inward, and a segment 4.5 m long on the outside. A long piece of string will form the ends for the weave, which you will use to knot, while the short pieces will form the base of the cord, which will be used to tie the knots. Make sure the ends are the same length.
Step 3. Tie a knot with a loop at the top
Step 4. Distribute the cords
Put the short ones inside, and leave the long ones outside.
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If you are having trouble getting the cords out correctly, you may need to untie the loop, straighten the cords, and tie it again.
Image Step 5. Complete a single flat knot
Start with the rightmost cord. Run the cord under the two inner cords to the left and over the far left. Make a loop with the rightmost cord. Move the cord under the first two and over the last.
- Pass the leftmost cord over the two inner cords through the loop.
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Image - Tighten the knot. Leave the two center cords free and pulled down along the direction of your work. Pull the two outer cords vertically so that the knot snugly wraps around the center cords. Tighten the knot securely at the top.
Image Step 6. Continue braiding
To keep your choker flat, alternate the sides you are doing step 4. For this pattern, continue braiding until the braided cord reaches 2.5 cm, about 17 knots.
Image Step 7. Slip the bead over the two center cords
Then, for safety reasons, tie the outer cords in a knot under the bead.
Image Step 8. Resume weaving with single flat knots as described above until you have weaved 15.2 cm
Image Step 9. Attach the pendant
When you get to the middle of the necklace (15-17 cm in this case), you can add the pendant by slipping it over the bottom cord. Continue braiding as before.
Image Step 10. Add a second bead
Continue weaving from the pendant. When the length is equal to the length between the pendant and the first bead, slide the second bead over the two central cords. Secure with the outer cords under the bead.
Image Step 11. Finish weaving
For this necklace, tie another 2.5 cm from the second bead.
Image Step 12. Secure the necklace
Secure the last knot just below the last single flat knot. You can add a drop of glue for security.
Image Step 13. Cut off the excess cord
Cut about 12.7 cm from the top knot as you are too long to adjust and secure the necklace.
Image Step 14. Done
Advice
- You can end the necklace with a large bead that can be threaded through the opening buttonhole to act as a clasp.
- Hook the hinge into the doorknob, clamp, or toe when starting work. You can also glue it to the table and secure it with a safety pin to your jeans. Attach the two center strands to something, or just move the outer strands. This will help maintain an even tension on the threads while weaving your necklace.
- To make a twisted one instead of a flat weave, just make a single flat knot always on one side, do not alternate them.
- Wax the cords before starting work. This helps the knots stay tight and protects the garment from dirt. You can use a regular beeswax bar from a craft store.
- Tie the long strings with a bow tie for storage, tying them in a figure eight around your fingers. Tie in the middle with an elastic band so that they do not get tangled.
- Some people prefer not to use glue, or something similar, when making jewelry, because the glue dissolves in water.