Learning How To Make Hemp Jewelry
Jewelry making is a very diverse and interesting hobby. There is an amazing array of materials that you can use to make jewelry and many people who take up the hobby choose to focus on one primary type of jewelry made of certain materials. Hemp is a simple and inexpensive material to use and it is easy to learn how to make hemp jewelry.
Some people know hemp jewelry by the name of macramé. And, the art of macramé allows you to make much more than just jewelry. In the 1960′ and 1970’s, there were a myriad of different types of products made using hemp rope, and other types of rope and string, to make all kinds of items, such as wall hangings, planter hangers and many other useful and decorative items. The skill actually goes back many centuries and its origins are attributed to Arab weavers. Also, sailors would use their knot tying skills to make all kinds of macramé items.
One of the reason that people are interested in how to make hemp jewelry through macramé, is because it is a rather simple skill to learn. Macramé is actually a form of textile-making, but it uses knotting instead of knitting or weaving. This is one of the reasons that is was a natural form of art for sailors, since they already were very adept at making knots.
In general, macramé is considered to be a more of a masculine type of craft. This is because of the connection to sailors and also because the materials used are more rough and coarse than those used in many other crafts. In fact, just about everything one needs to make an item can be found in a local hardware store where men are normally more comfortable anyway, as opposed to browsing a craft store.
In addition, there is something about tying different kinds of knots that appeals to the masculine personality more than other forms of crafts. As opposed to knitting, crocheting or weaving, there are really no other tools needed. The skill of doing really boils down to the rope or twine being used and the skill of the fingers. There is no need for some special jewelry tool or jewelry soldering equipment when learning how to make hemp jewelry.
Hemp jewelry, or macramé jewelry, is most often made by combining the different knot styles with some of the common bead jewelry supplies. Often various types of beads, such as glass beads, ceramic beads or wooden beads, are inserted in between the knots to embellish the pieces. Pendants and shells are also common ornamentations that have been used with macramé jewelry and other larger items as well.
While you can use just about any type of cord, rope or yarn to make hemp or macramé jewelry, to many people hemp looks the best and most natural. Additionally, hemp is a very inexpensive material, which is another reason it is so popular. When considering materials for utilizing any kind of hemp jewelry making techniques, you will want to avoid using acrylic yarns. These kinds of yarns have a tendency to stretch so they won’t hold the shape of the knots very well and your finished product will simply not look good.
If you have some interest in knowing how to make hemp jewelry, then you can most likely find a free jewelry making class or workshop offered at a crafting supply store. Hemp belts are a popular item often made in such classes. They are a simple way to show the beauty and usefulness of jewelry and accessories made with macramé.
By Crafts Editor
Jewelry Crafts Magazine – Dozens of jewelry making project ideas and profiles of successful jewelry artists.
