Hemp Anklet - DIY - Start to Finish

So, you have a basic knowledge of knotting with hemp and up to this point, most of what you have made has come from patterns in books or from the internet and you're thinking, "I'd love to be able to come up with my own design."  You totally can!  This blog post is going to walk you through the steps I go through when designing my own piece.

In today's case, it is an anklet.  Most anklets are between 9" and 10".  I measured around my own ankle and came up with 9" - so that's my goal length.

1. I'm going to gather everything I need to make this bracelet. - beads, hemp, closure, notebook, scissors, glue, pliers.

2. I measure all of my beads.  Their length must be included in the total anklet length.  This is where I start making notes in my notebook. I draw pictures - vertically - because that just makes sense to me.  If diagrams help you, draw them.  If you prefer horizontal - go for it.  Do what works for you!!  So I have my bead measurements.  My clasp will add about an extra inch and I'm ready to do some Math. (YUK!)  This is why the diagrams help me.  Here is a glance at my notes...

3.  I have decided to go with a combination of square knots and half square knots.  Hopefully, by this point, you are familiar with these two basic knots.  If not, http://www.free-macrame-patterns.com/learn-macrame.html has a great set of knotting instructions.  (They call the half square knot a spiral knot.)

4. I am going to work with 3 cords.  Two are going to be knotting cords, 1 is going to be filler cord.  My knotting cords are 1 1/2 yards each (54" long).  This is something I learned from my mother.  I don't know if there is a special formula.  There will be some leftover, but that is a good thing!  My filler cord is 12".

5. I get the ends of my three cords even and tie an overhand knot, and position so that my filler cord  - the shortest cord - is in the middle.

6. I begin knotting by tying a 1" (according to my diagram) square knot sinnet.  Once I have an inch tied, I am going to slide my first silver accent bead on the filler cord.

7. I begin knotting immediately under this bead, and follow my drawn out diagram.  According to my picture, I need to tie square knots for another inch, slide on another silver accent bead then I am going to tie 1" of half square (spiral) knots, then slide on my focal bead - which in my case is a really cool looking turtle.

8. Now, just like algebra - what you do to one side, you must do to the other.  If you look at my diagram, the part past the turtle is exactly like what is above the turtle in reverse order.  Easy right??  1" of half square knots, 1 silver bead, 1" of square knots, 1 silver bead, 1" of square knots, 1 overhand knot.  Almost done!

9. I trimmed the ends and I'm ready to put on whatever clasp I am choosing to use.  With hemp, I like fold-over cord ends.  I will put a little glue on the end of the hemp right above the overhand knot and place all three cords in the fold-over end piece.  Use pliers to pinch one fold down, turn the anklet and use pliers to pinch the other side over the first - just like folding a brochure.  Use scissors to trim the excess hemp.

10.  Some of the glue may squish out. That's ok, clean it up with a damp sponge.  No problem!  Now, attach jump rings and the clasp, and you are all done!

11.  If I measured correctly, my anklet should be close to 9" long.  It looks to be about 9 1/2" inches - which is just fine. I really didn't take into account the length that the overhand knots would add.

I hope this gives you the confidence to try designing your own pattern.  In case you plan on making a bracelet or anklet that ties on - add about 3 inches of hemp to either end of the anklet.  I would tie an overhand knot (like in the beginning) and braid for about 2" - then do that again to finish up the other end.  The braid makes it easier to tie on and untie.  If I wanted to make a necklace, I would double all of my beginning hemp measurements.

If this helps you -leave a comment and let me know.  I've been working with hemp since I was 12 years old and while I love all kinds of crafts, this one is my all time favorite, my first love!

Thanks for reading!!

Jen

Tatting...A fascinating art!

 I read somewhere that Tatting is or was also called "poor man's lace".  I can't remember where I saw that, but I think it should be called the "patient man's lace".   I have always admired tatting.  I have some snowflake Christmas ornaments that are tatted.  They are probably 20 years old.  I remember buying them at a small town craft show held in a volunteer fire department somewhere near Floyd, Virginia.

I'm sure I've encountered tatted items since I was a child.  All of those doilies sitting around Grandma's house?  Yep, I'm sure some were tatted.  Makes me feel kind of guilty for mistreating the ones that she would put on the arms of her couch and chairs. Remember throwing those on your head and playing wedding or church, or flipping them across the living room at your brother like they were Frisbees?

One day at the Sit and Knit group that I attend, tatting came up and I mentioned that I would love to learn how.  Some of the ladies laughed and said, "Good luck!"  I purchased two tatting shuttles at a craft store and already had the thread at home.  I went straight to YouTube and found the greatest set of videos for teaching tatting by someone with the screen name Tatted Treasures.  This is a great series of videos featuring a very thorough teacher.  She even does a left handed video for tatting.  If you think you'd like to just watch the art of tatting or maybe even try it yourself - here's the link to the series of videos I am using:  http://www.youtube.com/user/TattedTreasures?feature=watch

After trying my hand at this, I have a new found appreciation for people who do this as their hobby.  I reached my level of frustration at Lesson 4 - Tatting a Ring.  That doesn't necessarily mean I give up. I will try it again, very soon.  Of course with today being Sunday, I should probably get some lesson plans written for school and get ready for the week ahead at work.

Of course, having a shop on Etsy, when I write a blog, I like trying to include a couple of other shops from my Etsy community, so I am featuring some that offer tatted items.  I am in complete awe of the work they create and how stunning it is.  If you are ever shopping for tatted items and you think prices are too high, I can personally guarantee that if the tatting was done by hand, and not a machine, the pricing is fair.  This is not a quick, easy craft.  It is painstaking and time consuming.  And, like my Christmas snowflakes, it is durable.  They are close to 20 years old and still go on my tree every single year, and look identical as the day I bought them.

One of the first shops I found a while back was MamaTats.  Her work is gorgeous and as a jewelry addicted girl, I am completely drawn in by any tatted jewelry.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/159273208/earrings-bridal-earrings-wedding?ref=shop_home_active_6


Wow oh Wow- I am weak when it comes to mixed media anything!  Check out the look you get when you mix crystals, chain and tatting!!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/103276423/tatted-lace-back-drop-necklace-tatted?ref=shop_home_active_12


Wonderfully beautiful tatted snowflakes.  I swear I could have an entire tree of just tatted snowflakes!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/170593449/tatted-lace-snowflake-17?ref=shop_home_active_8


And, a bonsai tree?  This is adorable and requires no watering!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/150981624/tatted-lace-bonsai-study-mounted-on?ref=shop_home_active_6



So there you go - Tatting!  So much more than the doilies sitting all around Grandma's house.

Repurposed, Upcycled, Unique and Different

I have a very unique daughter. She is just 2 months from being 21. As I write this blog, she has blue hair, 3 tattoos, and numerous piercings.  When we go out in public, she gets some interesting stares, and we are used to that.   There are many who give her very judgemental looks, and as her mother, I sometimes get them too.  I just smile and love her even more.  There are times when I am tempted to shout, "KEEP STARING", FORM YOUR OPINIONS!  THIS YOUNG LADY IS A FULL TIME COLLEGE STUDENT IN A MALE DOMINATED FIELD OF STUDY WITH A 4.0!"  In not so nice terms, I think she kicks ass!  She knows that one day in the near future, she may have a job that requires her to remove some of her piercings and have normal colored hair.  Right now the tattoos are all in places that are not visible in normal clothes.  But for now, she chooses to look different, chooses to treat her body and hair as an artist's canvas. She's very grounded in reality and confident in who she is.

This past week, she found a project on weaving with VHS tape from old VHS movies.  One thing she loves to do is to recycle and repurpose things.  We are both oriented towards this and feel that as Americans, our society/culture throws away too much!  So, she took apart one of our VHS tapes and started on this project - a weaved clutch style purse.  It's not finished yet, but it looks pretty darn cool!  While working with it, she posted some of her progress to one of her online knitting/craft groups.  Most of the members were incredibly supportive and thought what she was doing was super cool.  But, there was one negative comment (as there always is).  One lady wrote, "Why would you even WANT to do that?"  In reference to working with old VHS tape.  Ashleigh and I laughed, nicknamed her Negative Nancy and went on about our lives.  But,  as I tell my students when they think someone or something is "weird", I say, "No, not weird, just different from what you are used to."   Ashleigh loves being part of her online knitting and craft clubs, and generally gets tons of positive feedback from the members. I'm willing to bet she gives more positive feedback than she receivess.  I think we all need to remember that rule that we were taught as small children - If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

  Ashleigh and I are both adults and we didn't let that one comment get to us, but I want to feature a few repurposed things here that are unique and different.  Maybe not your style, maybe not mine, but they have new life and are not sitting in a landfill somewhere adding to our "just throw it away and we will get a new one" mentality.

There are some very creative "think outside the box" people in this world, and I thank God for that!  How boring and mundane would our world be without differences?  Where would innovation come from if we all stayed "inside the box".

Scroll down and check out these artisans and consider where some of these items might be if they hadn't been repurposed into something else.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/159179131/repurposed-motorcycle-chain-bottle?ref=sr_gallery_15&ga_search_query=repurposed&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=all



https://www.etsy.com/listing/113341652/custom-tie-skirt-made-from-recycled?ref=sr_gallery_39&ga_search_query=repurposed&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=all



https://www.etsy.com/listing/174223447/unique-chic-water-valve-necklace-vintage?ref=sr_gallery_3&sref=sr_8fb71465c240a3fceec4b93a0cd6ee8341787d7cc7afe6033b6175b3aed7e2db_1389543003_14684530_repurpose&ga_search_query=repurposed&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=3&ga_search_type=all




https://www.etsy.com/listing/125354704/20-upcycled-guitar-picks-from-recycled?ref=sr_gallery_8&ga_search_query=repurposed&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=7&ga_search_type=all



https://www.etsy.com/listing/172730950/minimalist-bike-tube-folding-wallet?ref=shop_home_active_18

Handmade Holiday Gifts

I believe this year is the first year I have handcrafted this many gifts!  I've made more dishcloths than anything else.  The loom team that I am a member of had a gift exchange.  We all agreed to make a dishcloth for our loom buddy and put some extras into the box. Mine was sent to the west coast.  Being in Virginia, the capitol of peanut production, I sent my buddy some delicious VA peanuts, two dishcloths and made her some stitch markers.

My daughter asked me if I would make some dishcloths for her stepmom.  So, another 3 have been made in the last 2 days in addition to finalizing my shopping and other deliveries. When my daughter requested dishcloths, I checked the web for free patterns that were a little different from the one I used for my loom buddy, and I found a great pattern.  http://loomknitting.sophiaburns.com/2012/05/grandmas-dish-cloth.html  This is one of the easiest patterns I have ever followed.  If you are a beginner at loom knitting and want practice with specific stitches, this is the pattern for you.  I learned a new cast on method, how to do flat knit and I am a purl expert now, as well as learning a new method for casting off.  In this one blog are all the links needed with video to teach me all of these.  I felt like I hit the jackpot.  I had a hard time keeping up with my number of rows.  I do not own a row counter yet.  However, the internet came through once again!  I did a google search for an online row counter and found this link:  http://www.pixeldustindustries.com/rowcounter.htm.  It's not fancy, but it works like a gem!  Everytime I finish a row, I hit space bar and am able to keep up with my count that way!

The pattern is called Grandma's Dishcloth.  I'm pretty sure I remember dishcloths like these at my grandma's house.  They are made with 100% cotton and are washable.  I added a little loop on each corner so they can be hung up to dry.  I would love to make a few for my own use, but I'm a little overloaded on knitting and feel the need to go to something else.

Total this season, I have made:
3 golf club covers
1 hat
5 dishcloths
2 wrap bracelets.
2 sets of beaded stitch markers

Now that I know how to knit and am improving my skills, I hope to get an earlier start on next year.  I hope even more that people appreciate handmade gifts.  We (crafters/artisans) don't do it because we are too cheap to buy gifts.  We do it because we want to give something unique, not produced in bulk in another country.  These handmade gifts truly have our heart and soul in them.

Passing on our talents

Sometimes, I tend to let my career get the best of me, and in looking back at my last post, yes, I have let that happen again.  I am a teacher, and the only thing I am more dedicated to than teaching is being a mom.  It never changes, when I have to write a description of myself, I write - I am a mom and a teacher, in that order!

So, I have some time tonight, and I need to get on my soapbox and talk about something that is very important to me.  That topic is - passing our knowledge on to younger generations.

I am so fortunate to be working in a high school that has received a grant that allows us to offer after school enrichment activities to our students who are interested.  This past fall, I offered some basic jewelry making classes and had the best group of girls to spend my afternoon with, creating and laughing.  Right now, we are in winter session, and I am teaching a course in Loom Knitting.  This grant has allowed for the purchase of knitting looms and yarn so that every child who signed up can have a loom and enough yarn to make all kinds of fun things.  Most of the girls are the same ones that I taught jewelry basics to.  My enrollment has grown so much that they even hired an assistant to help me out.

I am a huge proponent of physical activity with our young people, but I am also a huge proponent of introducing them to a variety of hobbies, especially hobbies that will allow them to produce something.  When you teach kids how to do something, whether you realize it or not, you are teaching them more about following directions and improving their focus and concentration.  Some projects have written instructions and patterns which is another educational bonus.  It is my firm belief that kids who learn how to read a pattern can improve their mathematical skills since much of math is pattern oriented.  I don't have scientific studies to back this up, but I do have my own personal experience of how my logic changed once I started reading and interpreting patterns.  Kids are naturally curious, and will most likely attempt to alter a pattern.  Sometimes it may work and sometimes it may not.  Either way, through alterations, they are creating and learning.  Producing a finished product is another rewarding aspect of having a hobby.  Teens are too often subject to dips in their own self esteem.  A hobby is a great way to lift that esteem,  and give them a sense of pride and accomplishment.  Furthermore, should they decide to give that newly made object to someone as a gift, or donate it to a charity, they have gained another  important trait - the feeling of generosity and what it means to pay back or pay it forward.

Those are all just the psychological benefits of learning a creative type of hobby.  It is important to remember the physical benefits as well.  We are helping them use more of their brains in a different way.  We are also working on gross and fine motor coordination.

Socially, they get to connect with others that have the same interests.  I am reminded of my most recent knitting class.  The girls had finally gotten into a rhythm of wrapping the yarn and were able to talk, giggle and knit simultaneously.  And naturally, the conversation drifted into the normal things that young girls talk about - boys!  Specifically, famous singers and actors that we all adore.  The conversation of who's "hot" and who's not left us giggling and passing a most relaxing hour together after school.  We put the day behind us. We were not worried about homework, exams or anything else.  We socialized. We relaxed and we had fun.  Don't ever underestimate the need to set aside an hour to do something you enjoy, have fun and socialize.

It is my sincerest hope that something I teach these young ladies turns into an activity they continue once they are out of school.  That would give me the greatest sense of accomplishment; much more than any necklace, bracelet or scarf I could ever produce.  Several years ago, I taught a small group of my students how to macrame.  One of those kids still does it and sets up a booth at craft fairs as well as maintains an online shop with her macrame.  I'd like to believe that I had something to do with that.

Whatever you know how to do...pass it on to someone younger.  We cannot let musical and artistic skills die and we have a responsibility to enrich the lives of those who look up to us!

Climbing down from my soapbox. Attaching pictures of my last knitting class. I love how relaxed the girls look.  We may be in a classroom, but I don't think they noticed.

Thank You for being a Friend.

I recently took a trip to Richmond to work at a Bead Show.  I could have stayed in a hotel, but my best friend since high school lives in Richmond, and she was more than happy to let me stay with her.  It was a wonderful chance for us to catch up.  I had been working so much for the past few years that getting to any of our get togethers has been very tough for me.

Kelli is "the hostess with the mostest" and the subject of this blog title.  Whenever any of us go to Richmond and stay with her, there are a few things we know that we won't have to worry about.  One of those is eating.  She is such a great cook and very health conscious.  If you stay at her house and you go hungry - then you have problems.  She even made sure that I had snacks to pack in my lunch for working at the bead show.  I had brought some deli meat and a few things, and naturally, she fussed at me for even trying to contribute to my grocery use.  So yes, from Friday when I arrived to Monday when I left, I was well fed - grilled salmon, ratatouille, slow cooked baked beans, macaroni salad, and so much more that I can't remember.

So, how do you thank a friend for being an outstanding friend?  Kelli is so kind hearted that she wouldn't want a lot of thank yous, any type of payment.  In her heart, she is doing exactly what friends are supposed to do.

She did ask me about a jewelry project.  She had a necklace made with what I call carnival glass that belonged to her grandmother.  The necklace had broken, and she was able to save a lot of the beads in a bag.  She wanted some cluster earrings made from them.  I happily accepted her request and was able to make some earrings with the beads trusted me with.

Here they are on my newest model - Meredith.

She also bought a shell pendant and asked if I could do anything with it.  In some of our conversations over the long weekend, she mentioned needing a hat for cold weather.  She walks her boys to school, and according to her, she has an abnormally large head.  She tried on her current hats and I have to to admit, it was quite funny.  so, I tucked that small piece of information away.

I left on Monday with her grandmother's beads, a shell pendant and her wish for a hat that fit a huge head.  I made the earrings and used the pendant to make her a necklace, then knitted her a very cute hat.



It is a variegated pink with a white flower.  Very Kelli!

So in short, how do you thank a friend for being a friend?  I think handmade items are a perfect way to do that.  No other mom walking their child to school will have a hat like this.  When she wears them, all kinds of people are going to ask her where she got her necklace or where she got her earrings.  And she will be able to say, "my best friend made them for just for me."  Nothing feels quite as good as when a friend takes time to make something just for you.

Fitting it all In

I haven't blogged in a while.  School started back which meant I had to start back to teaching again.  Long gone are my all night craft-a-thons where I sit up until 4a.m. making fabulous jewelry.

I have devoted a lot of my online time to Etsy recently.  I have started following more people and joined some teams.  By doing this, I have increased the amount of traffic to my own store which has been great.

Last week, someone contacted me through Etsy about a necklace/earring set that I had for sale in my store. She wanted to know if I could make another set just like it.

The picture doesn't do this set justice.  It is a combination of 10mm jade beads on antique gold chain.  The off center leaf is antique gold.  I had acquired the leaves about a year ago.  I wasn't sure if I even had anymore when she contacted me.  So, I checked my stash (hoard) and found everything I needed to make an identical set and she ordered both of them.  It was even more exciting to find out that she plans to give them to her bridesmaids as a gift for being in her wedding.  How awesome is that?! So, one evening, I made set #2 and shipped everything off on Saturday.  Both sets are going clear across the country to the state of Washington.  

Once again, I stepped out of my comfort zone and made an asymmetrical necklace.  The more I make them, the more I like them.  

This sale was a very exciting event for me.  I have not had much luck on Etsy, so this was a nice turn of events.

Now that my weekdays are full of teenagers, my weekends are reserved for jewelry making and even some knitting.  (Which gave me an idea for a second blog post.)