question about making hempy necklaces...

alright, ive noticed that when i keep the middle strings as tight as they can get, my necklaces come out a lot neater looking... but its hard to keep the middle string REALLY REALLY tight AND tie the knots... any one have any ideas on how i can keep the middle string(s) tight?? i used to tape them down... but it never stays completely tight....

 

You need to anchor your middle pieces down on something. use your toes,its what I do...Tape doesnt generally hold very well,I've found.

I always cut 1 string to turn into the 2 middle strings,then fold them over,making a loop. (here's a diagram)

( )//============== (the //signifies a wrap knot...the ( ) the loop...and == the strings to work around)

then,I hold it with my toes and knot on my pieces I'm working with. Works really well

 

when i first started i pinned them to my pants or the couch (be carefull though, as it may stretch the material) but after a while, i got the hang of workin my fingers to keep it tight without the pin. Just keep practicing.

 

Like lucy said. I pin usuing safety pins. I tried using tape a long time ago- but fuck that, shit does not hold. So I pin it twice, (to a sturdy pillow i can hold on my lap.)once at the top- throught he loop. And then i loosely tie the strings Im knotting around, to make a loose knot to hold them together, and then pull gently, to make the strings nice and taught, and then pin. And as I'm working, I just move the knot down lower, til i'm done.

Crayon is that you in the pic? You're very pretty.

 

I pin the strings to something and hold the middle strings in my mouth while I knot the others with my hands

 

I use my toes to hold knot at the top and sit on the middle strings

 

Try using clothes pins, that's what I use. It seems to work pretty good.

 

I cut a little extra peice, tie it through the looped end, and put that over my toe, and then either tie the middle strands to a belt loop, and the string part of a wrap skirt, or else fold the material of whatever I'm wearing over a couple times and use a pin.

That's the way I learned it, and I think it works best, that way if it's not tight enough you can stretch your leg out a bit more, and prolblem solved!

 

hey guys thanks for the AWESOME ideas... i used the pin one.. that reallllly works well.. i found an even BETTER idea though.. look!



do you guys understand it?? im SO not an artist... lol

see, the block of wood is on there so that the hemp will be slanted and it will be easier to tie the knots.. and you dont have to use screws.. you can use nails.. also, when you first cut your hemp, leave some so that when you tie the string to the bottom hemp, you can just cut it off and not have to go thru the trouble of untying the knot... it keeps the hemp totally taunt.. it works.. my dad made me one!! (thanks daddy!)

hope this helps some people..

ps.. isnt it funny i come on here asking for help, and i end up giving it! i love hipforums!

 

I think your plan would work well..


when i first began tying knots i used a board w/ a nail in it..

but now..i just can work it w/ my fingers...
my advice is to keep practicing...you'll get really good at it w/out the use of any "tool"

I remember one time..i was at the park..and i created this phat necklace...while we were walking..and like i am so comfortable doing it .. i don't even really need to look down at it...it's like my fingers just know thy way!

 

this way has never failed me...get a clip board and clip down one of the knotted ends. pull the drone strings tight and then pull them up under the board. there are usually holes at the top of the board which allow u to tie the drone strings in somehow with out them being lose. ive used this method for about 4 years now and it has worked great.