Hemp Key Chain
We will make a 3.5" key chain out of hemp. The knot technique used in this exercise is called Half Knot, one of the most basic knots, which will also serve as basis for more complicated knots in the future.
- Get your ruler and measure at least 1 yard of hemp twine or cord (36 inches) and cut it.
- Measure another piece of hemp, but this time make it at least half a yard (18 inches). Cut it.
Measuring the hemp - You can add a drop of glue on the ends of the freshly cut hemp, so that the ends do not untwine. This is optional.
Adding glue to the ends - Fold both pieces of hemp in half and place them together at the middle.
Folding the hemp - Now we’ll tie the hemp to the Key Ring using a Lark’s Knot. Place the loop end of the hemp Over the ring and bend them (going into the ring).
- Pass the hemp threads into the loop of the hemp and tighten the knot.
Lark's Knot - We are now ready to begin knotting. Give the ring to someone to hold it for you or hold it with a tablet or a nail at the wall, etc, etc. Whatever makes you comfortable.
- Fix your work piece. Make sure that the longer cords (Knotting Cords) are on the outside and that the shorter ones (Bead Carriers) are in the inside just as we had them placed in step 4.
- Take the Left Knotting Cord and pass it Over the 2 bead carriers and Under the Right Knotting Cord. (Looks like the shape of a number ‘4’ )
- Take the Right Knotting Cord (which should be over the Left cord) and pass it Under the 2 bead carriers. Then push it up into the loop that was formed by the Left Cord (the tummy of the ‘4’ ). Then Tighten your knots by carefully pulling on the two cords until your knot is snuggly at the very top.
- The cords will now be inversed (Right cord becomes Left and the left one becomes Right).
- For the Half Knot you will always begin your knotting from one side (in this case the Left side).
Half Knot (HK) - Repeat steps Nine & Ten, 7 more times. You will have a total of 8 Half Knots which (with our thin hemp) is the number you need to make a pretty Half Knot Twist (you’ll begin to see your work twist as you get to your 4th knot, a total of 8 will complete the full twist). Notice that your work will twist, so you may have to flip your project so that your cords don’t get all messed up. Don’t worry, just make sure you begin knotting again from the Left Cord (since that is how we started this project).
Half Knot Twist (HKT) - Now you have 1 full Twist. You can continue making up to 5 sets of HTs (in other words, 40 half knots) to have a 3” key chain without any beads. But if you want to have beads…
- After you have made 2 full Half Knot Twists (16 knots) get one of your wide-whole beads and pass the 2 middle Bead Carrier threads through the whole. The outer cords will basically ‘hug’ the bead once you put it all the way to the top. (Note: You can also just pass the 4 cords through the bead and not have any cords hugging the bead, you just gotta be careful not to switch your cords when you begin knotting again).
- Start another set of Half Knot Twists (8 knots) and then slip in another bead in the carriers. Tie 2 more sets (16 knots) and we’ll be making an Overhand Knot (disregard the loop in this picture, simply try to tighten the overhand knot towards your last Half Knot.
Overhand Knot (OK) - Put in another bead, this time through All the 4 cords and make one last Overhand Knot. Pull tight and add 1 or 2 drops of glue for added security.
- To finish, get your scissors and trim the remaining loose cords about half an inch under your knot.
My key chain
Notice how in my example I have the first bead being ‘hugged’ (only the bead carriers went through) but the 2nd isn’t (all 4 cords went through). Either way is fine and both look equally pretty.
Ok. To summarize, We did :
- 1 Lark’s Knot
- 2 sets of Full Half Knot Twists (16 half knots)
- 1 bead
- 1 Full HK Twist
- 1 bead
- 2 Full HK Twists
- 1 Overhand Knot
- 1 bead
- 1 Overhand Knot.
Congratulations!
2 Comments:
You make it look easier than it actually is. Which is one of the reasons I've always stuck to just normal beading or knotting with DMC floss.
^_^
As a side note, you can also use clear nail polish or the fabric glue you can pick up for cross stiching to keep the string ends from fraying.
Really cool site here. I am going to have to print this blog off and try this keychain some time.
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