http://craftyvixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222?format=rss Tribe.net. Local Connections http://CraftyVixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222#f6132b48-0cde-4248-992b-a4bf4c6144a0 hi karin i make macrame jewelry using synthetic waxed strings that i bought in argentina. i am now running out of my supply and wonder if you might know where i may buy more in the USA. from where do you order your string? in an effort to keep making jewelry without my synthetic strings, i have been waxing my own embroidery string with bees wax, which is the best - doesn't get sticky. you can rub some on the ends of your knots and then melt it a bit to seal. works well. hope to hear from you soon. thanks, amira Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:35:57 GMT http://CraftyVixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222#f6132b48-0cde-4248-992b-a4bf4c6144a0 amira 2009-08-26T01:35:57Z http://CraftyVixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222#8b1db6b8-9cef-4b52-a9f9-89b479e7357f i stumbled upon and wanted to share here are a few to get you guys started if interested. Lots of love. D. Starting Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOLWtSk8PFo Determine Length: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx9fPxGWe7s Soften them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzkcgoRM_JU Medium: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aTTIBLnbNA Basic Stitches Pt 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkNk07aLUTQ Basic Stictches Pt 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I81S8ObHwNE Basic Adding Beads Pt 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0derwN4DgPw Basic: Adding Beads pt2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkNk07aLUTQ The End http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGxUSYcRE98 Thanks to Expertvillage. Sun, 15 Jun 2008 02:25:11 GMT http://CraftyVixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222#8b1db6b8-9cef-4b52-a9f9-89b479e7357f Dee 2008-06-15T02:25:11Z http://CraftyVixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222#98f27459-7169-4a7e-8af5-14461bcc5141 www.hempbasics.com They are out of NJ. I havent had any trouble with them. Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:35:48 GMT http://CraftyVixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222#98f27459-7169-4a7e-8af5-14461bcc5141 kaylar 2008-06-12T23:35:48Z http://CraftyVixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222#00d6a430-2112-4eec-87bb-950460a155dd ooh...nice detail...thanks! i'm starting by bending everybody in half, as you do, and then tying on a spare peice of string about a half inch or inch from the center, and knotting a spiraling guy until it's the same distance past center. then i bring the two together and wrap with the remaining, forming a loop and ready to make the necklace. at the end, i stop with enough distance to finish with a bead that fits through the loop, and tie off that end after the bead....make sense? do you know the brand of hemp you get? maybe i can search it...i'm a bit hestitant to try out my bees' wax idea, and as such have been spending all my time the past two weeks sewing instead!! have to get back to it soon, though... Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:46:22 GMT http://CraftyVixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222#00d6a430-2112-4eec-87bb-950460a155dd karin 2008-06-10T16:46:22Z http://CraftyVixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222#996a731b-44db-477c-ac36-1420c13089af Yeah the loop on the one end is "bare" hemp. Its a simple way of making a loop for the other cords to slip through. Say I have 2 cords. one is 3yards and the other is 2 yards. Find the center of the cords. About an inch from the center tie an overhand knot. You now have a loop and four cords. Two cords are 1.5 yards each and two cords are 1yard each. Then you tie the knots that you want for the piece of jewelry that you are making. I usually stop when theres about 5 inches left on the shortest cords. Tie another overhand knot and trim the four cords to the same length. Then to wear the necklace slip 2 cords through the loop and tie with the remaining two cords. That is just one way of doing it. Does that make sense now? It sounds like you are starting from the opposite end and making the necklace then wrapping a few inches. Then tying a square knot back onto the necklace to form the loop. Correct? I dont know what my hemp is polished with. Its already polished when I buy it. Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:57:05 GMT http://CraftyVixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222#996a731b-44db-477c-ac36-1420c13089af kaylar 2008-06-10T00:57:05Z http://CraftyVixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222#32575fd6-ae01-41f3-9267-c8625e9f1c38 kaylar, i'm not understanding what you mean by an over hand knot...but for sure it's differnt from how i'm making my closures, with a knotted loop to start and finishing with a bead...it sounds like you're making a knot in the beginning and so your closure is bare threads? (vs. knotted like mine) is that right? do you know what the string is polished with? maybe the bee's wax isn't the best idea...? Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:50:37 GMT http://CraftyVixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222#32575fd6-ae01-41f3-9267-c8625e9f1c38 karin 2008-06-06T07:50:37Z http://CraftyVixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222#a62d5a24-87b7-4ac8-a6f9-1585c5de2db2 I use polished hemp. The unpolished hemp makes my hands itch and its so fuzzy it looks messy too. I tie an over hand knot at the beginning to form the loop (fold the cords in half then tie the knot). Then when have the length that I want I tie another over hand knot. Pull the cords tight and leave some cord for to tie it on with. I dont use any glue unless I have fishing line in the piece cause the holes in the beads are too small. None of my pieces have fallen apart. If I have to add length to a cord I tie the cords like ya would when ya tie your shoe but with out the bow.. And then pull as hard as I can.. to tighten the knot. If it comes undone I retie it and glue it and then I dont usually have any issues. Fri, 06 Jun 2008 01:17:48 GMT http://CraftyVixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222#a62d5a24-87b7-4ac8-a6f9-1585c5de2db2 kaylar 2008-06-06T01:17:48Z http://CraftyVixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222#75bd9e9c-552a-4b2f-9c8b-b0991ed2405a The hemp I use is already slightly waxed. I tend to use waxed linen more. Either way I glue the ends. Glue and trim is what I like to say at the end of each project. There's a really great new glue out there that has the texture of white glue but has much more hold called the Ultimate Crafter's Glue. I've used it with a number of different materials and it works great. Hope this helps and happy knotting! ps...I have a book coming out next year on macrame. Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:57:13 GMT http://CraftyVixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222#75bd9e9c-552a-4b2f-9c8b-b0991ed2405a Cathi 2008-06-03T22:57:13Z http://CraftyVixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222#faf90c8e-0460-418b-8e5e-396226878dc5 kaylar, do you wax the strings? i find that for some of the knotting styles i use, the hemp looks "messy," simply from the friction of previous knots along it, but i'd like to find a way to keep the pattern tight... "simple tie and over hand knot..." you mean when you finish? i'm wondering when i finish the closure loop and also the times a string is too short and i add a new one...you don't have problems with the knots coming undone? Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:52:56 GMT http://CraftyVixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222#faf90c8e-0460-418b-8e5e-396226878dc5 karin 2008-06-03T19:52:56Z http://CraftyVixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222#a1d8969a-ce5a-4463-991d-0a2831f1643b I make hemp jewelry for a living. I simply tie and over hand knot on the end. If I think it needs to be glued I use a small amount of beading glue. Its like super glue only you CANT glue your fingers together with it. (yes Ive tried too, to see if it was true.) Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:13:56 GMT http://CraftyVixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222#a1d8969a-ce5a-4463-991d-0a2831f1643b kaylar 2008-06-03T02:13:56Z http://CraftyVixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222#5805bf67-f8d3-417a-9b38-664ed21a3281 i'm switching from synthetic strings to hemp, and wondering what others do for "sealing" the ends...with ynthetic strings i just melt the ends and seal, but with hemp it doesn't work...do you use a daub of some sort of wax, or is there another technique? also, i'm thinking to zip the string through bees' wax before working it, to give it more of the nice finish you get with synthetics... any thoughts? Mon, 02 Jun 2008 01:32:38 GMT http://CraftyVixens.tribe.net/thread/313615c7-9b3e-4f43-a428-80869b6c2222#5805bf67-f8d3-417a-9b38-664ed21a3281 karin 2008-06-02T01:32:38Z