Hemp Jewelry Making Resources on the Internet

Hemp jewelry making as a topic seems to have more than its fair share of expired and non-existent pages, and garbage websites that are just a bunch of computer generated links. I waded through the quagmire that is hemp jewelry making on the net and found some gems.

Whether you are new to hemp jewelry making or are addicted to making hemp jewelry, you'll find these websites useful. Here's my shortlist of favorite hemp
jewelry making sites, along with a caveat or two.

1. How-to-Make-Jewelry.com: http://www.how-to-make-jewelry.com
I'm partial to this website because it's mine! This website isn't on the list solely as a shameless plug though. There are clear diagrams and instructions for the basic knots, as well as some great information fo beginners. The free spiral necklace pattern and ceramic bead bracelet pattern are both easy to follow and make up quickly.

2. Handcrafted by Elaine: http://www.elainecraft.com/instructions/instructions.html
Handcrafted by Elaine is a nice macrame jewelry website with illustrations of macrame knotting techniques. There are lots of pictures of the artist's work on the site so this is a good place to get inspiration.

3. Beadage.net: http://www.beadage.net/hemp/index.shtml
This well laid out website has clear instructions for basic knots. There are no project patterns on this site, but there are links to other resources for hemp jewelry making.

4. Essortment Hemp Article: http://wv.essortment.com/hempmacramej_rnsn.htm
This link will lead you to a well-written article about how to get started making your own hemp jewelry, what you will need, where to get it, basic ideas, where to get patterns, and how to sell your work.

5. MakingFriends.com has a free pattern for making a macrame butterfly here: http://www.makingfriends.com/macrame_butterfly.htm

6. Hippies Creations: http://www.hippiescreations.com/
I really like this website for its gorgeous examples of knotted jewelry made with a variety of different fibers. Great eye candy that can help get your creative juices flowing.

7. About.com:Jewelry Making: http://jewelrymaking.about.com
I hesitate to include this site, but I felt I couldn't really leave it out because it is always on the first page of jewelry making searches. Although there are some patterns and instructions here, they are not really the greatest. The projects are simple and easy to follow, but if you are looking for knotting instructions or innovative designs, you will be disappointed in this site. The macrame knot library is sparse, and only has a single photograph of each finished knot rather than step-by-step instructions with diagrams.

8. How-to Tuesdays Macrame Bracelet Video on YouTube: http://www.how-to-make-jewelry.com/hemp-bracelet-video.html
If you want to see hemp jewelry making in action, watch this video of a woman making a hemp bracelet. The actual "making" is sped up so the video isn't long and tedious like a lot of how-to videos are.

9. All Info About Jewelry Making's Textile Section: http://jewelrymaking.allinfoabout.com/subjects/textiles.html
This site is definitely one you want to check out for hemp jewelry making. A couple of nice projects, clear diagrams and basic knotting instructions, and some good tips. The fish bone necklace project is my favorite project on this website.

10. Handcrafted Hemp Designs: http://www.handcraftedhempdesigns.citymax.com/Size_Care_Hemp_Jewelry.html
No free patterns here but this article about caring for your hemp jewelry is good one. This is a good site to check out for some hippie design inspiration too.

Important note about the designs on the websites without free patterns: All the work you see on these websites is copyrighted. This means that you may not create copies of these designs without the express consent of the author. Using a free pattern is very different from copying the work of a jewelry artist. Please respect the work of the jewelry artists listed in this article and use their websites solely as inspiration for your own unique designs.