Thousands of years ago, Africans began making jewelry. The oldest African jewelry was discovered in a cave on the southern tip of South Africa. Originally, natural materials, including wood, stone, and shells were used. The indigenous peoples of Africa are still known for their beautiful jewelry, but today, materials like glass, paper, amber, ivory, animal hair, egg shells, bone, and carved stones are also used. South Africa is known today for beautiful glass seed bead jewelry. The designs are colorful and bold. Our South African Bracelet and Necklace Project gives the same beautiful look of the seed bead necklaces, but uses scraps of yarn instead of beads.
Materials for South African Bracelet and Necklace Project
- 1/2 inch upholstery cording*
- scotch tape
- craft glue
- assorted yarn pieces
* Can be purchased by the yard at craft stores
**Since these will not be washed, you can use yards of various materials, just make sure your selections are the same weight
Directions for South African Bracelet and Necklace Project
Find pictures online or in books of South African seed bead necklaces for inspiration.
When working with upholstery cording you must scotch tape the ends or they will unravel.
Decide how long you want your bracelet. It needs to slip over your hand so it must be big enough to go over the widest portion of your hand. Tape your ends before you cut them, then tape the two ends together.
Gather together bright yarns. They can be made from different materials since they will not be washed, just make sure they are of the same weight. Roll the yarn into small balls.
To begin, place a dab of craft glue on the upholstery cording. Lay the end of your first piece of yarn on the glue.
Begin wrapping the yarn around the upholstery cording so you cover the tail that is glued to cord.
When you are ready to change yarns, clip the first piece of yarn leaving a 1 – 2 inch tail.
Lay your second piece of yarn over the glue, crossing the tail of the first piece of yarn.
Begin wrapping the upholstery cording close to the last wrap of the first color. Wrap the yarn covering the tails of the first and second piece of yarns.
Continue changing and adding more yarns. When you get all the way around the cord, cut your yarn leaving a 1 inch tail. Place a dab of glue on the inside of the bracelet, and push the end on the glue.
You should not be able to see any of the upholstery cording. Clip the very end of the yarn if it is too long.
If you would also like to make a necklace, measure how long you want it. It needs to be large enough to slip over your head. Then, continue wrapping the upholstery cording like you did for the bracelet.
