Handmade Jewelry Braided Necklace

Print this articleMany children enjoy crafts that involve making jewelry by hand. While some jewelry crafts can be quite involved, such as making beads from clay and similar activities, making basic jewelry such as bracelets, anklets and necklaces is ideal for young children. Handmade necklaces, which are always a popular option, make the perfect rainy-day craft. Braiding lengths of jewelry cord and other materials, which kids can master with practice, adds interesting detail to these projects.

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Handmade braided necklaces can be made from a wide variety of materials. Jewelry cord can be purchased in different colors and is the material normally chosen for making items such as necklaces. If you do not have jewelry cord on hand, braided necklaces can be made easily using household materials such as yarn and string. Lengths of leather cord in shades of brown lend a different, more rustic look to braided necklaces; necklaces made from leather cord could, for example, be paired with a classroom unit on Native Americans.

Braiding

Braiding is a simple skill that children will be able to employ in a wide variety of craft activities. Take three equal lengths of jewelry cord and cross the strand on the left over the strand in the middle, so that it becomes the new middle strand. Next, cross the strand on the right over the newly-formed middle strand, and pull the lengths of jewelry cord tight. Repeat this process, crossing the strands over one another and pulling them taut, until you reach the end of the cord.

Procedure

To create a handmade braided necklace, take three equal lengths of jewelry cord, or your preferred material, and tie a knot approximately two inches down from the top. Tape the jewelry cord to a hard surface such as a table and braid the three lengths together until there is only two inches of jewelry cord remaining. Tie another knot to secure your braided necklace; the extra length at either end will be used to secure the necklace around your neck.

Pendants and Beads

Add detail to handmade braided necklaces by threading pendants or colorful beads onto the braid before tying it around your neck. Add a number of colored beads in an interesting pattern, such as that of the rainbow, or choose a pendant that represents something important to you, such as your faith, astrological sign or favorite animal. Necklace pendants and beads can be purchased from craft stores.

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