Horsehair Jewelry
October 15, 2014 11:34 AM Subscribe
I am interested in making horsehair jewelry. First and foremost, I'd like to make a bracelet for my daughter for Christmas. If all goes well (i.e. it doesn't look like a 2 year old made it), it'd be kinda neat to expand and maybe sell some horsehair jewelry too. But, I don't know where to begin.
We have the horses. But, I don't know how to make the bracelets. I've seen some online (example) that I really like but I have no idea how to make them. I DO NOT want to just do a simple braid. I'd like them to be a little more intricate than that. I'm also clueless on where to get the hardware (clasps, etc.) for the bracelets/jewelry. I went to local craft store today and while they had a huge selection of beads I didn't see much in the way of clasps and hooks.
My question(s):
Where/how do I learn how to braid more intricately than a three-strand braid?
Where do I get the hardware for the jewelry - like clasps? And what hardware do I need?
What tools will I need?
Is there anything else I'm missing in order to make, at the very least, a lovely bracelet for my daughter?
We have the horses. But, I don't know how to make the bracelets. I've seen some online (example) that I really like but I have no idea how to make them. I DO NOT want to just do a simple braid. I'd like them to be a little more intricate than that. I'm also clueless on where to get the hardware (clasps, etc.) for the bracelets/jewelry. I went to local craft store today and while they had a huge selection of beads I didn't see much in the way of clasps and hooks.
My question(s):
Where/how do I learn how to braid more intricately than a three-strand braid?
Where do I get the hardware for the jewelry - like clasps? And what hardware do I need?
What tools will I need?
Is there anything else I'm missing in order to make, at the very least, a lovely bracelet for my daughter?
Kumihimo braiding is interesting and super easy - I don't know if it would translate to horsehair but I don't see why not.
And yeah, any beading shop will be eager to sell you findings. For that matter, if you have a Michaels nearby, they also sell findings (ends and bits and bobs) - maybe not sterling silver but enough for a few starter bracelets.
posted by Nyx at 12:17 PM on October 15, 2014 [2 favorites]
And yeah, any beading shop will be eager to sell you findings. For that matter, if you have a Michaels nearby, they also sell findings (ends and bits and bobs) - maybe not sterling silver but enough for a few starter bracelets.
posted by Nyx at 12:17 PM on October 15, 2014 [2 favorites]
Nyx - thank you for linking to that! I've been looking for what to call the fingerlooping braiding style I learned as a kid!
You can get clasps online at sites like Fire Mountain Gems. I'd search Youtube videos to learn how to attach them and figure out exactly which ones would look the best.
posted by fermezporte at 1:43 PM on October 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
You can get clasps online at sites like Fire Mountain Gems. I'd search Youtube videos to learn how to attach them and figure out exactly which ones would look the best.
posted by fermezporte at 1:43 PM on October 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
Horsehair is hard to work and make smooth looking--be prepared to practice, practice, practice. Also, it's pretty time consuming to make good quality items, and it takes a lot of hair. More hair than you'd think!
Not kidding about the practice. There used to be two ways to get good at horsehair braiding. Either you spent a lot of time alone in a cow camp or you were in prison.
If you can find someone who knows how to braid horsehair and would be willing to give you a lesson, you'd be ahead of the game. I used to be able to do a nice four or six-braid, but the fancy stuff was beyond me. Now my fingers are so stiff it's hard to work.
Tail hair is easier to work than mane hair, but mane hair is nicer on your skin for jewelry. Don't wash your horsehair, as it's easier to braid if it's a bit sticky. You can wash it after, if you really think it needs it.
Good luck. If you have the patience to get good at it, you can charge boocoo bucks for quality work.
posted by BlueHorse at 4:33 PM on October 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
Not kidding about the practice. There used to be two ways to get good at horsehair braiding. Either you spent a lot of time alone in a cow camp or you were in prison.
If you can find someone who knows how to braid horsehair and would be willing to give you a lesson, you'd be ahead of the game. I used to be able to do a nice four or six-braid, but the fancy stuff was beyond me. Now my fingers are so stiff it's hard to work.
Tail hair is easier to work than mane hair, but mane hair is nicer on your skin for jewelry. Don't wash your horsehair, as it's easier to braid if it's a bit sticky. You can wash it after, if you really think it needs it.
Good luck. If you have the patience to get good at it, you can charge boocoo bucks for quality work.
posted by BlueHorse at 4:33 PM on October 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
Just another search term for the technique: macramé.
posted by Violet Femme at 8:27 PM on October 15, 2014
posted by Violet Femme at 8:27 PM on October 15, 2014
If you can narrow it down to a few styles / sizes of findings that you'd like to try, etsy can be a good source for small quantities (as opposed to larger sites, whose prices may work out to be cheaper per piece, but you may be forced to buy in bulk).
posted by jessicapierce at 5:05 PM on October 16, 2014
posted by jessicapierce at 5:05 PM on October 16, 2014
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Youtube, instructables, pinterest, craftsy - Search for things like "paracord braid" or "leather braid" or "4 strand braid"
Where do I get the hardware for the jewelry - like clasps? And what hardware do I need?
What tools will I need?
Is there anything else I'm missing in order to make, at the very least, a lovely bracelet for my daughter?
Find a real beading/jewelry store in your area, preferably one that offers classes. Chances are, they will have some kind of leather braid jewelry class in their repertoire, and the skills/tools you use there will probably transfer.
Even if they don't have classes, they should be able to answer your questions about tools and findings ("findings" is jewelry-world speak for things like clasps and hooks).
posted by sparklemotion at 12:07 PM on October 15, 2014