How to Make an African Fabric Rope Necklace - Quick & Simple Tutorial
If you want to learn how to make an African fabric rope necklace, follow along with this tutorial. You can pick whatever fabric print speaks to you and make it exactly the length you want. Then, show it off over a solid-colored top to make it really pop!
Tools and materials:
- Glue
- Hook and loop (Velcro) fastener
- Scissors
- Rope
- Fabric
1. Prepare the fabric necklace
Measure a length of fabric to the size of the necklace you want. Now measure the same length of thin rope.
Apply glue along the length of the rope. Attach the rope along one long edge of the fabric, applying additional glue as necessary.
Apply more glue to the top of the rope and roll the fabric inwards around the rope.
Now apply glue to the fabric on top of the rope and roll it in one more time, so that you have a completely fabric covered piece of rope.
Let it dry thoroughly, and trim away the excess fabric from the long edge and both ends.
Repeat wrapping pieces of rope in fabric until you have seven identical pieces, each one slightly longer than the previous one.
Line up all the fabric-covered rope pieces, from shortest to longest, in rows, and make one end of the row straight. Glue the ends together on the straight side together.
Tie those ends together with a scrap of fabric to keep it place while it dries.
Now, glue together the opposite ends of the ropes. You will need to bend the pieces in a semi-circular pattern in order to get the ends to meet. Tie the ends together with a strap of fabric.
2. Make the fabric necklace closure
Cut two triangular pieces of fabric. To see the exact shape and approximate size, check the video from 3:15 to 3:31.
Fold and press in the sides of each triangle, as shown in the video from 4:47 to 5:12. The wide end of the folded triangle should fit over the glued end of the ropes.
Remove the scrap ties from the ends of the ropes and glue the triangular pieces of fabric around the glued ends, so the wide end of the triangle covers the glued ends, and the pointed end of the triangle extends out.
Attach small adhesive Velcro closures to the end of each triangle. Remember to apply the Velcro to opposite sides of the necklace on each end, so that when you put on the necklace, they will attach to each other behind your neck.
How to make an African fabric rope necklace tutorial
What a cool, and totally unique necklace you just made! Share this Africa fabric rope necklace tutorial with your friends so they can make one too! What do you think about this fabric necklace?
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I love, love, love, this. It has inspired me to make. My family is going on a cruise when all this covid has died away, and I think for one of our theme days "Black is Beautiful " I'll wear it, and blow my family out of the water. Lol! Thank you. Great tutorial.
Truly an awesome idea and so simple to make!! That's the most astounding part, imho. Thank you for sharing and inspiring my creativity. 🙂