How to Make Heishi Jewelry

Heishi Jewelry is a type of jewelry, usually of turquoise and wood beads, made by Native Americans in the New Mexico area. Heishi jewelry, made for dances and ceremonial purposes, includes Americans necklaces, bracelets, and rings out of wood and turquoise. Here's how to make your own Heishi necklace.

Instructions

Make an Extender Chain

1

To assemble the extender chain, slide a seed bead and a gold bead on a head pin.

2

Make a close wire loop at the top of the head pin to keep the bead on. This is done by wrapping the wire at the top of the pin into a loop and pressing the wire into shape until it stays.

3

Using the loop, attach the extender chain.

4

Slide a gold square bead into a headpin.

5

Make a closed wire loop. Wrap it around the first closed wire loop.

6

Repeat the fourth step three or four times to make a chain with three or four links.

Make the Necklace

7

Decide the length of your necklace. Use more wire for longer necklaces and less wire for shorter ones.

8

Tie a knot at one end of the wire so the beads do not fall off when you are stringing them.

9

Take a handful of seed beads, wood beads, turquoise Heishi beads.

10

String a few inches of seed beads.

11

String a few inches of wood beads.

12

Alternate with turquoise beads after a few inches, or throughout the entire necklace, depending on how many turquoise beads you have.

13

Once you reach the center of the necklace, attach the gold square beads.

14

Repeat the pattern in reverse up the other side of the necklace.

15

Untie knot.

16

Add a crimp bead at each end.

17

Crimp both beads flat with a crimping tool.

18

Hook extender chain to crimp beads.