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A handmade necklace can bring comfort and healing to an ailing loved one.
An expressive way to support an ailing friend or family member is to make a hope chain.
The hope chain is a necklace that is made with meaningful beads, charms and stones gathered by friends and family to offer encouragement. Some also include a journal or scrapbook with the meaning of each bead or charm.
Katie Russell received a hope chain from her husband, daughters and mother the night before she was to go into surgery to remove malignant cells.
“It was an overwhelming gift, nothing I ever expected,” Russell says. “I took it with me to the hospital. I’ve worn it some, but I hang it up and display it. It meant a lot to me when I received it.”
Jennifer Brown, former owner of Beaded Sisters, made Russell’s chain with special items from her friends and family.
“The chain is for comfort, symbolizing love and prayers and hope in trying times,” Brown says.
Tammy Coker, owner of Island Dream Beads, has made several hope chains for her customers and suggests incorporating these elements:
- Sentimental beads. Use family heirlooms, such as a bead or charm from each generation of the family. Look through your jewelry box for that one earring that’s lost its pair and make it into something new.
- Birthstones. Add the birthstone of each person in the family and those of friends.
- Semiprecious stones. Wire wrap a semiprecious stone to add to the chain. Many stones have meaning and healing properties.
- Use favorite colors.
You will also need:
A special clasp
Four crimp beads
A long chain or piece of soft flex wire
Filler beads
Crimping pliers
Flat nose pliers
Bead board
Procedure:
- Gather friends and family together and head to the bead shop to pick out beads and charms.
- Lay out the elements on a design board.
- Add the pieces to the chain or wire and use filler beads to create a theme that connects each unique element.
- Attach the clasp. Crimp one end directly to the loop in the clasp. Use two crimp beads on each side for extra stability.
It’s OK if the unique elements of the necklace don’t match, Brown says.
“It doesn’t really matter what they look like; the meaning is the important part,” she says.
Russell agrees.
“It’s random but gorgeous,” she says of her hope chain. “It’s quite a keepsake. I will never part with it. It holds an important place in my heart.”
