How to Make an Arrowhead Necklace

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Things You'll Need

  • Leather thong or cord

  • Jewelers’ glue

  • Beads (optional)

  • Scissors

  • 18-gauge jewelry wire

  • Chain-nose pliers

  • Round-nose pliers

  • Side-cut wire cutters

  • Emery board

Often made of knapped flint, authentic arrowheads make an exciting discovery.
Image Credit: Mega_Pixel/iStock/Getty Images

Wearing a necklace made from an arrowhead serves as a link to the past that also makes a fashion statement. If you use an authentic arrowhead, the necklace may also remind you of the thrill of discovering it. Treating the artifact respectfully while creating an expressive piece of jewelry is simple using a few bits of leather or wire.

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Keeping It Simple

Step 1

Cut a 36-inch piece of leather thong or cord.

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Step 2

Center the arrowhead on the thong. You can turn the arrowhead in either direction, as long as the center of the arrowhead is on the center of the thong. It may be easier if you place the arrowhead so that the ends of the thong are nearest the top, which is opposite to the tip.

Step 3

Wrap the thong around the arrowhead, crossing the ends to make an X on one side. Repeat on the other face of the arrowhead, so that both sides have an X.

Step 4

Wrap the thong around the top stem of the arrowhead, each end going in opposite directions, until they meet at the back. Tie a knot.

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Step 5

Add a drop of glue to the knot to make it more secure. Allow the glue to dry thoroughly.

Step 6

Slide beads over the ends of the thong on each side of the arrowhead, if desired.

Step 7

Place the necklace around your neck and adjust the length so the arrowhead falls at your desired spot.

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Step 8

Tie an overhead knot at the spot you measured around your neck. Trim the extra thong, leaving at least 1 inch past the knot.

All Wrapped Up

Step 1

Cut a 24-inch piece of wire.

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Step 2

Fold the wire in half.

Step 3

Place the tip of the arrowhead in the wire's fold.

Step 4

Pull one end of the wire across the front face of the arrowhead. Pull the other end across the back face until both wire ends meet at one side.

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Step 5

Twist the wires two to four times with your chain-nose pliers.

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Step 6

Wrap one end of the wire diagonally across the front of the arrowhead, ending close to the top of the triangle. Repeat with the other wire end, wrapping it across the back of the arrowhead.

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Step 7

Twist the wires together two to four times.

Step 8

Wrap the stem of the arrowhead with the wire ends going in opposite directions.

Step 9

Twist the wires one time at the back of the arrowhead.

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Step 10

Bend one wire at a 90-degree angle, so it points straight up past the top of the arrowhead.

Step 11

Hold the same wire with the round-nose pliers, close to the top of the arrowhead.

Step 12

Bend the wire over the nose of the pliers to form a loop.

Step 13

Wrap the other wire around the base of the loop two to four times.

Step 14

Cut away the extra wire with the side-cutters.

Step 15

Smooth the cut edges with the emery board.

Tip

If you have a reproduction arrowhead, you can also drill a small hole near the top of the arrowhead. Insert a jump ring through the hole to hang your pendant.

Warning

Do not drill a hole or glue anything to an authentic arrowhead. Not only is this disrespectful to the artisan who made the artifact, it may cause the flint to shatter. Glue can also permanently damage the arrowhead.

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