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Activities / Parandi / Beaded Parandi

Beaded Parandi

Beaded Parandi: Braid with Glass Beads and a Beaded Tassel

Level
Intermediate
Duration
3 - 4 hours
Budget
₹351 – ₹740
Age
12+
State
Punjab
Craft
Parandi

Materials

  • Cotton crochet thread, size 10 or similar (mercerised)
  • Pearl beads, 6 mm with holes
  • Big-eye beading needle
  • Masking tape, 24 mm
  • Clear craft glue
  • Scissors
  • Comb
  • Saucer or small bowl for beads, hair clip or hair tie

Steps

  1. Cut six 1.5 m thread lengths and set out your beads
    A parandi is a long braided hair ornament that ends in a tassel. Cut 6 pieces of cotton crochet thread, each 150 cm (about 5 ft). Use two colours if you like, 3 pieces of each. Pour about 30 pearl beads into a saucer so they do not roll away. Clear a table about 60 cm wide. Common mistake: cutting the thread too short. The braid shrinks by about a quarter, so 1.5 m gives a braid of about 55 cm.
  2. Thread 8 beads onto each of 3 threads with a beading needle
    Thread a beading needle with the end of one thread, pick up 8 beads and slide them off the needle onto the thread. Do the same for two more threads. Leave the other 3 threads plain. Then slide the beads along each beaded thread until they all sit in the second half, beyond the 75 cm middle point, so the first half of every beaded thread is bare.
    Tip: Put a small knot at the far end of the thread before you start, so beads cannot slide off.
  3. Fold the threads in half, knot them and tape the loop down
    Pair each beaded thread with a plain thread. Fold the whole bundle in half so you have a loop at the top, tie an overhand knot about 5 cm (2 in) below the fold and tape the loop firmly to the table with masking tape. You now have 12 strands hanging down. This loop is what you will clip to your hair later, so keep it open and about 3 cm wide.
  4. Divide the strands into 3 groups of 4
    Make each group from one folded beaded thread and one folded plain thread, so every group has 4 strands and exactly one of those strands carries beads. Comb the strands of each group straight with your fingers so they lie side by side. A group should feel like one flat, thick strand. Common mistake: letting the groups tangle. Smooth them out each time you start a new crossing.
  5. Braid 3 cm, then slide a bead down so it sits on the braid
    Do an ordinary three-strand braid: left group over the middle, then right group over the middle, and so on, pulling each crossing snug. After 3 cm (1 in), when the beaded strand is on the outside edge, slide one bead down until it rests against the braid, then cross the next group over it so it is held in place. Keep tension even, not tight.
    Tip: Tape the braid to the table every 15 cm so it does not slip.
  6. Repeat every 3 cm, placing beads in a pattern
    Keep braiding and add a bead every 3 cm. For a pattern, use two beads from one beaded strand, then one from the next, and repeat. Check that each bead lies on the front of the braid, not buried inside. Stop when the braid is about 50 cm (20 in) long. You will use about 16 beads on the braid. Keep the remaining 8 for the tassel.
  7. Tie off the braid with a double knot
    At 50 cm, tie all 12 strands into a double knot, pulling it tight. The knot should sit snugly against the last crossing so nothing can unravel. Lift the tape from the table and check the braid hangs straight. If it twists, hold the loop and let the braid spin out. Common mistake: tying the knot loosely, which lets the braid open up after a day of wear.
  8. Make the tassel by binding, fraying and adding beads
    Bind the loose strands tightly with a separate thread about 5 cm below the knot, wrapping 6 or 7 times and tying twice. Trim the strand ends to 8 cm (3 in). Run a comb through the ends to fray them into a soft tassel. Thread the 8 spare beads onto 8 of the strands, about 2 cm from their ends, and tie a small knot under each bead to hold it.
    Tip: Fraying is easier if you hold the strands against your palm and comb from the bottom up.
  9. Glue the knots, dry and tidy up
    Put one dab of clear craft glue on the main knot and one on the binding thread at the tassel neck. Let them dry for 20 minutes. Trim any stray ends flush. Pack the leftover beads into a small bag. To wear it, thread the loop through a hair tie or clip it with a hair clip, then braid your own hair along the parandi. Keep it away from small children because the beads are a choking risk.

Sustainability

Medium - beads are glass or plastic and can be reused; cotton thread is plant-based

Safety

Beads are a choking hazard for young children; fine needles prick; tie off every bead section so beads do not scatter