LEARN ANKARA CRAFT HERE!

For just the token of #2,5OO Isiki Pamela was able to learn the craft of Ankara making within five days at the Development Hub. Learn Ankara Craft as she explains it details by details.

From my practical skills class which is Ankara craft, I was made to understand the different ways/things Ankara can be used to make e.g. necklaces (beaded and spread necklaces), bow tie and pocket squares, shoes, bags and purses, hair bow, earrings (coated earrings) and bangles. Furthermore, I learnt about the materials needed such as: smoking thread, needle, tailor�s chalk, normal thread, stay, warden, Ankara fabric, pressing iron, caribonel, UHU gum, tape, beads, suit lining for making of the purses. We carried out practical on making Ankara bangle which is to buy a bangle either a medium or big bangle that freely enters your wrist, then you measure the width of the bangle with your tape, for example, the width of a medium bangle is an inch, you will make an inch with your tape on the Ankara but you�d add an extra inch to make it 2 inches so that when we fold the edge of the cut piece of the Ankara we will still get the exact one inch, the reason we fold the edges is to avoid cut part to show which can make the work look rough and dirty, then after folding the ends you iron with pressing iron then you wrap the bangle with the Ankara using the UHU gum (the bangle for this process should be a round plastic, not beaded or bent).

I also learnt how to make a beaded necklace; first, you measure your neck for the length of the Ankara necklace then you measure the size of the bead to determine the width of the Ankara to be cut and once you get the measurement then you add an extra to it to be able to get the exact measurement then we are done, then you fold the Ankara into two ends and you measure half of the measurement, for example; a bead is 2 inches you�d add an extra inch and cut then you fold the Ankara with the back and measure half of the 2 inches which is the original measurement which will give us 1 � inch, then you mark the measured place with tailor�s chalk and you sew that part that was not measured downwards to the end then after that we turn the Ankara inwards out to the front. Then you take the smoking thread, roll it up and cut a long thread that can go through the sewn Ankara and still remain then you cut, put your normal thread in your needle then you put the smoking thread through the sewn Ankara then tie the normal thread through the sewn Ankara then you put the smoking thread through the  sewn Ankara then tie the end with the normal thread and the sewn Ankara then you put the needle through the hole of the bead then you tie the top of the Ankara firmly that the shape of the bead will be visible (remember the smoking thread is used here to be able to keep the bead in place in the Ankara and it makes it easy to pass the needle through the bead without having to look for it that much) then you put in your next bead and use the same process till the end you use the Ankara to cover the first bead that was made, then you tie it with the thread and you cut the thread. Then you have your Ankara Beaded Necklace.

ISIKIMA ALFREDY PAMELA.

Aghaji Chuigo, a participant, also commented about the Ankara class she participated in that 'The artistic component of the program was eye-opening.  I am hardly an artistic person, but thoroughly enjoyed Ankara craft. We were informed of the various overlooked uses of Ankara� for pocket squares, ties, bangles , purses, shoes, belts, beaded necklaces, headband and fascinators� the list is endless.  Though I did not attend all of the Ankara craft classes, I learned how to make bangles and a purse. I learned how to re-purpose unused scrap material. I learned to be more ambidextrous and to have an eye for fashion, but most of all; I learned to pay attention to detail; a skill which every craftswoman should have. 

I'm very sure you won't miss the next Dev. Hub.