The Tying Ritual

— Before you begin —

In West African tradition, the waistbead isn't meant to be taken off. It's tied once, then lives with the woman who wears it — day after day, without interruption, sometimes for life. It's in this continuity that it takes on its full meaning: it follows the body through its variations, its cycles, through time. To tie your waistbead is to choose a gesture that lasts.

— What your waistbead looks like —

Your piece is made of a cotton thread strung with 110 cm of beads — or more, if you've sent us a custom measurement.

At each end of the thread, you'll find a sliding knot, held in place by two anchor beads in a colour different from the rest. These anchor beads aren't part of the final design: they serve only to secure the sliding knot during the adjustment stage.

Tying it on, step by step

If the tying feels clearer in pictures than in words, find our video tutorial [here].

1. Position your waistbead : Place one end behind your back, as you would with a belt. Bring the thread around your waist.

2. Cross at your chosen height : Cross the two ends at the spot where you'd like to wear your waistbead. Take care not to pull it too tight, to allow for bloating, hormonal changes and the occasional hearty meal. This is a piece worn continuously, so you need to be comfortable. For your comfort, you should be able to slip one or two fingers easily between the piece and your body.

If you intend to use it as a tool to track a physical change, we recommend placing it about 1 cm above the navel. If, for medical or other reasons, you know you'll need to remove your piece from time to time, we recommend tying it as loosely as possible around the hips, so you can take it off over the top, as you would with a T-shirt.

3. Release the sliding knots : Once you've found the position, gently pull the anchor beads, one by one, to release the sliding knots, and push the excess beads back towards these anchor beads. Hold the crossing point in place during this step to keep the adjustment.

4. Close any gaps between the beads : Before tying, slide the beads already in place around your waist to reduce the gaps between them. This step matters: without it, the beads may pinch the skin slightly, which can become uncomfortable day to day.

5. Make the first knot : Tie a first knot, like the first knot of a shoelace, pulling tightly enough that the thread is no longer visible. Only the knot should remain in sight: all the rest of the thread should be entirely covered by the beads.

6. Secure with a second knot : This is the most important knot. To stop the first one from loosening and releasing thread during the process, hold it in place with a clothes peg, or ask someone to hold it for you. Then make your second knot, pulling as firmly as possible to lock the beads in place and close any remaining gaps.

7. Reinforce the knot : Make 2 to 3 additional knots over the first two to ensure a lasting hold. Feel free to spread them towards the inside and the outside of the thread, to balance the thickness evenly around the knot rather than concentrating it on one side.

8. Trim the excess : Using scissors, cut close to the knot, at about 3 cm. You'll be left with two strands in your hands, each made up of the excess beads and thread along with the two anchor beads. Keep them.

9. Seal the knot — Option 1 — Beginners : If it's your first time, place a small drop of strong glue on the knot to keep it from coming undone. Note: the glue hardens as it dries and may cause slight discomfort against the skin.

10. Seal the knot — Option 2 — Experts : For a more refined finish, very lightly burn the ends with a lighter, then gently roll them between thumb and forefinger to seal them.

11. Wear your piece : Your piece is in place. It can accompany you in all your daily activities: showering, sleeping, bathing, exercising and much more. Let it live with you.

Tips

Don't throw away the two strands you cut in step 8. Tie them around your wrist, ankle or even around your neck — like a friendship bracelet — to create an adornment matched to your waistbead.