Heritage Crafts to Try at Home: From Ndebele Patterns to Shweshwe-Inspired Décor

September is Heritage Month, and on the 24th we celebrate Heritage Day—a reminder to honour the cultures, traditions, and creativity that make our country unique. One of the best ways to mark the day is by crafting something with your own hands. With a little inspiration from South Africa’s visual heritage and the right supplies from PNA, you can create something meaningful, colourful, and proudly local.

Here are four heritage-inspired crafts you can try at home, each with step-by-step instructions to guide you from start to finish.

Paint an Ndebele-Style Flower Pot

Ndebele homes are world-famous for their bold geometric patterns, and you can bring a touch of that vibrancy into your home by painting a terracotta flower pot.

What you’ll need from PNA:

• Terracotta flower pot
• Acrylic paints in black, white, red, blue, yellow, and green
• Flat and fine paintbrushes
• Masking tape
• Clear varnish or Mod Podge

How to do it:

1. Prepare the surface. Wipe the pot clean and let it dry.
2. Mark out shapes. Use masking tape to divide the pot into triangles, diamonds, and zigzags. Don’t be afraid to look up a reference if you need one!
3. Paint bold colours. Fill in each shape with a bright acrylic colour, leaving some white for contrast.
4. Outline. Once dry, remove the tape and use black paint with a fine brush to outline every shape sharply.
5. Seal. Finish with a coat of varnish or Mod Podge to make your design weather-resistant.

This project is ideal for families—kids can help with colour fills while adults do the outlining. The result? A statement piece for your garden or balcony that celebrates Ndebele artistry.

Make a Shweshwe Patchwork Blanket

Shweshwe fabric, with its intricate motifs and indigo tones, is a cornerstone of South African fashion and heritage. A patchwork blanket is a practical project that honours this tradition while giving you something to treasure for years.

What you’ll need from PNA:

• Shweshwe fabric offcuts
• Fabric scissors and rotary cutter
• Sewing needles and thread (or a sewing machine)
• Pins and ruler
• Cotton fabric for backing

How to do it:

1. Cut squares. Cut Shweshwe into equal squares (15x15cm is manageable for beginners).
2. Plan your layout. Arrange the squares on the floor in a pleasing pattern.
3. Sew rows. Stitch the squares together into rows, then join the rows.
4. Attach backing. Place the patchwork front onto plain cotton backing, right sides together. Stitch three sides, turn inside out, then close the final side.
5. Finish. Top-stitch around the edges for strength.

By following these steps, you’ll not only learn how to make a Shweshwe blanket, but also create a piece of heritage you can use every winter or gift to a loved one.

Craft a Zulu Bead Bracelet

Zulu beadwork is renowned for its colour symbolism and intricate designs. You can start small by making a simple bracelet using colours that mean something to you.

What you’ll need from PNA:

• Coloured glass beads
• Nylon thread or elastic cord
• Beading needle
• Clear craft glue

How to do it:

1. Choose colours. For a heritage feel, pick primary colours with white and black contrasts (again, finding a reference to work off of is helpful!).
2. Thread beads. Using a beading needle, thread the beads onto your cord in repeating patterns.
3. Secure. Once the bracelet is the right length, tie a double knot and add a dab of clear craft glue.
4. Wear. Let the glue dry, then slip your bracelet on—it’s ready to wear or gift.

This small but powerful project is perfect for Heritage Day celebrations and introduces beginners to the world of beadwork.

Upcycle a Shweshwe-Covered Pencil Holder

For a quick and eco-friendly project, try turning an empty tin can into a vibrant pencil holder with Shweshwe fabric.

What you’ll need from PNA:

• Clean tin can
• Shweshwe fabric scrap
• Fabric scissors
• Mod Podge or fabric glue
• Paintbrush

How to do it:

1. Measure and cut. Wrap the fabric around the tin, mark the size, and cut to fit.
2. Apply glue. Brush Mod Podge or fabric glue onto the can’s surface.
3. Attach fabric. Carefully place the Shweshwe fabric around the can, smoothing out wrinkles.
4. Seal. Add a final layer of Mod Podge over the fabric to seal and protect.

This pencil holder is simple enough for kids and stylish enough for adults’ desks—plus, it’s a great way to reuse materials while celebrating South African design.

Celebrate Heritage Day with Creativity

Heritage Month is about honouring who we are, and what better way to do it than by making something that connects you to South Africa’s artistic traditions? Whether it’s painting a bold Ndebele pot, stitching a Shweshwe blanket, threading a bead bracelet, or upcycling a pencil holder, these projects are creative, accessible, and proudly local.

Visit your nearest PNA for all the paints, brushes, fabrics, scissors, glue, and beads you’ll need. This Heritage Day on the 24th of September, celebrate by crafting something that reflects the colour and diversity of our nation.