When someone you love and care about is experiencing a loss and processing their grief, it can be difficult to find the right words to express your sympathy. If you consider yourself crafty, wind chimes make excellent DIY memorial gifts. They can be made with items from around the house that remind you of their loved one or things that were once theirs. When a soft breeze comes and moves the chimes, it can act as a gentle reminder, and ideally, bring a sense of comfort.

Wind chimes come in all different shapes and sizes, but the main parts of a wind chime include the hanger, the suspension cord, the top plate, wind chime tubes, a striker/clapper, and a wind chime sail. Each part of the wind chime plays a different role in making the wind chime’s musical tones.

The Hanger

The hanger for the wind chime (usually made up of a metal O-ring) is the part of the wind chime that is used to hang the wind chime up. This part of the wind chime needs to be sturdy. This is where all other parts will hang from and needs to be able to support the weight of the wind chime.

Suspension Cord

The suspension cord connects the hanger to the top plate and then hangs down from the center to hold the striker/clappers. The types of materials used for suspension cords also needs to be able to support the weight of the wind chime, these can include metal chains or heavy fishing lines.

Wind Chimes Tubes

The wind chime tubes are the part of the wind chime that hangs vertically and are blown into the striker by the wind’s movement. This movement is the action that creates the music of the wind chimes.

Striker/Clappers

The striker is the central part of the wind chime that hangs down between the wind chime tubes by the suspension cord. When the wind chime tubes knock against the striker, it creates a musical tone. The striker is sometimes also known as the clapper.

Sail

The sail is the part of the wind chime that hangs down at the bottom of the suspension cord and catches the wind to drag the striker into the wind chime tubes.

When choosing the items to make your memorial wind chime, look around your kitchen, garage, tool shed, or even your backyard for items you can upcycle. To find the perfect pieces, choose items that make a pleasing sound when they hit each other. Note that heavy items don’t make a lot of sound without heavy winds to move them, and delicate items made of glass or china could shatter with heavy winds. With simple items that can be found around your home you can create a memorial keepsake that can provide a comforting reminder of a lost loved one every time a breeze blows.