MACRAMÉ – The Craft of Knotting

Macramé is the craft of Knotting. Like knitting and weaving, knotting is another form of  producing textiles.

Macramé was very popular in the seventies and it reminds us of fringed waistcoats, owl wall-hangings and rope hammocks. Nowadays macramé has made a comeback. The rustic/bohemian feel that macramé gives to the styling of a home is the reason that many people love it.

It’s a craft that only requires a pair of scissors, and inexpensive materials which can make wall hangings, plant hangers, bags, belts, key rings, rugs – anything you can imagine.

For me, it is definitely, therapeutic and making my own designs is also refreshing. I had the experience of teaching a Macramé workshop recently and it was amazing. I am looking forward to organising a few more in the near future. I will keep you posted!

Below is a simple macramé wall hanging tutorial. You can make it as is or add to it for a bigger design. It is made up of one kind of knot (the most common one) which is called the “square knot”.

Enjoy!

You will need:

Black cord cut as follows:

• 2 lengths of 140 cm (we will name it A)
• 2 lengths of 150 cm (we will name it B)
• 2 lengths of 160 cm (we will name it C)
• 8 lengths of 170 cm (we will name it D)
• 1 wooden stick or drift wood of approx. 35cm

METHOD

• Fold all 14 lengths of cord into half and tie them onto the stick with a Lark’s Head Knot in the following order starting from left to right:

A, B, C, D, D, D, D, D, D, D, D, C, B, A

• You should have 28 strings on your stick
• First row: leave 4 strings, make 2 square knots, leave 4 strings, make 2 square knots, leave 4 strings
• Second row: leave 2 strings, make 6 square knots, leave 2 strings
• Third row: make 7 square knots
• Fourth row: leave 2 strings, make 6 square knots, leave 2 strings
• Fifth row: make 7 square knots
• Sixth row: leave 2 strings, make 6 square knots, leave 2 strings
• Seventh row: leave 4 strings, make 5 square knots, leave 4 string
• Eighth row: leave 6 strings, make 4 square knots, leave 6 strings
• Ninth row: leave 8 strings, make 3 square knots, leave 8 strings
• Tenth row: leave 10 strings, make 2 square knots, leave 10 strings
• Eleventh row: leave 12 strings, make 2 square knots, leave 12 strings
• Cut the strings to the desired length