Craft/Pottery/Design
Hemp Macramé
Objective
• Students will learn 4 different macramé knots.
• Students will create at least 5 handmade
beads using clay. Some will illustrate texture
using impressions.
• Students will create a key chain or wearable
art piece at least 6” long using at least 2
macrame’ knots and handmade, clay beads.
Terms:
• Macramé: Macramé is an ancient craft. This is a textile-making craft which uses
knots on thread or twine or hemp instead of weaving or knitting.
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Half knot: basic knot used to create the square and spiral knot
Square knot: created by a series of half knots going in alternating directions
Spiral knot: created by a series of half knots going in a continuous direction
Lark’s Head knot or Mounting Knot: The Lark’s Head knot is one of the
most basic knots. Used to anchor your cord to a key ring, stick, or other solid
object.
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Taut: tight tension-no slack
Impressions: made by pressing clay onto a textural surface.
Jump: a space or gap in macramé that allows for a bead or visual interest.
Polymer Clay: a sculptable material based on the polymer polyvinyl chloride
(PVC). It usually contains no clay minerals, and is only called "clay" because its
texture and working properties resemble those of mineral clay.
• Hemp: soft, durable fiber that is cultivated from plants of the Cannabis genus,
cultivated for commercial use.
History of Macramé
• In the 13th century, Arab weavers with hand-loomed fabrics used
macramé to knot the excess yarn along the edges of the fabric and
make them into fringes on bath towels, shawls and veils to give
decorative effect.
• Along with the Arab weaver’s products, the macramé craft also
traveled to Europe. Sailors picked up the craft. They started using
macramé to decorate the handles of knives and other objects and
sell or barter these articles at the ports where the ship would call.
• This gave a greater circulation to this craft. It spread all over the
world and in the course of time, it became fashionable. Fashion
circles of Victorian England and America started using macramé
widely to provide fancy trimmings for colored and black costumes.
Many other articles such as belts and hammocks also were
commonly made in macramé.
• In the course of time, the craft of macramé fell out of fashion when it
was mass produced and became cheap and was easily available. Now
it has become fashionable again and is gaining popularity.
Key chains
Chokers
Bracelets and Belts
1. The lark's head knot is the simplest method for mounting cords onto a key chain
hoop.
2. Fold the cord in half. Place the center fold over the key ring.
3. Bring the loop down behind the ring and pull the free ends through the loop.
Then pull on the cords to tighten.
Lark’s Head Knot or Mounting Knot
HALF KNOT
SQUARE
KNOT
How to make a Square Knot:
2.
1.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Continue alternating sides until you have your
desired length.
The left hand picture shows a simple
sennit formed by repeating the square
knot.
The pattern of knots in the right
hand picture is created by making
square knots and alternating
which cords are your knotting cords
and which are your core cords.
Square Knot
How to make a Spiral knot:
1. Begin with a half knot.
2. Repeat the Half Knot over and over. Make sure
you tie each of the knots exactly the same way. The
cords will twist to form an attractive spiral chain.
The left hand picture shows a
simple spiral which will be formed
by repeating the half knot.
The right hand picture is a spiral
sennit with beads. The beads
were added to the core cords.
Spiral Knot
Day #1 Agenda
•Cut your lengths of yarn: 1 color should
measure 72” and the 2nd color should
measure 44”.
•Fold your two strands of yarn in half.
•Connect the yarn to a popsicle stick using
the Lark’s head knot.
•Keeping your yarn pulled tight,
(taut)practice the spiral knot, square knot
and (3)jumps. Try changing your middle two
yarn colors.
Day #2 Agenda
• Select 2-3 colors of Sculpey clay
• roll out clay and combine colors in your own creative
way. (on a plastic mat)
• Cut clay into strips-the width you desire for your beads.
• Roll strips of clay on textured sheets. (to acquire
impressions)
• Place a toothpick on your clay strip and roll it up to form
a bead. Make sure the hole in the center is large
enough to run hemp through.
• Repeat steps until you have created 5 beads.
• Bake beads in toaster oven at 275 ̊F for 20 minutes.
Beads will harden as they cool down.
• Place beads in a cup with your name on it.
Day #3 Agenda
•Cut two strands of hemp. (2) 60” hemp
strands(key chain) or 1”neck width for 12” of
hemp. strands (choker)
• Fold in half.
• Use the lark’s head knot to attach hemp
strands to a key ring(key chain) or use
overhand knot to create hoop at end (choker).
• Use at least 2 different macramé knots and
your homemade clay beads to create a key
Clay
Beads
Texture by impressing
Helpful websites
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http://www.threadbanger.com/post/1086/simple-macrame-bracelet-or-necklace
http://www.spazzticcrafts.com/hemp/hemp-knots.php