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Contemporary Macrame:
The How To Guide
All You Need For Your Knotty Passion
By Melissa Cordstone
Table of Contents
Introduction
5
History of Macrame
8
Macrame Basics:
12
Calculating How Much Cording to Use
Making a Sampler before You Begin
Adding Beads and Other Items
Adding Cords
Measuring Off the End of a Project
Anchoring Your Project While You Work
Tightening Your Work
Keeping Your Work Even and Uniform:
Macrame Equipment and Tools
21
Macrame Materials
23
Macrame Knots:
31
Overhand Knot
Half Knot
Square Knot
Square Knot Sinnet
Half Knot Sinnet
Half Hitch
2
Half Hitch Spiral
Vertical Double Half Hitch
Horizontal Double Half Hitch
Alternating Half Hitch
Alternating Double Half Hitch
Alternating Square Knot
Josephine Knot
Lark’s Head Knot
Alternating Lark’s Head Chain
Chinese Crown Knot
Square Knot Button
Reversing Square Knot
Interlocking Lark’s Head Braid
Macrame Patterns:
48
Butterfly Pin
Dog Collar
Dream Catcher
Flower Pot Decor
Guitar Strap
Keychain
Hammock
Macrame Patterns – Jewelry:
Beaded Bracelet
Toggle Bracelet
Choker
Sunflower Necklace
3
74
Moon/Sun Anklet
Chunky Man’s Necklace
Macrame Patterns – Plant Hangers:
88
Basic Plant Hanger 1
Basic Plant Hanger 2
Wizzy Plant Hanger
Hanging Planter With Table
Double Decker Hanging Planter
Cavandoli Macrame
110
Creating Your Own Designs
108
Tips for Selling Your Macrame
110
Macrame Suppliers
114
Conclusion
118
Cover image and above courtesy of Sherri
S., a successful micro macrame artist
selling her artwork online.
4
Introduction
As the venerable art of tying knots into a series of patterns,
Macrame essentially produces beautiful ornaments or
accessories, which we can use around the house or in our
day-to-day activities. In the 20th century, macrame made
a big splash in 1970s pop culture, and now it is making a
comeback as we catapult into the new millennium.
Perhaps, macrame is becoming popular once again because
it is easy enough for anyone to learn. As you learn and
master macrame knots and techniques, you can advance to
more complicated and incredible projects.
TRIVIA: Tying knots helps to increase your fine motor skills and
bilateral dexterity. It is a perfect exercise for those with joint and
muscle pain in their hands and fingers.
Macrame is a great craft to pursue because it is a good form
of exercise for the fingers and the wrist.
Your joints will
remain loose and strong when you put them through the
motions of tying macrame knots.
As well, Macrame is great for distressing and relaxing at
the end of the day.
You will start to feel relaxed and
satisfied after tying a few knots and this leads to feelings of
satisfaction when you see the results of your handiwork.
5
Areyouexcitedtostartlearningmacrame?
This book will give you all the information that you need to
get started today with your first macrame project! Each
chapter will guide you through the process of macrame
from beginning to end. In this book, you will learn:
 The history of macrame.
 How popular macrame is becoming and the
reasons why.
 The types of cording available and what works
best for each project.
 How to estimate how much cording you need for a
project.
 How to keep your work uniform and professional
looking.
 What tools and equipment you need to get started.
 Basic knots.
 Complex knotting.
 How to combine beading with your macrame.
 Tips for starting your own craft business.
Once you have learned the basic macrame knots and
techniques, you will be ready to start working on your first
project.
6
In this book, many patterns will take you from the
beginning of a project right through until the end. The
finished piece can become either your trophy for your
creativity or a personal gift for a friend. It can also bring a
tidy profit when sold.
To have all the types of cords, rings, beads, and other
accessories handy is very important in making any
macrame project that catches your fancy.
A list of
suppliers from where you can purchase macrame tools and
equipment is included in this book.
With a little bit of time and patience, your fingers will soon
be working on project after project.
Image courtesy of Jonglang Kejranont
7
Flower Pot Decor
This Macrame decoration is a great way to dress up a clay
flower pot for your patio or indoors.
Source: www.makingfriends.com/macrame_pot.htm
Materials:
1. one 6 ½ inch Terra Cotta flower pot and pot
saucer
2. 7 1/3 yards of 5-ply natural jute cording, #72 size
3. 4 round wooden beads, 12mm or 16mm size
4. glue
55
Conclusion
By following the guidelines and tips in this book you’ll soon
be on your way to creating beautiful and artistic Macrame
projects.
You’ll even learn enough about Macrame to
design your own original projects.
When it comes to Macrame there are no hard and fast rules
other than understanding and mastering the basic knotting
techniques. You can work your projects tightly or loosely.
You can use shiny, gaudy colors or you can use soft and
natural tones. You can stick strictly to the basic Macrame
knots or you can introduce woven and fancy rope work into
your projects. You can embellish your Macrame projects
with beads, ceramic pieces, wood, metal, or a collection of
objects of your choosing. And you can make a Macrame
project that is functional or fun.
Macrame knots and projects can be as simple or as
complicated as you want them to be. You can buy
expensive materials or you can spend very little on the cost
of cording. You’ll spend many pleasurable hours knotting
your favorite Macrame projects after you read this book.
And make sure that you try one or more of the complicated
projects as your skill level with cording and knots
increases!
118