How to Macrame Bottomless Sandals
If you want to go barefoot but make it look as though you are wearing sandals, you can make your own pair of bottomless sandals. Also known as barefoot sandals, they are simply a strap or two straps that extend from your toes and secure to your ankles like anklets. Use hemp cords and a basic macrame knotting technique called the "square knot" to form the "straps" of the bottomless sandals. Once you've learned this basic knot, you will want to make these accessories for your friends as well.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Measure and cut four lengths of soft, one-sixteenth inch-thick hemp cord to four feet long. Line up the ends, fold the group of strings in half and tie the whole group in a tight overhand knot one inch away from the folded end to make a loop. This is the loop your toe will fit through.
-
2
Clip the loop down in a clip board and divide the group of eight strings into two groups of four. Each group will make up a different strap of the bottomless sandals. Drape one group over the back of the clipboard to get it out of the way.
-
-
3
Bring the two middle strands of the four strands still on the front of the clipboard straight down and clip them to the bottom of the clipboard with a binder clip. This holds them in place as you tie the other two strands around them.
-
4
Bring the cord on the far left across the two strings in the middle and leave a loose "L" shape on the left with it. Cross the left hemp cord under the cord on the far right.
-
5
Bring the far-right cord up under the far-left one and under both middle cords. Pull the end of the far-right cord through the opening in the loose "L" shape so that the far-right cord is now on the left and the far-left cord is now on the right. Pull the two ends to tighten the first knot.
-
6
Cross the far-right cord over the two in the middle and leave the same "L" shape as you did when making the first knot. Bring the far-right cord under the far-left cord and bring the far-left cord over and under the far-right cord.
-
7
Feed the far-left cord under the two middle cords and through the "L" on the far right. Tie the ends to make the second knot. When you make the third knot, start on the left and keep alternating sides to create the square knot. Stop when this sandal strap is 18 inches long and repeat with the other group of four strands to make the other strap.
-
8
Remove the macrame hemp from the clip board and put your second toe (the toe next to your big toe) through the loop. Bring the two straps across the top of your foot, wrap each strap around your ankle and tie the loose ends. Repeat the process to create the other bottomless sandal.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
You can add beads to the straps between a series of knots by feeding them onto both middle cords and simply continuing the knotting after the bead.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
