How to Make a Macrame Cross

Macramé is the art of creating personal accessories and home décor items with fabric strands or cording and a series of decorative knots. With a pattern or your imagination, you can create long beaded plant hangers or small pendants with this technique. One simple macramé project is a cross design for a necklace. Make the cross with any type of macramé cord that you prefer: nylon, rattail or cotton. The soft cross can be added to a rosary, a necklace or a key chain.

Things You'll Need

• 6mm cotton macramé cord, 2 colors
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Craft glue
• Project board
• Pins

Instructions

1. Cut one length of one color cotton macramé cord 30-inches long. This is cord A. Cut one length of another color of cotton macramé cord 30-inches long. This is cord B. Dip the ends of each cord in craft glue to prevent fraying. Allow the glue to dry.

2. Make a loop in the center of cord A. Pin the loop to the project board where it crosses. Make a loop to the left of the first loop with the cord falling to the left from the first loop. Cross the working cord on top of the stationary cord. The left loop is the left arm of the cross design and should be the same size as the first loop. The cross point should land slightly below and to the left of the first loop cross point. Pin the loop in place on the board. This is the second loop.

3. Repeat Step 2 with the cord falling on the right side of the first loop. For this loop, the working cord should cross beneath the stationary cord. This is the third loop.

4. Cross the right working cord over the left working cord. The cross point should land directly beneath the cross point in the first loop. Pin the cross point to the board.

5. Move down 1 inch and cross the cord hanging on the right side over the cord hanging on the left side. Pin the cross point to the board. This is the fourth loop. Repeat this step to make the fifth loop.

6. Find the center point of cord B. Place the center of cord B just beneath the fifth loop in the cross. The right side of cord B should cross under the right side of cord A as it falls from the fifth loop. The left side of cord B should cross over the left side of cord A as it falls from the fifth loop. Pin cord B in place.

7. Take the right side of cord B and pass it on top of the fifth loop, across the center from right to left. Continue to pass the same cord under the center of the fourth loop from left to right.

8. Bring the same cord across the bottom cord of the third loop, across the center and loop it clockwise over the tip of the third loop. Bring the end over cord B as it passes the center of the third loop, then under the top cord in the third loop. Pin the B cord to the board as it loops over the tip of the A cord. Drape the B cord over the center of the first loop, from right to left. Pin the end of the B cord to the board

9. Take the left side of cord B and weave it through the fifth loop, across the center from left to right. Pass the cord under the A cord and over the B cord. Continue to pass the same cord through the center of the fourth loop from right to left. Pass the cord over the A cord and under the B cord.

10. Bring the same cord under the bottom cord of the second loop, across the center and loop it counter-clockwise over the tip of the second loop. Bring the end over cord B as it passes the center of the second loop, then under the top cord in the second loop. Pin the B cord to the board as it loops over the tip of the A cord. Weave the B cord through the center of the first loop, from left to right. Pass under cord A and over cord B.

11. Remove the pins holding the cords to the boards. Pull the ends of the cords to tighten the cross design. Glue the tip ends of the cords to the back of the cross. Allow the glue to dry.

References

• Free Macrame Patterns: Celtic Cross

Resources

• Free Macrame Patterns: Learn Macrame