Instructions for a Macrame Choker
Macrame, the ancient craft of making decorative items with knotted string or rope, is now back in style. Macrame jewelry is among the most common objects created, along with plant hangers and wall hangings. The half knot, square knot and half hitch knot are the basic knots, and can be quickly learned. No needles or hoops are required. A good beginning project is a choker, requiring only fine hemp twine and a few wooden beads, both found at any craft store. The only knotting skill required is a basic overhand knot and mastery of the square knot.
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape or yard stick
- Fine (2mm) hemp twine
- Scissors
- Project board
- T-Pins or nail
- 8 wooden beads, 6 to 8mm in diameter
- Tape
Instructions
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Measure desired length of choker Determine the length of your choker. If the necklace is for yourself, simply measure your neck with a tape measure, adding a half inch for ease and the fastener. For a 14-inch choker, measure two lengths of hemp twine 66 inches long.
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Tie an overhand knot. Put the two strands together and loop them over, but unevenly so that two shorter strings measure 16 to 17 inches. The finished work should measure about 14 inches. These two, called the carriers, go in the middle of your work, the longer, outside strings being the knotters. Knot them at the looped end with an overhand knot, leaving enough loop to go over your choice of closure bead.
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A nail in a board makes a secure holder. Secure the work at the knotted end to your project board. You can use a fiber board and a T-pin, a board and nail, tape, a clipboard or anything else that will hold your work steady as you knot.
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Arrange your work with the two shorter strings in the middle. Beginning close to the overhand knot, and using the longer strings, tie a square knot over the two middle strings. You will create a square knot braid. See the Resource section on tying square knots and creating a braid.
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Add beads to your choker. Work five or six more square knots. The braid should measure about 11/4 inches. Slide a bead onto the two middle strings. You can tape the two ends tightly together to facilitate threading. Slide the bead up against your last square knot, tie another square knot below the bead and continue working, placing two more beads evenly before the mid-point. Thread a larger bead at the mid-point of the necklace, or one of a different color for contrast. Continue working in this pattern, threading three more beads, for a total of seven.
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6
Tie another 1 ¼ inches of braid after the final bead, or until the necklace is the desired length. Slip your closure bead onto the end. You should have enough string to tie an overhand knot, securely fastening the bead on the two middle strings. Tie off the outside strings above the closure bead. Remove the necklace from your project board checking to be sure the loop will fit over the closure bead. Trim the remnants of string, and your necklace is ready to wear.
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Tips & Warnings
If you use thicker cord, it will take more; less, if the cord is thinner.
Measurements are approximate. Variations occur for many reasons, including tightness of knots, thickness of cord, and actual size and shape of beads.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit twine image by Aleksandr Lobanov from Fotolia.com measuring tape image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com knot image by Kaarel from Fotolia.com hammer and nail 2 image by msw from Fotolia.com Wooden Beads image by Stephanie Mueller from Fotolia.com
