Directions for a Macrame Owl
Macramé involves using series of complicated knots to create patterns and overall pictures. Owls serve as a traditional macramé project because they use several traditional macramé knots. Plus, they can be modified for beginners or experts. Beginners can make small, simple owls while experts might work on larger, more complicated birds. Either way, the end product is more or less the same.
These owls are also versatile. You can either make one as part of a necklace or attach it to dowels to hang on the wall. They make whimsical, retro decorations that show off your skills.
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Things You'll Need
- Cotton cord
- Scissors
- Cardboard piece
- Tape
- Stick pins
- 2 black beads
- Stick
Instructions
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1
Snip two lengths of cotton cord long enough to go around your neck. Knot them together at both ends and lay them horizontally across your cardboard piece and secure with tape. Cut six more cords about 4 ½ feet long for your owl's body.
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2
Fold one of your 4 ½ foot cords in half and pinch the fold to form a loop. Slip the loop underneath your horizontal cords and bring the ends of the folded cord up and through the loop. Pull the ends tight so the cord wraps around the horizontal cords; this is a lark's head knot. Repeat with the other five cords.
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3
Separate the hanging cords into two groups of six. The first six are 1 to 6 from right to left. The second six are A to F from right to left. Stick a pin into your cardboard between cords 1 and 2.
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4
Bring cord 1 to the right across the other cords. Bring cord 2 up and wrap it around cord 1, tucking it behind cord 1 and pulling tight. Repeat with cord 2. Repeat again with cords 3 through 6, wrapping each cord twice around cord 1. Repeat step 4 beginning with cord 2 to create a second row of half-hitch knots.
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5
Repeat step 4 beginning with cord F and moving to the right to cord A. Repeat again, beginning with cord E and moving to the center. You should see two rows of half hitch knots tilted toward the center on either side of your work.
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6
Separate the four center cords from the rest by pinning them out of the way. Bring the centermost cords up to form a fat double loop in the center of your work. Pinch the loop to make it a thin bunch of cords.
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7
Bring the left cord over these two cords and under the right cord. Bring the left cord under the center cords and up through the loop made by the left cord. Pull the cords to tighten. Repeat three more times.
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8
Pull on the ends of the cords sticking out of the tops of your four knots. This turns the knots into a small knob, creating the owl's beak. You should see a single loop in the center of your work bordered by two hanging cords.
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9
Bring the left hanging cord under the central loop and over the right hanging cord. Bring the right hanging cord over the central loop and down through the loop created by the cord on the left. Do not tighten; this forms the framework of the owl's body.
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10
Slip a bead onto the fourth cord in from the center on either side of your work. Slide the beads up to your rows of half hitch knots and take out your stick pins.
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11
Start with the outermost cord on the right and tie a single row of half hitches, as in step 4. Create four more rows of half hitches under the first, making sure they curve down toward the center of your work. Repeat on the left side, and bring all the cords down straight.
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12
Separate the outer two cords on either side from the rest. Bring the two cords on the left over the center cords and under the two cords on the right. Bring the two cords on the right under the center cords and up through the loop created by the cords on the left. Pull tight to finish the owl's body.
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13
Tie the four outer cords on the right and left around a twig, using a half hitch as in step 4. This creates the owl's feet. The rest of the hanging cords are the owl's tail. Trim to desired length.
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Tips & Warnings
Make a wall hanging instead of a necklace by making the initial lark's head knots on a dowel rod or stick instead of cord.
References
- Photo Credit owl image by Henryk Olszewski from Fotolia.com
