Micro Macrame Instructions
Macrame has taken on a new form over the past few years. In contrast to the chunky macrame styles of the 1970s, micro macrame necklaces, earrings and bracelets use delicate silk cord, Japanese paper cords, embroidery floss and delicate wire, instead of using rough hemp or yarn. The new jewelry is embellished with glass beads, pearls, gemstones and metals that give micro macrame a sophisticated look.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- 1 1/2 inch pieces of wire, 2
- Round-nose pliers
- Needle-nose pliers
- Red and white embroidery floss
- Assorted 4 mm beads
- Superglue
- 10-by-12-by-1 inch piece of polystyrene
- 2 long stick pins
- Super glue
Instructions
-
Micro Macrame Earrings
-
1
Place the round-nose pliers in the center of the one of the wire pieces. Bend the wire pieces in half around the pliers. Twist the two ends of the wire together twice underneath the pliers, and pull both sides out to the sides to create an upside-down “T.” Pull out the pliers. Use the round-nose pliers to curl the ends of the wires into a “C.” Repeat this step on the second piece of wire.
-
2
Cut four 7-inch pieces of red embroidery floss. Cut six 7-inch pieces of white embroidery floss.
-
-
3
Attach the embroidery floss onto the wire using half-hitch knots. To make a half-hitch knot, fold the embroidery floss in half, slide the U-shaped part over the wire, loop the ends under the wire, and pull the ends through the “U.” Pull it tight. Place the embroidery floss on in this order red, three white and another red. Repeat this procedure on the second earring.
-
4
Place the wire earring bases on a piece of polystyrene. Push a long stick pin into each of the round openings on the “T” shape to hold it in place. Leave about 3 inches between earrings.
-
5
Make the body of the earrings using horizontal half-hitch knots. To make a horizontal double half-hitch knot, lay the first string in an “L” across the other threads. Loop the second string under string 1, pull it around the string 1, go behind string 2 and pull the thread around string 1 again. Make a second loop the same way with string 2 over string 1. Pull the knots tight. Repeat this procedure with each of the strings across the row. Once you get to the end, turn the earring over, so the front is touching the polystyrene. Repeat the row. Continue knotting rows, turning the earring at the end of each row. Make the second earring the same way.
-
6
Thread two beads onto each string, and tie a knot on the end of each string. Wrap the end of the string around your finger, go past the string and tuck it through the hole. Wrap it around the string forming the loop two more times, and pull it tight. Put a drop of super glue on the knot at the end of each string. Add beads and knot all of the threads on both earrings.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Examples of medieval knots image by MaroÅ¡ MarkoviÄ from Fotolia.com
