Macrame Tutorial

Macrame is a type of decorative knotting.

Macrame is an artistic type of knotting, much like braiding, and is often used in jewelry and homemade home decor projects such as plant holders and curtain tie-backs. There are several ways to use macrame in crafting and you can use any type of stringing material you like, however hemp cord, yarn and embroidery floss are all common. In order to successfully use macrame in any project, you must first learn the basics of flat and spiral macrame knotting.

Things You'll Need

• 48 inches of hemp cord or other stringing material
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Clear tape

Instructions

Setup Instructions

1. Unroll your hemp cord or other stringing material on a flat work space.

2. Measure the cord and cut it into four 12-inch sections with scissors.

3. Hold all four sections together and knot them together about 1/2 inch from one end of the cords.

4. Tape the sections of cord above the knot to the center of the table with clear tape so that the remaining length points toward where you are standing or sitting.

5. Separate the hanging cords and find the two cords closest to the center. Hold those two cords together and tape them to the table at the very end. You should have two taped center cords and one cord off to each side of them at this point.

Macrame Knotting

1. Lay the bottom half of your left cord across the center of the taped center cords so that the end points to the right. It should look like the number 4.

2. Pull your right cord over the end of the left cord and tuck it under the taped cords and left cord, pulling it through the loop that the left cord created.

3. Grasp the ends of both cords and pull them tightly. This creates your first knot and now your cords have switched sides.

4. Repeat the same process over and over until the free ends of the cords are only 1 inch long. To create a flat macrame braid, alternate between sides when making the loop, or 4 shape. To create a twisted braid, make the loop on the left side every time and allow the cords to lay naturally, adjusting them by twisting the center when they begin to lay awkwardly.

References

• Fave Crafts: How to Macrame a Bracelet