MACRAME

Macramé or macrame is a form of textile making using knotting rather than weaving or
knitting. Its primary knots are the square knot (a variant of the reef knot) and forms of
"hitching": various combinations of half hitches. It was long crafted by sailors, especially in
elaborate or ornamental knotting forms, to decorate anything from knife handles to bottles to
parts of ships.
 Art of tying knots from twines, string, ropes, or cords to produce useful decorative and
yet functional articles.

HISTORY AND ORIGIN OF MACRAME

Macramé comes from a 13th-century Arabic weavers’ word migramah meaning “fringe”.
This refers to the decorative fringes on camels and horses which help, amongst other
things, to keep the flies off the animal in the hot desert regions of northern Africa.

Another school of thought thinks that it comes from Turkish makrama, “napkin” or
“towel”, and was a way to secure the ends of pieces of weaving by using the excess
thread and yarn along the top and bottom edges of loomed fabrics.

One of the earliest recorded uses of macramé-style knots as decoration appeared in the
carvings of the Babylonians and Assyrians. Fringe-like plaiting and braiding adorned the
costumes of the time and were captured in their stone statuary. Macramé traveled from
north Africa to Spain with the Moors, and as a result of this conquest it spread, firstly to
France, and then throughout Europe.

In the Western Hemisphere, macramé is believed to have originated with 13th-century

Arab weavers. These artisans knotted the excess thread and yarn along the edges of hand-
loomed fabrics into decorative fringes on bath towels, shawls, and veils. The Spanish
word macraméis derived from the Arabic migramah (‫ قرمة م‬,(believed to mean "striped
towel", "ornamental fringe" or "embroidered veil." After the Moorish conquest, the art
was taken to Spain, then to Italy, especially in the region of Liguria, and then spread
through Europe. It was introduced into England at the court of Mary II in the late 17th
century. Queen Mary taught the art of macramé to her ladies-in waiting.

Sailors made macramé objects in off hours while at sea, and sold or bartered them when
they landed, thus spreading the art to places like China and the New World. Nineteenth-
century British and American sailors made hammocks, bell fringes, and belts from
macramé. They called the process "square knotting" after the knot they used most
frequently. Sailors also called macramé "McNamara's lace".
 Macramé was most popular in the Victorian era. Sylvia's Book of Macramé Lace (1882),
a favorite, showed readers how "to work rich trimmings for black and coloured costumes,
both for home wear, garden parties, seaside ramblings, and balls—fairylike adornments
for household and underlines. Most Victorian homes were adorned by this craft.
Macramé was used to make household items such as tablecloths, bedspreads and curtains.
Though the craze for macramé faded, it regained popularity during the 1970s as a means
to make wall hangings, articles of clothing, bedspreads, small jean shorts, tablecloths,
draperies, plant hangers and other furnishings. By the early 1980s macramé had again
begun to fall out of fashion as a decoration trend.

Macramé jewelry has become popular among the American neohippie and grunge crowd,
starting in the early 1970s. Using mainly square knots and granny knots, this jewelry
often features handmade glass beads and natural elements such as bone and shell.
Necklaces, anklets and bracelets have become popular forms of macramé jewelry.
Macramé was used to make household items such as tablecloths, bedspreads and curtains.
Though the craze for macramé faded, it regained popularity during the 1970s as a means to
make wall hangings, articles of clothing, bedspreads, small jean shorts, tablecloths,
draperies, plant hangers and other furnishings.
https://www.google.com/search?q=macrame+knots&rlz=1C1KNTJ_enPH968PH968&sxsrf

TERMS USED IN MACRAME

1. Knotting Cords- these are working cords w\c are used to tie the macramé knots.
2. Filler cords- are usually additional cords and are also knot-bearing cords.
3. Holding cords\ring- the cords where one start to make the knots.
4. Working cords- the outside w\ which the knots are made.
5. Knot- bearing cords- the strengthening cords with w\c the knotting cords maybe tied.
6. Wrapping cords- usually made for hanging purposes.
7. Picot- small loops created by extending knotting cord beyond original pattern to form
ornamental edges.
8. Flat knots\ Solomon`s knot- knots w\c need for cords to be worked on two movements
alternately.
9. Half stitch- especially suited in making single or double horizontal, vertical or slanting bars.
Produce from a single cord and a double half-hitch on a pair of words.
10. Alternating cords- this consist of the eight half of one group of cords w\c are combined with
the left-half of neighboring groups of cords to form a new cord group centered below the original
two groups.
11. Spiral flat knots- works on a similar way as the straight flat knot. The movement differ
whereby the movements comes from one direction only rather than alternately.

BASIC MACRAMÉ KNOTS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOczXVaVNtM

Basic Macrame Knots: Step by Step

1. Lark's Head Knot
2. Square Knot.
3. Half Hitch.
4. Double Half Hitch.
5. How to Tie a Spiral Knot.
6. Watch a Video of Spiral Knot.
https://www.google.com/search?q=macrame+knots&rlz=1C1KNTJ_enPH968PH968&sxsrf

1. Lark’s Head Knot is a popular knot for attaching your macramé cords to a dowel or
ring.
1. Fold one macramé cord in half creating a loop.
2. Place the folded cord on working surface with loop pointing down and ends of cord pointing up.
3. Place your dowel (or ring) on top of the folded cord just above the loop.
4. Pull the loop up over the dowel (or ring).
5. Pull the cord ends up and through the loop, then pull down to tighten.

2. Reverse Lark’s Head knot (sometimes called the Cow Hitch Knot) is simply the Lark’s Head
knot as it appears from the reverse side. As these two knots are essentially the same, choosing to
use the Lark’s Head or the Reverse Lark’s Head knot is just a matter of personal preference.

1. Fold one macramé cord in half.

2. Place the folded cord on working surface with loop pointing up and ends of cord pointing down.
3. Place your dowel (or ring) on top of the folded cord just above the loop.
4. Pull the loop down over the dowel (or ring).
5. Pull the cord ends up and through the loop, then pull down to tighten.

3. Half Knots are often used to create a sinnet (remember the special term!). A sennit of Half Knots
creates a natural spiral often used in plant hanger projects.

The Half Knot is worked with four cords. The two outer cords are the knotting cords and the two
center cords are the knot-bearing cords.
. Bring the left knotting cord to the right over the two knot-bearing cords and underneath
the right knotting cord.
2. Bring the right knotting cord to the left under the two knot-bearing cords and over the
left knotting cord.
3. Pull knotting cords to secure the knot.

4. Square Knot is a continuation of the Half Knot. (The "half" refers to "half of the
square".) So you work the first part of the knot just like a half knot then you finish the
square by working another half knot using the opposite cords.

1. Work steps 1-3 as given above for the Half Knot.

2. Bring the right knotting cord to the left over the two knot-bearing cords and underneath the left
knotting cord.
3. Bring the left knotting cord to the right under the two knot-bearing cords and over the right
knotting cord.
4. Pull knotting cords to secure.

5.HALF HITCH KNOTS

There are several variations of the Half Hitch Knot. It can be worked horizontally, vertically and
diagonally and with a number of different knotting cords and knot-bearing cords for different
effect. Half Hitch Knots can also be worked from left-to-right or right-to-left. The ease and
versatility of this knot make it one of the most common macrame knots.

DOUBLE HALF HITCH

A double half hitch knot is simply two half hitch knots worked one after the other. This is
sometimes referred to as a “Clove Hitch”. All of the variations of the Half Hitch knot outlined below
can be worked as a double half-hitch by simply working the knotting steps twice.

HORIZONTAL HALF HITCH (LEFT TO RIGHT)

This example shows the left-most cord as the knot-bearer and next cord to the right as the knotting
cord. Which cords are designated for what purpose vary per design but should be indicated in your
project instructions.

HORIZONTAL HALF HITCH (RIGHT TO LEFT)

To work the horizontal half hitch from right to left, simply work as given above using the right-most
cord as the knot-bearing cord and the next cord to the left as the knotting cord.
Diagonal Half Hitch is worked almost exactly as the Horizontal Half Hitch, the difference being
the knot-bearing cord is held diagonally before the stitches are worked.

DIAGONAL HALF HITCH (RIGHT TO LEFT)

To work the diagonal half hitch from right to left, simply work as given above using the right-most
cord as the knot-bearing cord and the next cord to the left as the knotting cord.

VERTICAL DOUBLE HALF HITCH (LEFT TO RIGHT)

The vertical double half hitch is usually worked with a separate, long knotting cord worked
back and forth across several knot-bearing cords. A series of vertical half hitch knots creates
dense rows of vertical knots popular in wall hangings and projects that require a dense fabric.
This technique is a great way to add a contrast color into a project.

The example below shows a left-to-right vertical double half hitch.

1. Start with the knotting cord behind the knot-bearing cord(s) with a short end at the left and the
majority of the length of cord to the right (exact lengths should be indicated in your pattern)
2. Bring the long end of the knotting cord up and over the knot bearing cord, bringing it to the left.
3. Continuing with the long end of the knotting cord, bring it around the back of the knot-bearing
cord, threading it up through the space created between the two cords.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to complete vertical double half hitch.

VERTICAL DOUBLE HALF HITCH (RIGHT TO LEFT)

To work the vertical half hitch from right to left, simply work as given above with the short end of
the knotting cord at the right and the long end at the left.

OVERHAND KNOT
This is common everyday knot you have probably made a hundred times without thinking it had a
name! It is a good knot for securing cords for plant hangers or at the end of a braid.

1. Bring one end of the cord over the other, forming a loop
2. Bring the end of the cord which lies on top behind the loop and up and through
3. Tighten both ends of the cord to secure

6. GATHERING KNOT

A Gathering Knot (also known as Wrapping Knot or Gathering Wrap) is a neat and decorative way
to gather several cords together. This knot is often used at the very beginning or end of a plant
hanger project. A short length of cord is used as the knotting cord and several or all of the cords in a
project are the knot-bearing cords.

1. Fold a loop near one end of the knotting cord.

2. Place the loop on top of the knot bearing cords with the loop pointing up and the short end of
cord pointing down.
3. Holding the loop in place, wrap the long end of the knotting cord tightly around knot bearing
cords wrapping from the bottom up for desired length, leaving top of loop exposed above wraps.
4. Bring end of knotting cord at top of wrap through the loop.
5. Pull bottom end of knotting cord to draw loop down into the wrap.
6. Trim exposed ends of knotting cord close to wrap.
Online References

https://www.google.com/search?
q=macrame+knots&rlz=1C1KNTJ_enPH968PH968&sxsrfhttps://
www.thesprucecrafts.com/what-is-macrame-4770893
http://www.ancientearthhealing.com/history-of-macrame/
http://www.olgasmacrame.com/basic-knots
https://www.slideshare.net/stephanieVisto/macrame-by-stephanie-visto?from_action=save

Materials used in Macrame

Materials used in macramé include cords made of cotton twine, linen, hemp, jute, leather or
yarn. Cords are identified by construction, such as a 3-ply cord, made of three lengths of fiber
twisted together.

Natural Materials
Natural materials are still very popular choices for Macrame. They have very different
qualities than synthetic materials, which you need to know if you plan to use them.

This page contains a description of the most common natural cord materials available
today. That includes Hemp, Jute, Cotton, Leather, Flax and Silk. Yarns made with
natural fibers are also on this page.

The information includes common sizes, general and unique properties, styles available,
and price range.

NATURAL means the cords are made from plants or animals.

SYNTHETIC means the material is made with a chemical process. Those materials are
listed on a separate page, called Synthetic Materials. Click on the link to view that
page.

Hemp Material

Of all the natural materials used for Macrame, Hemp twine

is the most popular.

The natural color is light brown, shown here in the back.

Dyed hemp comes in single or mixed colors.

Hemp Facts:

Hemp materials are made from the outer bark of the Cannabis Sativa plant species,
which is one of the fastest growing plants. Sometimes called "Industrial Hemp", this
material was first spun into fiber 10,000 years ago.

The plants don't usually require chemicals or pesticides, making it one the cleanest
natural materials in use today. Materials made from the fibers include paper, clothing,
biodegradable plastic, food, paint, and biofuel.

HEMP BASICS has a page filled with facts about Hemp and all the many products it can
produce. I encourage you to read it.

Hemp comes in three forms: Twine, Cord and Yarn. They each have different
properties, so I will describe them separately.

Size: Hemp TWINE is sold by weight, and that can get

confusing if you are looking for a specific width.

This image shows 20# dyed Hemp, which is usually 1.5mm

wide. This is the size most often used for Micro-Macrame
jewelry.

Common Hemp Twine sizes (varies by manufacturer):

(# = pound)

 10# = 0.75 to 1mm

 20# = 1mm to 1.5mm
 48# = 2mm to 2.5mm
 170# = 3mm to 3.5mm

Hemp CORD is usually 1mm to 3mm in diameter, and it's described by size rather than
weight. Size 3mm is often called "Spring Cord" because it's sometimes used in the
construction of spring mattresses.

Hemp YARN ranges from double knit weight (1mm) to worsted weight (2mm).
Material less than 1mm is sometimes available (lace weight).
Properties: Hemp fibers are resistant to mold and mildew, which makes it different
from the other natural materials.

Hemp YARN is strong and flexible, but not like yarn for knitting. It's similar to cotton in
the way it bends. It produces really nice, tight knots that hold their shape.

Hemp TWINE is just as flexible, and a good choice for tight knot patterns.

Hemp CORD is less flexible, and you may find tightening some knots a challenge when
using it.
 Natural materials made with Hemp are supposed to be
smooth, as shown in this image. Good quality Hemp will be
comfortable on the skin.

All three types should have a slight sheen in bright light.

Don't purchase any material that's dry and flaky.

Style: Hemp YARN is made from 2 or more fibers twisted

together.

You can find it in the natural brown color, or bleached

white (with peroxide). Colored Hemp yarn is also available,
but harder to find.

Hemp TWINE is also made with several fibers, but usually has more than the yarn. It
can be found in many different colors and patterns.

Hemp CORD starts out as yarn, made with several fibers twisted together. Then the
yarns are twisted together to form the cord. So it's double twisted, which makes it
much stronger. It's not easy to find, and usually is the natural brown color.
Unique Qualities: It's a good practice to keep all natural materials in plastic bags or
wrapped in some way, so they don't become too dry. When you use Hemp twine,
applying beeswax will help to provide moisture.

Hemp materials that are too dry will become brittle, and the material will feel rough.
You'll see small pieces sticking out or flaking off. Avoid using any materials with poor
quality, because you won't have good results.

Hemp is biodegradable, so any Macrame projects that stay outdoors should be covered
and protected from rain and sun.

Price: The price for Hemp YARN is around $21.00 per roll (US dollars). The amount in
the rolls will vary depending on the weight/size, but it's usually at least 200 yards. It's
well worth the price if you can find a supplier.

Hemp TWINE is sold in smaller quantities, with rolls containing 100 - 150 yards. The
price ranges between $5.00 to $10.00 per roll (for 20# Hemp).

Hemp CORD is usually $9.00 to $12.00 per roll, depending on the size. The amount per
roll is usually 75 to 100 yards.

Cotton Materials
 Cotton cord remains one of the most common natural
materials for Macrame and related crafts. It's a very clean
fiber, and hypo-allergenic.

Cotton fibers are easy to dye, so the materials come in many

colors. The natural color is creamy white.

Cotton Facts:

Cotton is currently the world's most used natural fiber. Every part of the plant can be
used in some manner.

The short fibers (lint) are used to make paper and medical supplies. The seeds are used
to make food (cottonseed oil), cosmetics, paint, candles, soap, and much more. The
longer fibers are mostly cellulose, and are used to make thread, cord, and fabric.
Size: Cotton cord (also called twine) comes in many sizes, and it's sold by ply or
weight. It's difficult to determine the actual width unless you measure it.

These are approximate sizes because cord materials vary by manufacturer:

 Size 5 = 0.75mm (Used for embroidery)

 Size 9 = 1mm (Most popular size for Micro-Macrame)

 Size 18 = 1.5mm

 Size 30 = 2mm

 Size 72 = 3mm

 16-ply = 3.5mm

 24-ply = 4mm

 Cotton cords 5mm or wider are considered ROPES.

Properties: Of all the natural materials used in Macrame, Cotton is the most versatile.
You can use it for fine jewelry all the way up to large items like hammocks and hanging
tables.

Cotton is the softest of all the natural materials. But one thing people don't like is that it
can be a little fuzzy, depending on the style.

Cotton cord is very strong and flexible. It can be washed and dried, but can shrink.
Macrame handbags and clothing should be washed by hand and air dried.

This material produces uniform, tight knots. There's very little stretching, which is
important when making items to hold weight.

The strength of cotton increases when it's wet. But it can't stay that way, or it will
become rotten. Cotton is affected by sunlight, which can turn the color yellow and
cause it to degrade.

When using the material for outdoor items, keep them covered and inspect the material
regularly for signs of rot or breaking.

This is the Hammock Chair, one of the most popular

patterns on Free Macrame Patterns.

Cotton rope is the best natural material you can use to

make it. Synthetic materials also work well.

Style: Cotton twine is usually formed by twisting multiple

fibers together.

Crochet cotton is loosely twisted, so is more flexible than

standard material. It also stretches a bit more.

You can use it in Micro-Macrame projects where you need a

soft material and very tight knots.

Cotton Cable cord is different than the twine in that it is

composed of three small cords or "cables" twisted together.

It's not as smooth as twisted style, and it's a challenge to

make tight knots.
 Cotton comes in braided form, too. It's usually waxed
or polished to make it smoother.

The material shown here is 1.5mm, which is the size

most often sold for jewelry making and beading.

Jute Twine

Of all the natural materials available for Macrame, Jute

twine is the least popular.

It's really hard to find a good quality Jute material,

which will be the same width all the way through the
roll. It will also be clean, with a slight sheen.

This is poor quality Jute, which is dry and brittle.

Pieces of plant matter can easily be seen, and the cord will
have thick and thin areas.

I recommend you obtain a sample before purchasing Jute.

Jute Facts:

Jute is a plant high in cellulose and wood fiber. It is spun into coarse threads
which are compressed and twisted to form cords.

Most fabric made with Jute fiber is used to make inexpensive burlap sacks,
carpets, furniture, canvas, etc. Jute fibers are sometimes combined with other
materials to make clothing and household furnishings.

One of the things people like is it's fuzzy nature. Good

quality Jute will have SMALL tendrils like in this
image.

Colored Jute is hard to find, but online stores that

carry packaging supplies may have it.

Size: The natural materials are often sold by how many fibers make up the cord
which is called PLY.
With Jute, the sizes are described both by ply and weight, which makes things
very confusing. The size also differs by manufacturer.

Here's the best information I could find online:

 2-ply Medium weight = 1.5 to 2mm

 3-ply Medium weight = 2.5mm to 3mm
 4-ply Medium weight = 3.5mm to 4mm
 4-ply Heavy weight = 5mm to 6mm

Properties: This coarse material is strong, and surprisingly flexible, even in the
heavy weight size. The medium weights produce tight knots. The heavy weight
requires more effort, but the knots are still fairly tight.

The strength of Jute will decrease if it is wet. It's also biodegrades quickly.
That's why it's not the best option for projects that remain outdoors.

The most challenging issue with Jute cord is finding good quality material.

This All Natural Owl was made with 4-ply medium

weight Jute.

The quality of the material was the best I've ever seen
(excellent).

Style: Jute twine is a twisted style material. You will find it in the natural brown
color in most cases.

Colored Jute (dyed) can sometimes be found, but in limited colors.

Unique Qualities: Make sure you protect Jute from sun and moisture, even if
it's indoors.

I recommend keeping the material wrapped up when not in use, because even
the best quality Jute will flake somewhat.
Price: The average price for large rolls is $25.00 for 200 yards (US dollars).

Small rolls of 50 - 100 yards range in price from $5.00 to $10.00.

Linen Cord
 Linen cord is a unique fiber made from the Flax plant.

It's not as common as the other natural materials.

Since it's used primarily for jewelry, online stores
sometimes carry it.

Flax Linen Facts:

The cellulose fibers just beneath the bark of the flax

plant (stem) are first harvested, then spun into threads
and yarns. They are then used to make clothing,
bedding, and household items.

As you can see, the fibers are soft and silky.

Properties: Flax Linen is the strongest of all the natural materials made from
plants. It's unique in that it gets stronger when wet. It can last for hundreds of
years without degrading.

It's anti-static properties help it resist stain and dust.

Style: Flax linen cord is usually a twist-style material.
It is very flexible, and produces tight knots.

The natural color is usually gray, yellow-gold or

brown. You can find it in a variety of colors as well.

Waxed Linen cord is a great option for beading and

Micro-Macrame.

Flax cord material will sometimes have a flat profile,

similar to lacing.

You can still tie knots with this form, but you need to
work with the cord a little bit more, so it folds and
bends neatly.

Unique Qualities: Linen cord is recommended for people with sensitive skin,
since it's so smooth and compatible with our skin. It also is non-allergenic.
Price: Make sure when you search for it online you look for cord rather than
yarn.

Both waxed and natural variations are usually priced at $5.00 to $8.00 for 25 to
50 yards.
 Silk Cord
Natural materials can be made from animals.

Silk is made from the moth larvae called the Silkworm,

which used to be native to northern China.

Each cocoon is made of a continuous thread of raw silk

filament 1,000 - 2,000 feet long.
Silk Facts:

In ancient China, Silk was used in clothing, art, and decorations. It was a luxury
material back then, just as it is now.

It takes around 3,000 cocoons to make 1 yard/meter of fabric.

Synthetic materials were developed to replace silk, due to it's increased cost
after World War ll. Several countries still produce authentic silk, but it remains
expensive.
Size: Silk cord, often called thread, is such a fine material that it's primarily used
for jewelry.

These are approximate size/width comparisons:

 Size 1 = 0.3mm (sewing thread)

 Size 3 = 0.5 (beading thread)
 Size 7 = 0.75mm (Micro-Macrame)
 Size 16 = 1mm (Micro-Macrame)
 Silk in 2mm size is usually sold by single strands, 1 yard/meter in length.

Silk YARN is usually 1mm to 2mm i

http://www.free-macrame-patterns.com/natural-materials.html

Macrame Patterns
 By STACY FISHER

1. Macrame Plant Hanger Create a classic macrame plant hanger that you can hang indoors or out.
It's a classic design that even uses its own cording to create the hoop that it will hang by.

2. Macrame Wall Hanging is an easy DIY project that will add a handmade touch to any room
in your home. This free tutorial will help you create a wall hanging with a lot of interesting
patterns, such as spirals and triangles. Don't be afraid to change it up to make it your own.

3. Macrame Laptop Mat

4. Macrame necklace -leather lace, some string, and fabric dye, you can make
this stunning macrame necklace. Customize this quick afternoon project by
changing the color of the dye or leaving it undyed for a more boho look.

5. DIY Macrame feathers - feather uses one basic knot: the lark's head knot. ...
Wrap it around the cord and bring the ends through the loop to create a larks head .

6. Macrame Jar Hangers with Fairy Lights

 7. macrame curtain design

Hey Lila Hey

ACTIVITY 1
1. Practice the different basic knots in macrame using cotton twine or cord.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOczXVaVNtM

Tools and Materials Needed

1. Cotton macrame cord or twine

2. Wood or metal dowel, or equivalent tree branch or drift wood (for a more organic
natural look), if you're doing wall art.
3. Hanging ring if creating a plant hanger.
 4. Scissors.
5. Tape measure.

Activity 2
Make a hanging plants by using the different macrame knots.

Rubrics:
Creativity -----------------30%
Accuracy --------------------30%
Style -------------------------20%
Timeliness ------------------20%
____________
100%