Flower Pendant Instructions

Step-by-step instruction

For the chain and frame you will need 4 nylon cords 3 m (3,5 yards) each, for the flowers and leaves – 3 (or 2) cords 3 m each and 2 thinner cords 2 m (2,3 yards) each. Also you will need a frame (plastic, wooden or metal), oval or round, about 3 inches in height and 2 inches of width.

1. Making chain and frame

Double the first 4 cords and fix centers to cushion. Make a chain in both directions from center. You can use Square knots, Spiral braid, Chain braid or alternate different knots. Choose the length of chain of your liking (I made approximately 50 cm). Fix the ends of cords on frame with Double Half Hitch knots and alternating cords, twine the frame round.

2. Making Flowers (Pics 1-2) Take 3 threads 3 m each (or 2 cords for more narrow leaves), double them and fix to cushion close to each other. Make a Chain braid with each 2 ends of about 18-20 Loop knots. Then put all ends together and make 4 rows of Horizontal Hitches, directing a base thread to the left. In the 5th row leave an edge right cord aside and make a shorter Hitch. In the next rows also leave edge cords aside, until in the last row you will have only two ends. Make a Double Half Hitch knot.	Pic.1

Pic.2	Now start making Hitches, directing to the right, adding by turns all the cords that you left aside earlier. After all this, you will have one Flower petal. Make 5 of them, braiding Hitches back and forward. Round them in the shape of a Flower, and fix with needle and thin thread. Analogically make a smaller flower, making 2 Horizontal Hitches to the right, then 2 to the left.

3. Making Leaves (Pic. 3) The leaves are a continuation of the flowers that we started in the previous step. Take those 6 (or 4) ends and make 8 Horizontal Hitches to the left, leave one edge right cord aside and make 3-5 more Hitches, then leave one more right edge cord out, etc. Repeat 3-5 times, then start making Horizontal Hitches to the left – symmetrically to the side you already have. You can connect inside edges with couple stitches (use needle and thin thread). Set aside for now.	Pic.3

Pic.4	4. Making small flowers (Pic. 4) Take one of the thinner cords, double it and fix to cushion. Make a Spiral braid of about 10 Flat knots, then make 8 The Picot Frivolité Knots and round them in the shape of a Flower. Then make a Spiral braid again. Repeat this step 4 times – you will have a line of 4 tiny flowers. Set aside as well.

5. Making small leaves (Pic.5) Take a second thin cord, double it and fix to cushion. Make a Chain braid of about 12 Loop knots. Continue with The Square Knot braid with Picots. 6-7 pairs of Picots will be enough. Then make a short Spiral braid.	Pic.5

Pic.6	6. Arranging the Pendant’s pattern (Pic. 6) You are free to arrange all of your flowers and leaves on frame as you wish (or you can repeat my arrangement). Anyway, it is almost impossible to create two identical pendants. Sew all elements to frame with needle and thin thread. Gather all the ends together in lower part of frame and fix them to your frame also. Make Capuchin knots on the ends of cords and cut off extra cord. Also you can color your pendant with any fabric dye, applying it with small brush (I used purple color).

The pattern and images used for this work were taken from the book of Anna Krauze, "Macrame", 1987, Uzbekistan.

Macrame Flower Pendant

Step-by-step instruction