Macrame items look beautiful, but often too complicated and hard to do. You won't believe it, but the design of the most macrame works is built up from the different combinations of a few basic knots! There are few of them. Once you become familiar with these knots, you will be able to create absolutely any project you want!
1. Square Knot
Step 1
This knot consists of two Flat knots, tied in different directions. Mount two threads, so it will appear four ends.
Work with the two edge ends (working cords), two center ones are base cords.
Put the left end above the center threads, and the right end - under them. You've just tied the Flat Knot.
Step 2
Now repeat the Step 1, but start with the right working cord. Tighten the threads by pulling on the ends. Here you have the Square Knot!
2. Hitches
Step 1
The Hitches (or Clove knot, Clove Hitch knot) can be horizontal, vertical or diagonal. It depends on the direction of base thread (if you will place it flat or diagonally, at an angle).
Let's start with the Horizontal Hitch. Pull the left edge cord to the right above all other cords (it will be a base thread). Make on it the Double Half Hitch with the second cord. Then tie the Double Half Hitch with the third cord, etc.
This is a scheme of the Double Half Hitch knot - the main knot in Macrame (in my opinion).
Step 2
After you have tied every cord in a line, you will have a Horizontal Hitch. Place an edge cord flat above other cords again, like in the Step 1. Make a second row of the Double Half Hitches. You can repeat it as many times, as you want. The Hitch pattern is used in Macrame very often.
If you will place the base thread at an angle, you will create a Diagonal Hitch, which is very similar to the Horizontal Hitch.
3. Vertical Hitch
This kind of Hitches makes a very dense work and usually is used for making belts, other accessories, and also rugs and wall decor.
Base threads are placed vertically. Make a Double Half Hitch on each base thread - starting with the outmost left cord (it is going to be our working thread and it should be at least 6 times longer than the base threads). Always place the base thread on top of the working thread. Continue making Double half Hitches from the left to the right. Then go in opposite direction - from the right to the left - and so on.
4. Loop Knot
It is very easy to make the Loop Knot. Just make a loop with one cord on another cord - like it is shown on the 1st picture. You can continue tying loops on the same cord, or on both cords by turns - like on the 2nd picture).
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Take a look at this lace you can make with these Loop Knots!
Following knots are not considered basic Macrame knots, but are being used more or less frequently.
5. Frivolité or Lark's Head Knots
The Frivolité knot (sometimes called the Lark's head knot) is usually used for garnishing the edges of Macrame pieces. First, fix a base thread (green on the pictures). Next, make a loop around it with the working cord (orange), then pull the cord under the base thread. Make another loop, pull the cord above the base thread and under the cord's loop. Tighten the knot.
Just remeber - working cord goes UP, UNDER, UNDER, UP the base cord.
You can leave a small loops between each two Lark's Head knots and fix them with a pin. You will have a Picot Frivolite.
6. Capuchin / Barrel Knot
The Capuchin Knot often is tied on the ends of tassels. It makes them very neat and trim.
Make about 4-6 loops with the end of the cord, as it is shown on the 1st picture. Pull the end and make knot tight. Then cut the extra thread under the knot.
7. Long Barrel knot
Similiar to the previos knot, just longer (around 2"). Great for finishing ends of cords in such items as wallhangings, plant hangers etc.
To make a nice long Barrel knot, fold the cord the way that one end is at least 5 times longer than the length of the finished knot – around 10”. Wrap the longer end 7-10 times tightly around both cords starting from top.
Then pull the end through the loop at the bottom. Then tighten the knot, holding it at a top and pulling it slightly down (in sliding motion). This may require some practice!
Cut off the extra cord.
8. Wind Knot
Macrame tassel Knot This knot is used for gathering many threads together, mostly at the end of work, and creating a tassel. Place additional thread (green on 1st picture), doubled, above all cords. Then wind the longest cord around the other cords (from bottom to top). Pull the end through the loop of the additional thread. Then draw the thread down and, if necessarily, hide the short end of cord in the tassel.
Another way of making the Wind knot.
9. The Clear Edge Method
This method is often used for finishing a macrame work, if you don't want to leave tassels.
The edge thread is used as a base. Make on it the Double Half Hitch with next thread, and then add the working thread to the first base thread. Create the Double Half Hitch with the next working thread - now on two base threads. Continue until you gather all threads in one bundle. Cut the ends off.
10. The Connecting Knot
This knot is useful for connecting two or more threads. It also can be used in Macrame Fishnet.
