Project Info:

We use 0.5mm Chinese Knotting Cord in this Skill Builder and Sampler, but lots of stringing materials are great for Macramé! Check out our Stitchionary for more information on all our Stringing Materials.

Level: All Levels

Estimated time: Improve Your Technique

More Info

Refer to Map

How to Macramé

Silver Lining- 0.5mm

Straw- 0.5mm

Coral- 0.5mm

Portofino- 0.5mm

Boysenberry- 0.5mm

8-4201 Duracoat Galvanized Silver

Deep Dish Project Tray

Project Tray Inserts

Quantity

$10.25 USD

Color

Thread Snips

Perfect End Thread Burner

Project Map

The macramé square knot is one of the most useful stitches we know and we use it constantly to start and finish wrap bracelets. It is a wonderful way of securing your thread to begin and end a laddering project and to make a button loop.

In this Skill Builder we go over 5 Macramé Knot Basics that we use most often in our projects and tutorials. An added bonus? Make all five of these into a fun stack to actually wear...Skill Builder and Project in one! Gorgeous.

First up is your Basic Macramé. No beads, no fuss, just full square knots. You see us use this stitch in so many projects, it's the building block of what's to come. The linked handout above goes over this specific stitch. In Kate's video, she uses Silver Lining 0.5 CKC demonstrate this knot.

Second, we'll look at what we call Bollywood Macramé. This method adds beads in an off-center pattern. String your beads onto only ONE strand of your macramé cords, secure with an overhand knot to keep them from falling off. Each time you tie a knot with that thread, move one bead up and secure it within the knot. This creates the off-set pattern originally seen in our Bollywood Bracelets. In Kate's video, she uses Straw 0.5 CKC demonstrate this knot.

Third is a similar knot, but this time we will add beads to both strands, allowing for a different look. This way, your beads will end up directly across from each other. Move one bead up per strand with each knot. You can also tie some knots without beads, to increase the spacing, if you like. Lots of options! See how Janice has used this technique in Color Study. In Kate's video, she uses Coral 0.5 CKC demonstrate this knot.

Fourth, our Macramé With A Twist. With one knotting cord longer than the other, you'll tie the same macraméhalf-hitch knot over and over again with only the long cord (a series of all Ps or all Qs, depending on which way you'd like to do it) creating a spiral. We don't often add beads here, but you can! Kate used this twisting technique inn her Trail of Stars necklace set. In Kate's video, she uses Portofino 0.5 CKC demonstrate this knot.

Finally, the Tunnel, or sometimes you hear us refer to it as the Beaded Bridge. Adding beads through both cords as you knot, these beads will sit on top of your center cords instead of along the edges. Again, feel free to keep some knots bead-free to create space between the beaded sections! Janice has used this style in her Bryce Canyon wrap. In Kate's video, she uses Boysenberry 0.5 CKC demonstrate this knot.