The art of braiding strings into specific patterns is becoming more and more popular. Macrame is a popular interior design accessory that was popular in the 1970s. Today it returns to showrooms in great style, gaining the support of interior decorators and arrangement specialists. Macrame weaving is, on the one hand, a way to create stylish accessories, and on the other hand, it is a pleasant, stress-relieving activity. For this reason, the number of people who want to learn how to make macrame is constantly growing. We meet them halfway. We advise you what materials you should gather and show you how to make your first hand-made macrame.
DIY macrame – necessary materials
To start your adventure with macrame, you should equip yourself with:
- string (when starting to play with handicrafts, it is worth choosing a 5 mm thick twisted cotton string. The string can be of any color. The most popular are natural shades of off-white, beige, brown and shades of green and gray);
- stick or bar;
- sharp scissors, preferably tailor's scissors, 21-23 cm long. Scissors are an important tool used not only for preparing materials, but also for finishing macrame;
- a tailor's tape measure for accurate measuring of strings;
- adhesive tape, needed to secure the ends of twisted strings;
- a brush or comb for possible combing of macrame elements.
It may happen that not all tools will be necessary to complete a given project, but when starting your adventure with macrame, it is worth having them at hand.
How to calculate the length of a string?
Before starting the project, you should measure and cut the string appropriately. Even simple macrame requires a significant amount of material. How to calculate demand exactly? It is assumed that the final length of the strands should be multiplied by 2 and 4. If the macrame is to be 0.5 meters long, we need strings 4 meters long. Then we fold them in half and braid them on the rod.
Macrame DIY – tutorial
This article is intended for beginners who want to create their first handicraft and have decided that it will be macrame. How to make your first project? We will try to answer this question. It is certainly worth choosing a simple pattern to start with, the creation of which requires only knowing the basic knots.
Macrame tutorial
To complete the project, you will need 16 pieces of twisted cotton string, 5 mm thick and 2.5 m long (40 meters of string in total), as well as a stick or stick at least 32 cm long. You will need scissors and a tape measure. Remember to properly prepare your work space. Macrame weaving is a time-consuming task, so it is worth ensuring a comfortable position. Hang the bar on a hook or attach it to a chair. And get to work!
Fastening loops
Macrame weaving begins by creating sixteen attachment loops with the back. To make a single loop, fold the string in half, pass the resulting loop over the stick and thread the end of the string through it. It is worth making sure that the loops are not too tightly spaced and at similar distances. This is a recipe for ensuring that the final design is aesthetic and even.
A triangle made of weaving knots
Then, create a triangle-shaped mesh made of flat knots, also known as weaving knots, placed next to each other. A flat knot is made of two fastening loops placed next to each other, i.e. four strings. The two middle strings will remain in place and the two outer strings will act as wrapping strings. To create a flat knot, take the string from the left side and pass it horizontally in front of the other strings. We run the final string underneath and pass it behind the middle strings that form the core. We pass the end of this string through the loop created by the left string. Similarly, we create a second half-knot starting from the string on the right.
We create the first row of flat nodes next to each other. In each subsequent row, we must remember that the knot should start between the two higher knots. This way we will create a triangle that decreases downwards. We reach the point where there is only one node in the row.
Oblique rib nodes
Then we proceed to create two rows of oblique rib nodes. Rib knots are very popular and quite simple. You need two strings to make them. One of them will be the leading string (the subsequent strings are wound around it), the other will be the binding string (the leading string is wrapped around it, creating knots). To make a rib knot, take the string on the left and pass it diagonally down over the string on the right. We wrap the string on the right side around the leading string at the back and pull its end through the resulting loop. Tighten two loops of the binding string on each leading string. Then one oblique rib node is created. Knots should be tightened close to flat knots. We create a row of rib knots from the left side to constitute created a frame for a triangle made of flat nodes. The last knot on this side is made in the place of a single weaving knot located at the lowest point of the net. Then start creating rib knots from the right side to finish the other edge of the triangular mesh. In this way, we make two rows of oblique rib knots.
Weaving knots diagonally
The next stage of DIY macrame is to create a net of weaving knots placed diagonally. We create the first knot in a standard way, we weave each subsequent knot using two strings from the first knot and two from the next one. Knots are made from the left along the rib nodes, up to the lowest weave. Then it starts from the right side to close the frame.
The next stages of DIY macrame
After creating several rows of flat knots, you should again make a row of diagonal rib knots, which will create a frame for the woven mesh. Then cut the freely hanging strings to the desired length. We recommend doing this to maintain the triangular shape at the bottom of the macrame. In this way, you can weave a simple macrame using only two types of knots.
A very popular model is triple macrame. How to make this kind?
Just divide the fastening loops into three parts and treat them as separate pieces. You can create a minimalist design using the technique learned in this tutorial. We encourage you to experiment and create your own patterns.