MACRAME

INTRODUCTION TO MACRAME

Macramé, the art of ornamental knotting, originated as a decorative way of securing the
ends of a piece of woven fabric, creating lace edge. Later macramé was worked separately and
attached to both household items and garments as a trimming. By the Victorian era, entire items,
such as tablecloths, bedspreads, and curtain, were made of macramé.

The word macramé is derived from the Arabic word migramah, which translates as towel
or shawl or the fringe on either one. It now means the process itself, regardless of the finished
item.

There is some evidence that macramé fringes were used in Arabia as early as the
thirteenth century. From there, the art of macramé spread very quickly. The Spanish learned it
from the Moors; from Spain the technique spread to Italy and to France. The use of Macramé for
clothing decoration in these countries is documented in paintings. In England, Queen Mary, wife
of William of Orange, taught her ladies-in-waiting to macramé.

British and American sailors are credited with perpetuating the craft. It was known as
McNamara’s Lace or Square Knotting to sailors because of the predominance of square knots in
their work. The Sailors knotted to while away the long hours at sea, and then used the belts,
hammocks, and bottle covers they had made for barter when they went ashore.

KINDS OF CORDS

1. Natural-fiber cords
- Are used most often in macramé. Cotton, linen and jute are some of the most
popular natural materials because they are readily available, knot easily, have
the requisite strength, come in a variety of weights and colors and can be
dyed. Jute I s not colorfast, so it should not be made into a project that will be
used outdoors.
- Certain wool yarns can be used if they are fairly regular in texture and are
fairly regular in texture and are not too elastic; weaving wools are better than
knitting wools. Silk cord producers a beautiful knot but it is expensive and not
always easy to obtain.

2. Synthetic-fiber cords
- Include acrylic and polyester, which knot easily and are weather- resistant.
They are usually available in bright colors, and can also be dyed. Nylon and
rayon are silky, shiny fivers that tend to slip during knotting and so are best
used by experienced knitters. Synthetic are often combined with natural fibers
to gibe added strength and durability to a cord.
3. Construction of the cord
- Is another way to group macramé cords. Most cords are constructed of several
lengths of fibers tightly twisted together. Each length is called ply.

4. Cords with regular texture

- Are best suited for macramé. They can be thick or thin, smooth or rough, but
their thickness should not vary and they should not be nubby.

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES IN MACRAME

a. KNOTTING BOARD
b. C-CLAMP
 c. PINS
d. WORKING BASE
e. FOAM PILLOW
f. RULER AND SCISSORS
g. CORD OR TWINE

TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS IN MACRAME

TERMS IN MACRAME

 Mounting Cord
 The support on which the other cords are tied.

 Knotting Cords
 The cords that are actually tied in any given knot

 Anchor Cords
 Those cords within a knot that are not tied, as in the center of a
square knot.

 Holding Cord or Knot-Bearing Cord

 A cord on which other cords are tied, as in the double half hitch
knot.

 Floating cord
 Any cords within a design that are not knotted; areas of
floating cords contrast nicely with knotted areas.

 Sennit
 A chain made up of a series of one kind of knot.

ABBREVIATION IN MACRAME

ask - alternating square knot

ddhh - diagonal double half hitch
dhh - double half hitch
hdhh - horizontal double half hitch
hk - half knot
hc - holding cord
jk - Josephine knot
lh - lark’s head knot
ok - overhead knot
rlh - reverse lark’s head knot
sk - square knot
vdhh - vertical double half hitch

BASIC MACRAME KNOTS

1. LARK’S HEAD KNOT

 Is a mounting knot, because macramé knots must be tied under tension,
the cords are mounted on a support, such as a length of cord, a dowel, or a
ring.

2. LARK’S HEAD SENNIT

  A chain of Lark’s heads knots worked vertically is called a Lark’s Head
Sennit. The anchor cord can be made up of more than one strand. A sennit
can be worked with the left cord tied around the right cord or the right
cord can be tied around the left cord.

3. DOUBLE HALF HITCH

 The double half hitch, also called the clove hitch and the square knot are
the two basic knots used in macramé.

4. SQUARE KNOT
 One of the two fundamental macramé knots; the other is the double half
hitch. The basic square knot is tied with four cords; the two inside cords
are anchor cords, the two outside cords are knotting cords.

5. ALTERNATING SQUARE KNOT

 Pattern is formed by exchanging the knotting cords and anchor cords in
succeeding rows of square knot.

6. BOBBLE
 A three-dimensional knot formed by pulling a square knot chain up and
through itself. The knot can be used for additional surface texture on a flat
macramé piece, or as a button closure on a vest or belt.
7. GATHERING SQUARE KNOT
 Is one that uses multiple cords; it is worked at a point in a design where it
is desirable to have many cords come together. This knot is tied on same
way as the square knot.

ADDITIONAL TECHNIQUES IN MACRAME

 OVERHAND KNOT
 Is the simplest of the additional knots used in macramé; it is the
same knot that is tied at the end of a length of sewing thread.

 PICOTS
 Are decorative elements added to macramé either along the top
edge or at the sides.

 CAVANDOLI WORK
 Is a technique that consists of closely worked horizontal and
vertical double half hitches in two colors; horizontal knots are used
for the background and vertical knots form the design. The
technique originated in Italy where it was taught to young school
children.

 JOSEPHINE KNOT
 Is also known as the Carrick Bend. It can be made small or large
depending on the number of cords used.

 BERRY KNOT
 Also known as the hobnail is another knot that adds surface texture
to a macramé piece. The berry knot is a variation of the double half
hitch knot