Basic Knotting In Macramé

How to do the knotting in Macrame? The basics

Is it easy to learn macramé knotting? The answer is yes.

Macramé is nothing but various knots on ropes. Once you master the knots, you can make anything. The knots are very easy to learn. By learning only two basic knots, you can make a variety of things. You just need to make these knots uniformly, with even tension.

Basic Knots used in Macrame

The three most important knots in macramé are Lark’s head knot, Square knot, and Single or Double hitch knot. Other knots used are Alternating square knot, Wrapping knot, Berry knot, and Barrel knot.

Lark’s head knot

It’s an easy knot with which you attach cords to a ring, string or a stick/dowel.Most macramé works are attached to a dowel or ring or hoop using lark’s head knot or reverse lark’s head knot.
A single cord is folded in half and the looped part is placed over the dowel or ring to attach the cord

Read more about making a Lark’s head knot here.

Square Knot

Second knot that is most often used in macrame is a Square knot. This knot is one of the basic knots with which many macrame projects are done. The square knot needs four strands, ie, two cords folded in two. A variant of the square knot is the half square knot. A series of continuous half square knots make a spiral cord.

Read more about making a Square knot here.

Half Hitch Knot

A half hitch knot is another one of the basic cords. Half hitch knots are also called clove hitch knots. There are single half hitch and double half hitch. They are the most common knots used to make straight and diagonal patterns. The minimum requirement to make a single or double hitch knot is a single cord folded into two.

Half hitch knots can be done in a straight line or diagonally as the design demands it.

Read more about making Half hitch knot here.

Once you master these three knots, you can master

Supplies needed for knotting macramé?

You can start doing Macrame with nothing but some pieces of cord. Macrame Cords are available in different colors as well as different thicknesses. The main criteria in selecting cords are that it doesnot stretch and there is enough for the project (the knotting takes up a lot of the cord) and it is evenly textured.

What cords should NOT be used for Macrame?

This is the premier most question. You do not want to end up frustrated when your threads do not knot properly, or they do not stay knotted and keep slipping, break easily with the repeated knotting process, unravel midway, look knobbly in some places, etc.

Cords with lots of stretch – For eg. acrylic knitting yarns. Not suitable! Even wool knitting yarns are not suitable. Too much stretch to work properly.

Cords with uneven texture – If you select cords that have different thickness along the length, your project will look uneven and even unattractive.

Cords that are not color safe – For eg. jute cords do not take color very well. So even if they are dyed, the colors may run. So you have to be careful with it around water/moisture. Better to use Jute in its natural color.

Thin synthetic thread – These are usually made of rayon – it is not easy to knot them. It is very pretty but the work will be tedious. Midway the knot will slip and you will end up frustrated. One way out is to dampen the thread to build up some resistance.

Choices in Macrame cords/string

Natural cords include cotton, linen, jute and Synthetic cords made of polyester, nylon, rayon and acrylic are the usual choices. Then there are leather cords. T-shirt yarn. Thicker projects call for thick Ropes.

Macramé cords come in different sizes of diameter. Small macrame cords are usually 1-2 mm diameter in size. Medium ones are 3mm to 5mm. Most of the macrame projects are done with this size. Large macrame cords are 6mm and above in diameter and are used to make large projects

Cotton cord

The most common cord used in macrame is the cotton cord. There are 3 types of cotton cord

1.Single twist macramé cord

2.3-ply twisted macrame cord

3.Braided cord.

Twisted or three ply cord

It is made of three single strands of fibers twisted together to make one big strand or rope.

Single twist macramé cord

Single strand cord is the easiest to work with and fringes nicely.

Braided Cord

In this cord, the strands are plaited instead of twisted. Eg. Venetian blind cord. When you see a braided cord, you will be tempted by its beauty. But braided cord is not the most ideal cord for all your macramé projects. Braided cords give you a strong hold when you tie them with various knots but they are very difficult to fringe.

Thread for Macrame jewelry

You can use synthetic threads made of rayon or silk for making macrame jewelry ; it is very pretty. These threads have a sheen which will make your jewelry look beautiful.

The next important thing you need is a pair of good sharp scissors. Invest in a pair of a very good premium scissors – it makes your macrame work fun in the long run; less strain on the fingers and clean cuts

Professionals use a knotting board – this board is used as surface for making the macrame knots. It will have a rod on the top to hang the ropes. The board is soft enought that you can pin on to them. It can have marks to make accurate evenly spaced knots.

If you do not have this board you need wooden or metal rods or dowels and rings to hold your work. For example, a wall hanging can be hung from a dowel or stick and a plant hanger can be hung from a ring. If you are making a shelf, that would require wooden planks.

Similarly, certain types of bags would require handles and clasps. Macramé keychains would need metal clasps to attach your keys. You can use wooden or glass beads, feathers, and the like to decorate your piece of macramé.