If you like to weave, you will find in macramé a hobby that will serve to relax and decorate your home. Discover the basic knots.
Macramé is a trend that, despite its longevity, is still in force today. And is not for less. The pieces made with this technique have beautiful designs and threads of various colors, which embellish the places where they are arranged.
Wall hangings, coffee table cloths, plant hangers, hammocks, dream catchers and many other things can be made with the technique. All creations can have different designs thanks to the type of thread and the knots used.
Learning the basic macramé knots brings many benefits. Improve your brain activity, cultivate a hobby and, if you learn it well, you can even profit from it by selling your works.
These are the basic macrame knots every novice should know.
1. Lark knot or lark loop
The lark knot is used by mountaineers because it is very resistant. In macramé it serves as a mounting or anchoring knot. But don’t let its great utility intimidate you; it is easy to make and unmake.
The lark’s loop consists of two half knots that are tied in opposite directions. We give you the step by step:
- Take the rope and fold it in equal parts and then put it on the knot holder.
- At this point, you should feed the underside of the string through the existing hole, but you should adjust the thread in the process.
Keep in mind that to make other macramé knots, you must first make at least two lark’s knots.
2. Alternate lark knot
This knot is made by tying a vertical lark’s knot around the guy rope. We explain how to make an alternate lark knot:
- Grab the rope and begin to make a lark’s knot, but vertically and on the left side.
- Then repeat the procedure; this time on the right side.
- Do it until you achieve the result you are looking for.
3. Festoon or cord knot
The cord knot, as it is known in colloquial language, It is formed after using several ropes in order to create a strong and rigid cordon. Fabrics with festoon knots are widely used for accessories, jewelry, rugs or table runners.
This is because with the cord knot you can draw straight, diagonal or even curved lines. We show you how to make 4 styles of festoon knots.
3.1 Alternate festoon knot
The first is the staggered festoon knot. Here each of the steps:
- Grab the right string and pull it over the left string.
- Now take the tip of the right string and pass it under the left string. Finish by pulling the tip out of the hole that was formed. Don’t forget to adjust the string up.
- At this point you are going to perform the procedure described, but this time starting with the left string.
- Follow the procedure, making sure to alternate sides until you reach the end. There are those who prefer to tie the knot on one side, that is, only on the right or on the left. This will depend on the desired goal.
3.2 Diagonal festoon knot
The procedure to do it is as follows:
- You must take the first rope on the left as a guide.
- Meanwhile, the other rope should be knotted twice over the guide rope. Keep going like this.
- Then, move on to the next rope and knot it twice over the guide rope as well.
- Repeat the procedure until you achieve the desired goal.
3.3 Vertical festoon knot
It is the turn of the vertical festoon knot. Follow the directions (you need a separate rope):
- Start by making the festoon knot with the first two ropes, vertically and adjusting them upwards.
- Now pass the extra string over the next pair and do the same procedure.
- Continue in the same way until you finish the strings.
3.4 Horizontal festoon knot
Finally, there is the horizontal festoon knot. We share the step by step:
- Keep in mind that the first string on the left will be the place where the rest of the strings will be wound. Therefore, this rope will be the guide.
- Now take the next rope and wrap it around the guide rope, but you want to make sure that you will pull it out over the guide rope. You must repeat this step with the same rope.
- Then repeat the procedure with the rest of the strings, following the steps from left to right.
4. Spiral knot
It is a knot with two finishes. The spiral can rotate to the right or to the left. Everything will depend on the hand with which it is done.
It is usual that two central strings are taken; this is ideal for forming a four-strand braid, widely used in hangers pots. These are the indications:
- Take the outer left string and pass it over the two center strings and under the outer right string.
- Then pass the outer right string under the outer left string.
- Now take them from behind and take them out through the hole that should be on the right side. Don’t forget to adjust the strings during the process.
- Repeat the steps until you finish the strings, making sure to work from left to right.
5. Square knot
The square knot is done in two stages and the center strings should be kept straight, as these will serve as a guide. In turn, these are spiral knots; one starting from the right string, while the other starts from the left.
To make this knot, recreate the following steps:
- Start by passing the left outside string over the two center strings and under the right outside string.
- Now pass the outer right rope under the left one and take it from behind until it comes out through the hole that was formed on the left side. Don’t forget to adjust.
- At this point, bring the right outer string over the two center strings and under the left outer string.
- Then pass the outer left rope under the outer right rope, bring it behind and out through the hole that was formed on the right side.
- Continue the procedure alternating sides. Keep in mind that the steps go from left to right.
Macramé, basic knots and art
We are convinced that the pieces made in macramé add beauty to the rooms. The first thing a beginner in knitting should do is learn to read patterns. It may sound overwhelming, but after a while it isn’t.
On the other hand, all good weaving is made up of some of the basic macramé knots. If you have discovered that embroidery is your thing, these 5 ways will be very useful.
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