Square Knot
This will make a beaded macrame chain
that is a good size for a friendship bracelet.
Materials:
3 or 4 strands of embroidery floss, yarn, or hemp cord,
about 30 inches long
seven beads that can be strung on the middle strand
Start with two knotting threads on the
sides.
Have one or two "core" threads in the center.
Your beads will go on the core thread(s).
Knot the three threads at one end. Tape the knot to the table.
Attach a clothes pin to the other end
of the core thread.
Sit at the table and hold the clothes pin
between your knees so the core thread stays taut.
Now the knotting thread on the right goes UNDER the core thread.
Now the right hand thread goes OVER
the thread on the left. Leave it there on the table top for now.
Now the left hand thread goes OVER the core thread.
Now the left hand thread goes down through
the loop
made by the right hand cord.
Pull the knotting threads to snug down
the
first half of the knot. Hold that clothes pin
so the core thread stays taut and does not get
lumped up in the knot. You will need to practice
to decide how tight to make it, and by the end of your
first project, you will be getting consistent knots.
Don't worry if you aren't happy with your first project --
once you get the hang of it, you can make these fairly quickly.
Notice that now your knotting threads
are
on the opposite sides. But you will start
the second half of the knot with the same
thread (in this case, the red one), which is now on the left.
This part of the knot is the same, just
starting from the other side.
UNDER, OVER...
...OVER, THROUGH.
Snug it tight, and you have one complete square knot
(made of one throw right to left, and one throw left to right).
Hold that clothes pin taut, so your
chain doesn't start to twist around sideways.
You can use the square knot in many
different ways in macrame.
For this project, we will make three square knots in a row.
Thread a bead on the core thread after
the third
square knot. (If you used two core threads,
they both have to get stuffed through the bead.)
Keep making three square knots, then
a bead, until
you have used seven beads. Finish with three
more square knots, then knot all three threads
together at the end. Cut the ends so you
have a few inches fringe on each side to tie it on someone's wrist.
Friendship bracelets can be made with
embroidery
floss, yarn, hemp cord, or any kind of string or vine
you can think of. Because of the variety of colors,
textures, knots, numbers of threads and types of beads you can use, the
variety is endless. They make great "swaps" at
camporees, because you can make them without spending a lot of
time or money. They look great -- and each one can be unique.
For an idea of how square knots and beads can be combined in macrame jewelry:
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2003 Eileen Carpenter