This week we are looking at the square knot bracelet or macramé as it is known. This bracelet can be made in any colours that you can get the cord in and you can use beads or just cord. There are several ways that you can fasten your bracelet when using this technique, here I show you how to simply use a toggle clasp.
Macramé is a form of textile-making using knotting rather than weaving or knitting. Its primary knots are the square knot. This same technique can be used to create simple bracelets from cord and ribbon.
For this project you will need:
- Cord (approx 2.5 metres)
- Beads (5+) Make sure the hole is big enough to take 2 cords.
- 2 Clips
- Sturdy Board
- Start by Cutting your cord into 2 pieces. 1 to measure approx 50cm/20” which will be your base cord (this wants to be just over the length you want your final bracelet to be, doubled. The bracelet I’ve made is approx 71/2” long, its better to have more cord than not enough). The 2nd length wants to be around 2 meters long, this will be your working thread. (I have used 2 colours to show the different cords, you would normally use the same colour.)
- Start by tying the round toggle clasp loop onto your base cord and putting your working cord through the loop so it’s tied on in the middle. (my base cords are black and working cords are Pink)
- Now clip your toggle clasp to the top of a sturdy board. This makes it easy to work with. Pull your base cords down into the middle and your working cords out to either side. Clip the base cords at the bottom as well to hold in place.
- Start with the right side cord. Loop it round and over the base cords so that it looks like a D shape.
- Now take the cord on the left side and lay it over the end of the right cord.
Then take it underneath the middle base cords and then up through the middle of the D. Now pull both cord ends tight. You have now completed a half square knot.
- Now take the cord on the left and loop it over the base cords so it looks like a backwards D. Take the right cord and lay it over the left cord and under the middle base cords, then pull up through the middle of the D. Now pull both cord ends tight. You have now completed 1 full square knot.
- Keep repeating steps 4 – 6 all the way along if you do not wish to add beads. If you want to add beads then when you have done a few knots and are ready for your first bead, string it onto your 2 base cords and push all the way to the top. Carry on knotting your cords as normal looping your cords around the bead.
- When you get towards the end of your cord, tie the other end of the toggle clasp to the 2 middle base cords and do a simple knot in your 2 working cords. Add some glue to each knot and allow to dry. Once dry trim your excess cords.
Hope you have enjoyed this little tutorial. If you wish to tie your bracelets in other ways then you can find lots of other tutorials online. If you make any bracelets from this tutorial I would love to see, feel free to leave links below or on our facebook page.
Happy Carfting,
Maxine x
