Now that you’ve got your material and set up your workspace, it’s time to learn the basic knots. Here are the steps for the most frequently used knots.
Lark’s Head Knot
For mounted macrame, this is the knot you’ll be using to attach your cords to your dowel rod. It can also be used to attach to other items such as branches or rings.
Start by folding your rope in the middle. Both sides should be equal in length.
Put your folded rope above the dowel. The loop facing upwards and the cords facing downwards.
Pull on the loop from the back so the loop is facing downwards in the back and the dowel is in between the loop and the cords.
Insert the two cords inside the loop and pull them down to tighten.
Reverse Lark’s Head Knot
This is the same knot in reverse. We use it to keep the bump hidden in the back.
Square Knots
The square knot and its many variations consist of at least four cords. The outer cords are working cords, which are the cords we will use to make the knots. The inner cords are filler cords, which are the cords that the knot is tied around.
To make a square knot we’ll first have to make a half square knot, which can either be left or right facing.
Left Facing Square Knot
Move the left outer cord (i.e. first working cord) to the right above the filler cords and under the right outer cord (i.e. second working cord).
Move the second working cord to the left under the filler cords and above the first working cord.
Keep the filler cords straight and pull both working cords to tighten. Now we’ve made a left half square knot.
Move the cord on the right (the first working cord) to the left above the filler cords and under the second working cord.
Move the cord on the left (the second working cord) to the right under the filler cords and above the first working cord.
Keep the filler cords straight and pull your working cords till you reach the required tightness. This completes the left-facing square knot.
Right Facing Square knot
This is the mirror image of the left-facing square knot. We’ll follow the same steps but replace the left working cord with the right working cord and vice versa.
Spiral Stitch or the Half Knot Spiral
This knot is made by making a sequence of half-square knots all facing the same direction. The series of knots will form a decorative spiral.
Clove Hitch or Double Half Hitch
This knot is used to create lines in your macrame, it can be used to create horizontal, diagonal, or vertical lines. The first cord will be used as a filler cord while the rest of the cords will be used as working cords.
Horizontal Clove Hitch
Start by placing a filler cord on top of the working cords and hold it horizontally.
Take the first working cord and fold it over the filler cord then pull it around it towards the left of the working cord.
Take the same working cord and fold over the filler cord then pull it around it towards the right of the working cord.
Repeat with other working cords until you achieve the horizontal line look.
Diagonal Clove Hitch
This is the same but diagonally.
Overhand Knot
This knot is used to tie multiple cords together. It could also be used to prevent cords from unraveling.
Fold your cords into a loop.
Pull the end of the cords through the loop till tightened.
Gathering Knot or Wrapping Knot
This knot is used to gather cords together at the end of a piece.
Take a separate cord (which will be your working cord) and fold it to form a U-shape.
Twist to form a loop facing downwards and place it above your filler cords.
Take the end of your working cord and wrap it around the filler cords and the top part of the loop you’ve made.
Pass the end of the cord through the bottom part of the loop that is still unwrapped.
Pull the end bit of your working cord tightly to make sure the knot is secure and the loop is wrapped as well.
You may choose to cut or trim loose parts of your working cord.