Macrame is a technique of tying different kinds of knots to produce decorative items.

The true beauty comes from the fact that it is done by hand, not the machine. It can be
very detailed, and anyone can do it with a small initial investment and a little practice. It
can be a great way to relax and create beautiful pieces for your home or offer as a gift.

If a piece includes at least one macrame knot, it can be considered macrame art. The
projects are pieced together with several knots or joined with other techniques, usually
knitting or weaving.

MACRAME HISTORY
When was macrame popular? The origins of macrame date back to the 13th century,
when Arabic decorative weavers used knots to secure the loose ends of woven, hand-
loomed textiles into decorative fringes. However, some resources even say that macrame
origins can be traced further than we think, back to the Assyrian and Babylonian
civilizations.

The macrame meaning and name itself are considered to come either from the Arabic
word 'migramah,'meaning ornamental fringe or from the Turkish word 'makrama,'
meaning towel or napkin. 
TYPES OF MACRAMÉ CORD
 Rope: The most common option for macrame projects is rope. Several strands are
twisted around one another, giving it extra strength and thickness. There are several
types available, including twisted three-ply and braided six-ply ropes. Macrame rope
creates distinctive and thick knots and will not easily start untwisting.

 String: A string is composed of many thin fibers that are twisted into a single strand. As
a result, it is much softer than macrame rope.
With string, you can create tighter and much smaller knots. 

 Yarn: Typically used for weaving or knitting, yarn can also be used for macrame.
It is usually made of wool and industrial hemp (but not always) and can have
several strands twisted together.
 Waxed Cord: A waxed cord is usually used for macrame jewelry and is typically smaller
in diameter. It is covered in beeswax to make it water-resistant and stronger; the cord
can be plied or unplied. It comes in various colors, although wax tends to make the
shades darker.
A Brief History of the Art of
Macrame’
Macramé is believed to have originated with 13th-century
Arab weavers. These artisans knotted the excess thread
and yarn along the edges of hand-loomed fabrics into
decorative fringes on bath towels, shawls, and veils. The
Spanish word macramé is derived from the Arabic migramah (‫)مقرمة‬,
believed to mean “striped towel”, “ornamental fringe” or “embroidered
veil.” After the Moorish conquest, the art was taken to Spain, then to
Italy, especially in the region of Liguria, and then spread through Europe.
It was introduced into England at the court of Mary II in the late 17th
century. Queen Mary taught the art of macramé to her ladies-in-waiting. [1]
Sailors made macramé objects in off hours while at sea, and sold or
bartered them when they landed, thus spreading the art to places like
China and the New World. Nineteenth-century British and American
sailors made hammocks, bell fringes, and belts from macramé. They called
the process “square knotting” after the knot they used most frequently.
Sailors also called macramé “McNamara’s Lace”.[1]
Macramé was most popular in the Victorian era. Sylvia’s Book of Macramé
Lace (1882), a favorite, showed readers how “to work rich trimmings for
black and coloured costumes, both for home wear, garden parties,
seaside ramblings, and balls—fairylike adornments for household and
underlinens …” Most Victorian homes were adorned by this craft.
Macramé was used to make household items such as tablecloths,
bedspreads and curtains.[1]
Though the craze for macramé faded, it regained popularity during the
1970s as a means to make wall hangings, articles of clothing, bedspreads,
small jean shorts, tablecloths, draperies, plant hangers and other
furnishings. By the early 1980s macramé had again begun to fall out of
fashion as a decoration trend.[2]
However macramé has become popular again.  This time in the form of
jewelry, such as necklaces, anklets and bracelets.  Using mainly square
knots this jewelry often features handmade glass beads and natural
elements such as gemstones, bone or shell.
Materials used in macramé include cords made of cotton twine, linen,
hemp, jute, leather or yarn.  Jewelry is often made with a combination of
knots and using various beads (glass, stone or wood), pendants or shells.
Sometimes focal points are used for necklaces such as rings or
gemstones, either wire-wrapped to allow for securing or captured in a
net-like array of intertwining overhand knots.

References:

[1] Virginia Colton, ed. (1979). Complete Guide to Needlework.

p. 445. ISBN 0888500858.

[2] Chace; Pennant; Warde; Wright (1981), Crafts & Hobbies,

p. 28, ISBN 0-89577-063-6.

Currently available items can be purchased from my Etsy

Page:  www.etsy.com/shop/AncientEarthDesigns

SPECIAL TERMS FOR MACRAME

Before you begin, here are a few common terms that are used in most macramé
project instructions:

Knotting cord. This is the cord or set of cords that is used to make the knot for any
given stitch.

Knot-bearing cord. This is the cord or set of cords that the knotting cords are wrapped
around. The knotting cord and knot-bearing cord can change from step to step in a
project but your pattern will indicate this for you.

Sennit. This refers to a set of the same stitch worked in repeat. For example, if you
work 6 half knot stitches in a row then you have a sennit of 6 half knots.

LARK'S HEAD KNOT

The Lark’s Head Knot is a popular knot for attaching your macramé cords to a dowel or
ring.
1. Fold one macramé cord in half creating a loop.
2. Place the folded cord on working surface with loop pointing down and ends of cord
pointing up.
3. Place your dowel (or ring) on top of the folded cord just above the loop.
4. Pull the loop up over the dowel (or ring).
5. Pull the cord ends up and through the loop, then pull down to tighten.

REVERSE LARK'S HEAD KNOT

The Reverse Lark’s Head knot (sometimes called the Cow Hitch Knot) is simply the
Lark’s Head knot as it appears from the reverse side. As these two knots are essentially
the same, choosing to use the Lark’s Head or the Reverse Lark’s Head knot is just a
matter of personal preference.

1. Fold one macramé cord in half.

2. Place the folded cord on working surface with loop pointing up and ends of cord
pointing down.
3. Place your dowel (or ring) on top of the folded cord just above the loop.
4. Pull the loop down over the dowel (or ring).
5. Pull the cord ends up and through the loop, then pull down to tighten.
HALF KNOT
Half Knots are often used to create a sinnet (remember the special term!). A sennit of
Half Knots creates a natural spiral often used in plant hanger projects.

The Half Knot is worked with four cords. The two outer cords are the knotting cords
and the two center cords are the knot-bearing cords.

1. Bring the left knotting cord to the right over the two knot-bearing cords and
underneath the right knotting cord.
2. Bring the right knotting cord to the left under the two knot-bearing cords and over
the left knotting cord.
3. Pull knotting cords to secure the knot.

SQUARE KNOT
The Square Knot is a continuation of the Half Knot. (The "half" refers to "half of the
square".) So you work the first part of the knot just like a half knot then you finish the
square by working another half knot using the opposite cords.
1. Work steps 1-3 as given above for the Half Knot.
2. Bring the right knotting cord to the left over the two knot-bearing cords and
underneath the left knotting cord.
3. Bring the left knotting cord to the right under the two knot-bearing cords and over
the right knotting cord.
4. Pull knotting cords to secure.

HALF HITCH KNOTS

There are several variations of the Half Hitch Knot. It can be worked horizontally,
vertically and diagonally and with a number of different knotting cords and knot-
bearing cords for different effect. Half Hitch Knots can also be worked from left-to-right
or right-to-left. The ease and versatility of this knot make it one of the most common
macrame knots.

DOUBLE HALF HITCH

A double half hitch knot is simply two half hitch knots worked one after the other. This
is sometimes referred to as a “Clove Hitch”. All of the variations of the Half Hitch knot
outlined below can be worked as a double half-hitch by simply working the knotting
steps twice.

HORIZONTAL HALF HITCH (LEFT TO RIGHT)

This example shows the left-most cord as the knot-bearer and next cord to the right as
the knotting cord. Which cords are designated for what purpose vary per design but
should be indicated in your project instructions.
HORIZONTAL HALF HITCH (RIGHT TO LEFT)
To work the horizontal half hitch from right to left, simply work as given above using
the right-most cord as the knot-bearing cord and the next cord to the left as the
knotting cord.
DIAGONAL HALF HITCH (LEFT TO RIGHT)
The Diagonal Half Hitch is worked almost exactly as the Horizontal Half Hitch, the
difference being the knot-bearing cord is held diagonally before the stitches are
worked.
DIAGONAL HALF HITCH (RIGHT TO LEFT)
To work the diagonal half hitch from right to left, simply work as given above using the
right-most cord as the knot-bearing cord and the next cord to the left as the knotting
cord.
VERTICAL DOUBLE HALF HITCH (LEFT TO RIGHT)
The vertical double half hitch is usually worked with a separate, long knotting cord
worked back and forth across several knot-bearing cords. A series of vertical half hitch
knots creates dense rows of vertical knots popular in wall hangings and projects that
require a dense fabric. This technique is a great way to add a contrast color into a
project.

The example below shows a left-to-right vertical double half hitch.

1. Start with the knotting cord behind the knot-bearing cord(s) with a short end at the
left and the majority of the length of cord to the right (exact lengths should be
indicated in your pattern)
2. Bring the long end of the knotting cord up and over the knot bearing cord, bringing it
to the left.
3. Continuing with the long end of the knotting cord, bring it around the back of the
knot-bearing cord, threading it up through the space created between the two cords.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to complete vertical double half hitch.

VERTICAL DOUBLE HALF HITCH (RIGHT TO LEFT)

To work the vertical half hitch from right to left, simply work as given above with the
short end of the knotting cord at the right and the long end at the left.
OVERHAND KNOT
This is common everyday knot you have probably made a hundred times without
thinking it had a name! It is a good knot for securing cords for plant hangers or at the
end of a braid.
1. Bring one end of the cord over the other, forming a loop
2. Bring the end of the cord which lies on top behind the loop and up and through
3. Tighten both ends of the cord to secure

GATHERING KNOT
A Gathering Knot (also known as Wrapping Knot or Gathering Wrap) is a neat and
decorative way to gather several cords together. This knot is often used at the very
beginning or end of a plant hanger project. A short length of cord is used as the
knotting cord and several or all of the cords in a project are the knot-bearing cords.
1. Fold a loop near one end of the knotting cord.
2. Place the loop on top of the knot bearing cords with the loop pointing up and the
short end of cord pointing down.
3. Holding the loop in place, wrap the long end of the knotting cord tightly around knot
bearing cords wrapping from the bottom up for desired length, leaving top of loop
exposed above wraps.
4. Bring end of knotting cord at top of wrap through the loop.
5. Pull bottom end of knotting cord to draw loop down into the wrap.
6. Trim exposed ends of knotting cord close to wrap.
Sure, here are definitions of the macrame knots you listed:

1. Lark's head: This knot is used to attach cords to a ring or rod. It involves
folding a cord in half and passing the looped end over the rod/ring and
then passing the loose ends through the loop, pulling tight to secure.
2. Square knot: This is a common knot used in macrame to join two cords
together. It consists of four basic steps: take the left cord and make a
loop over the right cord, then take the right cord and pass it over the
left cord and through the loop, then take the right cord and make a
loop over the left cord, then pass the left cord over the right cord and
through the loop.
3. Alternating square knot: This knot is made using the same basic steps as
the square knot, but alternating between starting with the left and right
cords to create a pattern.
4. Spiral knot: This knot creates a spiral effect by twisting cords together. It
involves taking one cord and twisting it around another cord until it
creates a spiral pattern.
5. Double half hitch (right): This knot is made by taking the right cord and
looping it over the left cord, then passing it behind the left cord and
through the loop created. It is then tightened by pulling both cords.
6. Double half hitch (left): This is the same as the double half hitch (right),
but with the left cord looping over the right cord instead.
7. Double half hitch (diagonal): This knot is made by looping the cord
diagonally over the other cord and passing it through the loop created.
It can be made in either direction, depending on which direction the
diagonal loop is made.
8. Horizontal Lark's head: This knot is similar to the Lark's head knot, but is
used to attach cords horizontally instead of vertically. It involves folding
the cord in half and passing the looped end under the horizontal bar or
rod, then passing the loose ends through the loop and tightening.
9. Josephine knot: This knot creates a decorative, twisting effect by looping
cords around each other. It involves taking two cords, creating a loop
with the first cord, and passing the second cord through the loop. Then,
the second cord is looped around the first cord and passed through the
loop again, creating a twisting effect when pulled tight.
 10.Alternating half hitch: This knot is similar to the double half hitch, but
creates a pattern by alternating between looping the right and left cords
over the other cord. It can be made in either direction, depending on
which cord is looped over first.
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