by Carolyne McCourtie
The Basics of Macramé There are some simple Macramé basics that you'll need to know to get you started. The more confident that you are about the process of Macramé the more fun you'll have as you complete one project after another.Calculating how much cording to use: You'll need to calculate how long the length of your cording should be. Although most projects will give you the recommended measurements, you should have some idea of how this measurement is reached. The ends of cording should be 3 ½ to 4 times longer than the piece you plan to make, however, since the cording is doubled in half for knotting it is measured 7 to 8 times longer than the amount needed. For example: if the Macramé project will have a finished length of 1 yard you'll want to measure your cording 7 to 8 yards from one end to the other. Then when each end is doubled for knotting it will be two ends, each end being 3 ½ to 4 yards long. Make sure that you measure the ends generously since you don't want to run out of cording and have to add to the project. It's much better to have extra cording than it is to run out and add in an inconvenient place in the design. Making a sampler before you begin: For many Macramé projects you'll want to make a sampler so that you can see how the cording knots and how long it measures. Heavy cording will take up more length in knotting than lightweight ones so you'll need to allow for this in the calculation of how much cording to use. Make a sampler that measures about 3 inches by 6 inches so that you can gauge the length of the cording as well as see how many ends will be needed for the width of the pattern. To determine the number of ends: tie four ends into a Square Knot and measure the knot's width. If the width of the knot is ½ inch you'll know that you need eight ends to the inch for the pattern of your project. When you know what Macramé project that you want to make you should practice with the knots so that you know exactly how the cording will tie and so that you can gauge its texture and the way that it looks. Adding beads and other items: Beads and other items are often added to Macramé projects to make them interesting, unique, and rich with design. You can purchase beads of all kinds from beading and craft stores, as well as from many distributors on the Internet. All you need to do is make sure that the holes in the beads are large enough for the cording to strand through easily. To add the beads you simply slide them onto the cording between or in the middle of knots. When you're adding beads to a project you'll want to look for beads that are unique and unusual so that they stand out in the Macramé pattern. You'll find beads in a variety of styles, sizes, and shapes that includes flowers, symbols, and charms. Search for beads that will complement the Macramé pattern that you're working. You'll want to choose beads with a color and texture that are going to enhance your project. For smaller projects you'll want to use beads that are soft and delicate while your larger Macramé projects will need large, textured beads. Take your time looking for the right beads for your project and dare to experiment with new ideas. The one thing that you need to ensure when you're purchasing beads for your Macramé projects is that the cording will fit through the bead center. Keep in mind that many times you'll be using several strands of cording that will need to fit through the bead so be sure to choose beads that are large enough. When you're working the bead into the strands of cording you'll need to position the bead carefully into the pattern as per the project instructions. In most cases the bead will be worked into the project following a series of knots, followed by another series of knots to keep the bead secure. For more information go to:http://www.macramelovers.com/index1.html
