Cathi Milligan - Mod Knots: Creating Jewelry and Accessories with Macrame

mod knots
Creating Jewelry & Accessories with Macram

Cathi Milligan

www.mycraftivity.com

Mod Knots. Copyright 2009 by Cathi Milligan. Manufactured in China. All rights reserved. The patterns and drawings in the book are for personal use of the reader. By permission of the author and publisher, they may be either hand-traced or photocopied to make single copies, but under no circumstances may they be resold or republished. It is permissible for the purchaser to make the projects contained herein and sell them at fairs, bazaars and craft shows. No other part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote a brief passage in review. Published by North Light Books, an imprint of F+W Publications, Inc., 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236. (800) 289-0963. First edition.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Milligan, Cathi.
Mod knots : creating jewelry and accessories with macram / by Cathi Milligan. -- 1st ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-60061-144-5 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Macram. 2. Jewelry making. I. Title.
TT840.M33M45 2009
746.42'22--dc22

eISBN: 978-1-44031-565-7

2008037483

Editor: Jessica Strawser
Designer: Corrie Shaffeld
Photographers: Christine Polomsky,
Ric Deliantoni and Al Parrish
Stylist: Nora Martini
Production Coordinator: Greg Nock

www.fwmedia.com

Metric Conversion Chart

DEDICATION

This goes out to my Mom, Desiree, a.k.a. Dee Dee. Thanks for all of your support!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My original exposure to macram and beads comes from hanging out at a bead store, Macramnia, in my early teen years. Without this store, I wouldn't know about the wonderful and beautiful jewelry and accessories that could be created with macram. Thanks, Suzanne Miller.

I'm very grateful to everyone over at the San Gabriel Bead Company, Kelly especially, for helping me get so many of my macram supplies. And the ladies over at The Stitch Caf were so immensely helpful with my exploration into new materials. I'm a bit jealous of knitters.

My production team at F+W is awesome. I couldn't have had more fun with my editor, Jessica Strawser, and photographer, Christine Polomsky, during my photo shoot. Also thanks to Tonia Davenport for all her assistance.

A giant thanks goes to my man, Jack, for putting up with almost nonstop talk about macram and beads. Yarn and leather lace and beads all over the place, projects everywhere. It's all for the sake of the macram!

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

When most people think of macram, they picture hippies and plant hangers and even have memories of summer camp, where they were first exposed to the art of knotting, also known as macram. They say, Oh I remember macram. I did that when I was young, or, My mom used to do that. Well, macram is more than thata lot more than that.

Macram has been around for many, many centuries. The art of knotting first originated in the Middle East as a means of making nets and decorating the edges of fabric. Sailors created these in their travels, and through travel, trade and the conquering of distant lands, macram spread across the world. It had its heyday in the Victorian ages when the craft was widely regarded. Today most people remember macram from the 1970s, but that was far from the beginning.

My goal in creating Mod Knots was to upend what is most associated with macram. I'll start by teaching you all the basic knots, step by step, and I'll introduce you to the most commonly used materials, such as hemp, linen and nylon cordand then to some not so common ones, including handspun yarn, soft leather lace and even wire. Then we'll begin making jewelry that you may never have imagined you could achieve with macram. In making one-of- a-kind necklaces, bracelets, earrings and even jewelry sets, we'll combine materials in unexpected ways and blend macram with a variety of other jewelry-making techniques, such as wire wrapping, bead stringing, and even metal clay and leatherwork. We'll also make accessories, such as belts and handbags and even a guitar strap, as well as a couple of wearables, including a halter-top and a soft variegated wool scarf. So cute! And it's not your mother's macram. I hope these new explorations in macram will inspire your own future adventures with this versatile (and fun!) craft.

MATERIALS

Macrams utilitarian beginnings were with jute, hemp and linen, as well as other fibers that were mostly used for nets and fabric. As sailors and traders obtained different types of material from the lands they ventured to, they helped to develop the craftand to pass it on, too.

Fast-forward to the present day, where we have new technologies, materials and, of course, the Internet, and you have the most amazing array of fibers and beads and findings to create just about anything you can imagine.

Macram requires more that just fiber, beads and findings, though. Many of the tools you'll need to create the projects in this book you probably already own. Anything you don't have on hand can be easily acquired at your local bead or craft store or, in some cases, even your local hardware store.

Macram Boards

Macram projects need to be mountedusually with T pins and/or masking tapeto a surface as you work. This makes working with your cords easier and helps keep the knots tight and neatly aligned. Specially designed macram boards are available at your local bead or craft store, or through online retailers, and work for most projects. They typically measure approximately 12 18 (30cm 46cm) and are made from fiberboard. Most manufactured macram boards have a grid on the surface as well as rulers along the sides. They can be removed, but I leave them shrink-wrapped or taped into place, as I find them very helpful guides as I work. Some even include instructional illustrations of the basic macram knots.