Macramé bracelet

By Spotlight

With a handful of buttons & some string you can create this unique macramé bracelet.

Final Result

Materials

• 4m x 2mm hemp or macramé twine
• 4 buttons approx 8mm diameter
• 6 buttons approx 1.2cm diameter
• 1 button 2.5cm diameter
• 1 small flower button approx 1.2cm diameter
• scissors
• tape measure

Step 1

Measure your wrist to determine the bracelet length. Cut one piece of twine four times your wrist measurement and one piece of twine eight times your wrist measurement. It’s better to have too much than not enough twine. Find the midpoint of the two pieces of twine and tie a small overhand knot just large enough to pass one of the middle size buttons through. This will be your clasp.

Step 2

Locate the two shorter lengths of twine and hold them together. These are the “filler cords” (you will knot the longer lengths of twine around them), the longer lengths are the “knotting cords”. Add a single middle size button by threading one of the filler cords through the two holes in a two-hole button. If you’re using a four-hole button, one filler cord goes through two holes and the other goes through the other two holes in a parallel formation. The bracelet is worked using a square knot. To make this knot:
1. Arrange the cords with the filler cords in the middle of the two knotting cords. The diagram shows how to make one square knot.

2. Take the right hand knotting cord over the filler cords and cross it under the left hand knotting cord.

3. Take the left hand knotting cord under the filler cords and over the right hand knotting cord. Pull the knot tight.

4. Take the (now) left hand knotting cord over the filler cords and cross it under the right hand knotting cord.

5. Take the right hand knotting cord under the filler cords and over the left hand knotting cord. Pull the knot tight.

Knot 7 square knots after the button, you should have around 3cm of knots.

Step 3

Thread the next button onto one or two filler cords depending on the number of holes in the button. Tie another 7 square knots. Add a third button and tie another 7 square knots. Assemble your feature set of buttons - this is three different size buttons stacked on top of each other. Thread one or two filler cords through this button set depending on whether you are using two or four-hole buttons. Continue and tie 7 square knots, add a button and repeat until you have 6 buttons (including the feature set) on the bracelet in total. Tie one final square knot. To finish the ends, tie a reef knot or an overhand knot using all four cords. Thread one of the smallest buttons onto the end of each of the four loose cords ends and knot to secure. Trim the excess cord. The bracelet is clasped by passing the loop that you made at the beginning over the last of the larger buttons.

Handy Hint

An old office clipboard makes a great macramé frame. Place the knot under the clip on the clipboard to hold it secure and tie your knots using the flat surface to support the cords.

Note

Knot Diagram