At my Dad’s request, I knotted a macrame utensil holder for his handmade spoons. I used yellow recycled cotton cord from RockMountainCo, and a dowel. I like the geometric pattern made by the alternating rows of square knots.
Photo description: simple yellow macrame wall hanging hanging on a twining loomPhoto description: same wall hanging with spoons inserted into the holes between the knots, showing horizontal and vertical storage optionsPhoto description: leather tag sewn into a circle around a pair of cords on the wall hanging showing my mark, the other side says “recycled cotton”
Technical details: 4mm recycled cotton cord cut into 18 pieces, 90 inches in length, attached to a 1/4 inch dowel with lark’s head knots, then tied with square knots over two core cords in alternating rows. The ends were lashed together in groups of four, then untwisted and combed into tassels.
Photo description: wall hanging installed, holding three spoons, a spatula, and wood tongs
I found a source of recycled cotton macrame cord from RockMountainCo, based out of Colorado, and some recycled glass beads from our local vintage store, The Haps. The combination of recycled/upcycled materials seemed very appropriate to make macrame hanging plant holders requested by my sister.
Photo description: close-up of the macrame in progress, adding a bead to the center two strands of a half knot twist
I found that my bag twining loom works well to hold macrame in progress, and to display the finished piece.
Photo description: hanging macrame pot holder made from red recycled cotton cord and recycled glass beads hanging from a bag twining loomPhoto description: leather tags marked with my signature and “recycled cotton”, one sewn into a circle on the macrame hanging
Technical details: I cut 8 lengths of 4mm cord 99 inches long, folded them in half through a welded metal ring, lashed the strands together with 30 inches of cord, made four half-knot twisted sections with 15 knots on either side of the bead, then three sets of offset square knots to make the body of the holder, finishing with another 30 inches of cord to lash the strands together at the bottom.
In macrame, when making a half-square knot twist, the two center cords function as a core, and don’t get knotted, so the outer knotted cords get short and the middle don’t. To balance this and make the most of the cordage, I used a bead to interrupt the pattern and switch the outer and inner cords. By making the same number of knots above and below the bead, the cords end up the same length. A little macrame trick for those that read this far.
I recently found a tutorial from Sally Pointer on looping around a core and really wanted to try it. I look some dried and rehydrated iris leaves from my garden, twined them, then started looping. I didn’t have enough material for a basket, but the thick twine did make a nice trivet.
Photo description: trivet made of twined iris leaves with simple looping over a core construction
I did overestimate the amount of core, but rather than cut it off, I switched to just looping with the tail and was able to add some width to the trivet. I then sewed a leather label in a circle to an outer loop.
I like this method of construction. The core gives a way to tighten the stitches and fill in the density of the looping. It can also be done as the twine is created and without tools, which makes it a great skill when I am waiting and don’t have a project with me.
I made a small basket entirely from dried iris leaves. The spokes are large iris leaves, and I twined multiple smaller leaves together around the spokes.
Photo description: starting the twining with dried then rewetted iris leavesPhoto description: finished basket made from iris leaves gathered from my yard
The leaves were soaked more than was ideal for weaving, so to dry it I put it in the oven on low and weighed the basket every twenty minutes until the weight was constant, indicating all the water was gone. Air drying a basket that wet would have given too much time for mold to set in.
I found some iris printed fabric and lined the basket. It took me two tries to sew a liner that fit the shape of the basket, and I ended up with a single layer that wrapped over the top lip of the basket.
Photo description: iris printed fabric liner on the iris leaf basket
To finish off the basket, I added one of my new leather tags to the edge of the liner.
Photo description: laser engraved leather sewn-on tag that says “iris leaves”
I like twining, so plan on harvesting more iris leaves in the spring, drying, and practicing on more twined baskets.
Photo description: basket in use holding sewing tools
I’ve finished my Bucilla felt wreath kit with a final deviation from instructions. I was supposed to cut out a donut shape of cardboard to go between layers of quilting batting. Instead, I bought a wire wreath support. The cardboard would have worked fine, but the wire makes me feel better. The wreath is 16” in diameter, but a 14” wire support fit better.
Photo description: wreath parts laid out before sewing: green felt back, quilt batting, wire wreath support, quilt batting, decorated felt wreath topPhoto description: my signature mark and the year stitched in yellow embroidery thread on the back of the wreath prior to sewing all the layers togetherPhoto description: finished Bucilla felt House Cat Wreath with deviations hanging on an interior door
I also used a bit of wire attached to the wire frame through the felt for the hanger.
I have done a felt kit now, I don’t think I will do another. I did get lots of interesting ideas while completing the project, though.
Critters and Craft 