Table Of ContentTips and Techniques for
Knotting with Beads
Joan R. Babcock
Tips § Techniques for \
Knotting with Beads
paaliy
\y
by ()
Joaw R. Babcock (\
(( )
PaN |
BL) \
Ulastrated by Jeff Babeock. Q
i
vas 2 ZN
Tuble of contents
Introduction
Part Owe ~ Micro-Macramé Basics
Chapter One~ Materials for Micro Mscraré
Chapter Two -Kootting Tips:
Chapter Three The Basie Knots-a Step by Step Gude
Part Two - Mievo-macramé Projects
roject One Linda Eartings, 3 Variations
Project Two - Cavandoli Bannc# Earrings
Pryjoet Taree Half Mlcen Berrings
ations
Projeet Fou Lantern Farrings, 2 ¥o
Projet Live-Serper ine Bracviel
Proget Six =
sana Br-colet, 2 Varatio
Fijyet Seven - Csané li Pendant
Proceet Bighe - Enchantment Sekdace
Project Nine Double Diamond Necknce
Project Ten - Disco Fin
Part three - miero-macramé Design
Chapse= Four Design Bsentia's
(ntvoduction
The Art of Knotting
Kqoots havealways beet a part of our lives Ther many practical uses are
Kaown, but 1 He handy ofa seiled otis, they ean also be beautiful. The:
A of decarstive «noting, in| of is verious expressions, has been arour'd for
xl spars many culrures. We'ne nowy enjoying.a renewed inferest in
an art form, spurred or a part by tae oxpularity of beadwors I
nx strsscul world, theart of knotting effess 2 mlax ng antidote in
4 satisfying mevie 6 artistic expression.
In ths 1960s, the era of tiedlye and Lower power, [mace ry frst mo
bell from a preject in a Lady’s Home Journal. Feam the beg s
fascinatce ith the design possiblities of Snotting. [ute plant hangers
hangirgs-s00% followed, as eld knotted shell necklaces and waxed Tinen
‘watchbands that Isold at a h.opie shop on Miami Seach. Ror betiow or for worse,
the macramé af she és sad “7 still types ia: the wore me
people Hatas-waits ony cr, the materis that ar uced ane. thy
oaker will ultimately determine the results Sunce those early deys, the materints
Jane possibilities of mactame jews y have evolved. Cunky plastic beacls and
jute have given way to silky “nica” coxe's, deies aly adorned wth fine beads
and collechibles. With finer materials sad a fresh oppricel, ils now pess ble to
Schieves cantempoisny look with ths tine honoaed teehnique.
‘The key to making benutifal microm
few simple knots. Thess <pots, when used ina variety of combinativas and
olor palettes, create! evelty thal i delicate and de-iled, but net-as complicated
fasitlecks. The insteticnsand projects in ths book are ecsigned Ws teach you
th basks eb icuemactame jewelry a8 Te cose to know itso that you W Tl
soon Keble bo follew your evn erative path ane Jes'g jewelry that
ncorporates macramé knotting, with beads snd various aecraments
Witla this dook ene techniques ane asefi” fps that I've garred from
‘over 20 years of erating jewelry ead fiber ari sing trcitional maetarné
Cavunndo): knotting, ane beading teshaiques. If your ane neve to knots
encourage you {0 lake it slorly ane 3 Iheach kn st
iManage ime for you to
experience its wenalenew wey, Thae thot youl all grow to enjoy ths
Satisfying cta‘tas mich as Fave and soon be <reating Your own unig. e jewelry:
knotting
ita
form of a contemplativ
Happy knotting!
Joann.
Part One:
: Micro-Macramé
Basies
Chapter 1
Materials for Micro Macramé
One thing TToveabou: making micmy riseamé and brad jewelry Fe that the isteriaisand
lools recuited ate simple sind felalively inexpensive. You sloa't nved « Lob ol space Osa ppeial
studio, sta desk of 9 table wish eno.igh room Zor you to spread out your mater als. Along
with that, you wll need a comfortable chair -nd good lighting to ave‘d eye sirain. Below iva
list bf so: other
General Supplies
1. knotting Board -Yon will need a surface on which te pin your work find thatan 11° % 17
rigid cork board, 3/5" thick ve taicker, work: well, They are sold as small frameless bulletin
boards ard you can find thers «t mary cralt stores. he siae doesn't need (9 be exzcl, bu it
snl ko a-ye enough to rest comfortably an your lap walle lo=aing, against you dosk
ing staal ane you wort be uate to kan it agectt the desk, toe large «td it will be awkward
‘with any Eoand, the most importar= feature s a sur‘ace that will hold your pins securely.
©, foom, oF pillows shoul only ke-sed ir a pinch as they aw non ideal stnface
2. Sewing Pins - Stancia-al small sewing pins (preferably with balls on the ends) work best
‘Avoid using T pins and echer crge pins. they are soo thick for our purposes onl will al
the vision of your atk
2s and fo
Jeweler
3. Embroidery Needles (Sharp) - Trese are vsed for geting out knotting mi
‘abrojdery and eribellishmert work, Ie good to havea few in differen: a
bweezers ean also be used for removing kno‘s
4, Scissor -Liecouienc that you Tavess ina bigh quality pae that is sharp and sanell enouga
toget inte tight alaces. Tae Fiskars brand works well
5. Uélity Blade A ulilly blace & « hundly tool lor eutiing cond ulosely below eas and
finishing kno's Remen: 2 its very imporsant to mask all she sasep comers vith a suck tape
like duct tape before using o utility blade a: a tool! Just leave a small area in the middle of the
blade exposed Jor culling
6. Clear Nall Polish oF Super Glue -F'sher of those can he tsed to coat
thea Icon: cerning widone. I prefer the nal poll-h boeawse it's encier to control the apalics
nishing <notsandl keep:
7. Fray Cheele For 63:6 in threading: deste onte the nylon core coa*abomt 2 inch aP the ene
‘sith Fay Clock an let dey, Snip off the tip st a sharp angle. This ewates a “needle” and
‘makes iteasier to pass te coal through she bead. Tray Check: is found al fabr stores
Jere 7
Chapter One
8, Glue For adherayga lining fo the back of seme piers, Tune Aleene’s tarky glue. Zor
pplication thal require more security, cuch Sa adher-ng cabuelions an éazting pests to Aber
faces, I se F-6000.
9, Double Sided Beading Tape - This
of your work
useful for sdhering linings and exoess con te the back
10, Masking Tape - Helpful for keeping any loose tals of cord taped down and out ¢
11. Pliers ~ Used for opening: and closing jump rings and otter jewelry findings.
12, Pig Suede oF nondraying Ultra Suede -1 50 this as lini ou the back ofsome pieces
Cords for Micro Macramé
18 Gauge Nylon - For most projects) I prefer tp werk wish 18 Gauge Nylon cord
[prinat iy used in industry foe caractand upholsery, and is strong and svurdy wih a silky
look. C-1an Bead Cera is a good choice and comes in a wide mange of co urs. Other brands
include Conse, Masiex, and Stringth #5, Ditfenen: brands have slighty different textures s0
iy ther «ll to see which ones you prefer. Freyumumerd that you quire at your Tecal Lead!
one and rosoorch the stert2i for sources
2. Waxed Linen - Liki its name implies, waxed linen hos a waxy coating which omises it
ig hold the knots very well sometimes 60 well il you make a mistake) It tends to have
mega vit vs anc variations in width so = generally nequin’s beads with large: holes: The
drawback is that the wax can maltin high temperatarys and darken in eclos Choose 3 or 4
Fy with fo: jewelry.
Other “micro” cores include hersp and waved cation. Embrosery ilos: or silk cord can also
‘be used out the texture is very safsand J find it nore dill-cull fo work with, For information
akout mensuring nut cord and ying aylon cord, see the Design ®-sentials chapsei
Beads and Embellishments
Bends and embellisimen:s will ade another éimension of ayle, calor,
The pess bilities are Fmitl'ss, But the huge arvay of beads on the market can he
Seligh fa. oF just plain ove-wheling. /sniost any sype of 22d e=n be used in micro ~
tmacram? jine-ty ats long 28 it has 2 Able thar fs large ero ne oF
hnere stianes 07 the cord 4 ply Waxed Linen tends ty ve thicker than tp. nylon and fis
irsegularities which cause the cord to an others, For rigs. beaded
projects [prefer the ayton cord.
texture to your
thickeran some places
Lhe followring is a brief iat of beadsvand eribellishunents the: wor’ well wit: micro - cca
= Toa Mnaraved vein
Materials
1. Seud Beads and Pony Beads -Sw 10° 2nd 1: seed beads are usually te sma’ lost good bonds
that e27 be used witk 18g. cord. Size 8” ard 6° also wors well, Kee in ivan! that inen
eheosing, seed bead, che lange= the size member, ‘he smaller the head, “or example, a size 10°
seed beads suraller Usui «=i2e 8° seed goad. Bugle beads are also a geod choice,
2. Creehoslavakian Glass Beads | find thor most of these beads have a ho’ hat is lars:
enough to accommodate 183: coad. | especially like the "ire polish” bends in sizes 4/mm, €
«ski gad olier ety stal beads ute sini s=busof a tiner quality than Fire
‘of colors, stapes and sizes,
ne ee
3. Bone Beads - These bess look similar to ivory ang usually have large hol
accommadate heavier cords like waxed linen and emp.
sthatean
4, Heishe - She'l. reconstituted store, and moval. Helshe romes in ler Skinny strands
comprised 0° uniform flal diss
$.Metal Beads Gold, Silues Bronze, Brees, as well as base metals and plated mezals
6. Semiprecious Stone and Pearl Beads- Their beauty is unclersble but be advised that these
heads afen have very small holes that are unstitsble for macramé coals, so check she holes
list befe-e puxchas:ng them fora project. Some holes ean ke enlarged withva kead reamer,
‘7. Specialty Beads - There are mary otlver pes of buacls male Lun such wicierials polymer
clay, wand onz=nie materials paper shell, ard more Check cut gem shows, beac fairs, and
beac! shops lor sie Latest elsigner beads,
8 Embellishments
stone é.nuts, metal charm: eabochens,
hammerec wire can cake au iniwes ing arnialure for a necklace or = arceeh,
In addition so heals, designs can be enbacee with comporenis sucks
and wire Shaped and/or
\donins, brstons, dan,
Chapter 2
Knotting Tips
Position Yourself for Success
Gather logetlwer the bas.c supplies from the supply
list, and sit down in-an armloss ehair in front ofa
table or desk, The correct posite: lor conlostable
kerottiny is to picce the knotting eard in your lap
ard lean it ean ang’e age'ns: the table. [lind taatit's
rmiich harder to do she work with the boerd ying flat
ura lable. Having stan your lap sachors it 6 that it
doesn't move arorind. If also makes it easier ost you:
ick and ke
ler essential igred:eatis goce lig
Your light 0 that fe comes ftern above anc fer bebid
Gad illuminete> your hnolling Foard (see Figure
‘your ann liom getbing ted. The
fing, Pasition
Knotting Tips
1. Ue 9 light colored background - Taping « sheet of
white paper onto sur Kvolling Board wil] make
teaser for you s9 see what you're de'ng,
2.The Zen of Pins Don't ice large pits, especially
T-pin, Stall standakel sewing pins are oust 1 Mxe she
the balls er the ends ecause they
gertips. Poa you week to the
Ccouulyrtabig level s0 shat your acms ean move freely
‘Too high and your arms will get ted, too ew and
they will Ee constricted. 1: may be necessary to repo-
sitien the week Eom -ime to time as yor 9 alors
‘Always keep she work pinned éown very clos to the
y, tye ficce should ro:
1ivup off he board. Keeping your sfece wel pinned
fo ye to week uit it wall
nd more ursform
‘area where you are kay
sell nor only rake it eas
make the knolling nealer
Talis Panera Jenteg
Knotting Tips
3. Make each knot as tight and meat as possible. It may be necessary to tetighten the knots as
‘you go along. as some will tend to loosen up. Pay extra attention to the frst row of any pi
as it will determine the width of the rest of the piece. Push all the knots ay closely together as
possible before yong on to the second revs
4.Tape dawn loose cords. Keep any loose coils thal atu uur way by bringing
them off fo the side and taping them down with masking tape or draping them over a pin. A
good amount of your time will be spent just keeping all the cards organized, $0 make
on yourself
easy
5. Removing Knotting Mistakes
If you need to remove a knot, use a sharp embroidery needle (not a sewing pin) and gently
“tease” the knot until it loosens up. Instead 0’ sticking the weedle dirextly into the cord which
‘can Gamage it, :ry <9 position it next to she cord in the miele ofthe krot and. pull at the
Knoting Coad unl! the knot starts to loosen. Tagging on the Anchor Cari evn also help to
pull the knot loose, An embroidery needle gives you more leverage and is less likely to tear
the cond than a sewing pin. Jewoler’s twocves oF a heading. awl cin also be used to remove
Knots. Removing <apls lakes palicnce, but you aren't gentle vou wil damage the cord and
‘will show: if you one trying to undo.a Double Half Hich (DHH) cr Vertical Double Half
Hitch (YDAH}, wor’ first on loosening the seevnd half of the knot. In other words, since all
ills contain two side by side HH, looven: the second HM before trying to loosen the first
‘Once the second HH is Icosened, the first HH can be loosened by pulling outward with the
Anchor Cord,
6 Take Breaks - Its easy to got engrossed in_yous werk But your body (and mind) could use
a break every once ina while Get up ard stretch, pet your favorile anise], make some tea.
Doesn't Laat feel beter?
Juan eater 7
