Macrame

If I were to rank my skills in fiber arts, I think crochet and sewing are my “best things.” However, macramé has long fascinated me, and I’ve created a few things over the years. In working with the cones, mosses, flowers, sticks and boughs of our timberland, macramé has reintroduced itself, a long-neglected cousin in the fiber art world. 

Macramé is the art of knot-tying and is believed to have originated in the 13^thcentury with Arabian weavers who used it to make decorative fringes on rugs and other woven items. Sailors adopted it, and it was quite popular with the Victorians. More recently it has been associated with the bohemian style of décor which has seen something of an upswing since the “hippie” era of the 60’s and 70’s.

There are two basic knots in macramé, the Half Knot and the Half Hitch. Variations on these two lend themselves to a wide variety of designs. Beads, shells, rocks and other items are often woven into the pattern. 

How do we incorporate macramé into crafts made from forest products?

Photo by Patrick Perkins on Unsplash

Plant hangers are a good place to start. They are often made simply with a ring at the top and three or four strands of cord knotted in square knots or another variation of basic knot. Beads are often used to enhance the hanger. The cords are gathered together and fastened at the bottom, and the plant container is nestled above the gathered cords. Simple. 

We have been cutting thin slices of alder logs and branches and would add an alder-round platform to the hanger.  

Wall hangings of macramé can be quite stunning. Looping the cords over a dowel or straight stick, then knotting the cords to create a pattern is a simple way of creating a dramatic wall hanging. A finished store-bought stick is fine but foraging for one in nature adds an element of the wild and creates a more rustic bit of décor. A quick look on Etsy indicates the macramé owls of the 70’s are back (or never left). They often have two sticks, top and bottom, with the owl fashioned of knots between. 

Possibilities are endless! How many ways can knotting be used in conjunction with sticks and twigs, cones, plants, and various other forest foraged objects? 

Let your imagination go wild!!

Margaret

Nature Crafts for Kids - Sticks

 

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay 

Sticks. My grandson, who loves sticks and has kept a special collection on the family’s patio, is very imaginative with his twigs as long as it involves swordplay (“schwords”) or knives. And the occasional dinosaur.

For the rest of us, sticks can be non-lethal sources of creativity. 

Once you have gathered your sticks, prepare them for craft use by trimming with clippers (or a saw if they are very large). Bringing outdoor flora inside always includes the risk of bugs or dirt riding along, so prune your sticks to manageable size, then soak in a pan or sink of warm water with a splash of vinegar to take care of the bugs and remove any dirt or debris. 

They can be left on paper towels to air dry. It is safe to dry sticks in a very low oven (200-degrees) for 30 minutes to speed the process. 

Further preparation depends on the project. You may want to strip off bark, or even sand and paint or stain your sticks.

For some ideas on making stick toys, check here.

This twig-boat is cute, too.

Stick Wall Art

We’ve been collecting old picture frames from Goodwill to make low cost stick wall hangings. Remove the backing and glass from the frame, if included. If you wish, spray paint the frame your color of choice.

Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay 

Cut the sticks the same length as the frame plus a couple inches longer. Leave the sticks natural, or spray paint them to coordinate with the frame. Place the sticks on the “wrong” side of the frame and fasten in place.

Our fastener of choice is glue, and hot glue works well on this project, but children will need adult supervision for this part. Another alternative is to use a staple gun to fasten the sticks to the back of the frame. Kids need supervision with this as well.

Start of hemp twine macrame on stick

Once the sticks are secure the wall hanging is complete – no glass or backing required.

Macramé Wall Hanging

I love macramé, and the basic knots are not hard to learn. With macramé cord, or smooth twine, create a simple wall hanging from an interesting stick. See our work-in-progress at right.

For a tutorial on a basic knot technique with a stick, watch this video.

Best wishes with your creative efforts!

Margaret