The ancient origin of macramé
The name presumably comes from Arabic dialects, and the technique of knotwork itself was known to many peoples. Knot writing was used both by ancient Slavic tribes and by American Indians.
Interesting is the emergence and peculiarities of the history of macrame, as a necessary household technology, which found practical application in different areas of life. From the stems of plants and animal veins and wool wove clothes, fishing and hunting gear, as well as did a lot of necessary things in everyday life.
In the era of the development of sailing, the art of working with knots developed very widely. Sailors invented and used several thousand kinds of knots to fasten ship’s rigging, and in their spare time, from the remnants of ropes and ropes decorated small items, such as knives, flasks, belts, with weaving.
Now men also often work in this form of creativity. Classes of weaving are good for the nervous system, help develop attention and concentration, as well as contribute to the development of motor skills of the fingers.
What is the art of macrame
Macramé is a technique of weaving with knots. This is an applied art, which originally had only a practical nature. At the dawn of its inception, knotwork allowed to make gear, clothing and other useful things.
Over time, weaving evolved from a routine into an art form. Needlewomen are able to create masterpieces with a minimum of time. The technique is also beneficial to the body. It helps to concentrate and develop fine motor skills.
Advantages of the technique
Macramé has many exceptional indisputable advantages, surpassing other types of handicraft. It is simple and straightforward needlework. If mistakes occur, it is easy to make edits. Good-quality products are very durable and give joy for many years.
In the macrame technique of weaving:
- hammocks;
- toys;
- cachepots;
- Wall panels;
- ridikule.
How to learn macrame weaving
At first, macrame for beginners may seem very complicated and confusing, but in fact, it is enough to learn the basic types of knots and you will get the hang of it.
It is better to learn macramé weaving on thick and multicolored yarns. So you can clearly distinguish the appearance of the knot, and the location of the threads.
Features of weaving
Hands of masters create delightful samples of products in the macramé technique. Acquired experience and constant improvement of skills will help to become a true master.
Initially, it is necessary to equip a place for classes.
The following tools will be needed:
- colored threads;
- scissors;
- thick and thin hooks;
- board, lined with cotton;
- pins;
- needles with a large eye;
- ruler or tape measure;
- clamps (vise);
- glue;
- weights;
- lighter or matches;
- rings of metal.
Macramé is woven from different threads. The main requirement for them is a smooth rounded cut and good twist. When woven, they form a clear and beautiful pattern.
Threads from 0,8 mm to 5 mm in thickness are ideal. The thinner the thread, the more miniature the product will be.
Light or pastel shades of thread look great. You can decorate your handicraft with beads, beads, balls, sticks, wooden rings, or weave it onto a wire frame.
Methods for fixing the threads at the beginning of work
How to master macrame weaving for beginners – this question arises for anyone who wants to do beautiful things in a new technique for themselves. It is better to start learning with thicker threads or laces. So it will be better to see the weaving scheme on the cloth itself, and it will be easier to understand how each type of knot is made.
From skeins or bobbins you need to cut pieces of thread of the right amount and length. After that, they need to be fixed for horizontal or vertical weaving.
Description and diagrams of macrame weaving
To create a product, using this technique, you need to choose a scheme, find the necessary material. Then it is necessary to deal with threads to cut them. In macramé, there are two kinds of thread:
The basis – axial threads, along which the weaving is made. They do not need much, so it is not necessary to cut a long piece.
Working – the threads that make the knots. The consumption of this material will be more, so it is worth to stock up on it properly.
The thread is cut and attached to a special bar. Usually it is a fastener, where the base is shorter than the working thread.
Beginners should take thick and non-slip threads, as weaving with them is much easier.
All the knots are perfectly visible, so there should be no problems.
Tools to help the weaving process
For the convenience of work, it is necessary to stock up on a small set of devices. Here are the main ones:
- A dense pillow or foam plastic, cut to the right size. They will be useful for working with horizontal weaving.
- Weights and clamps, which are needed to tension and fasten the threads when weaving vertically.
- Pins to fix the sections of woven fabric during the weaving process.
- Crochet hooks of the largest numbers.
- Scissors, glue to cut and fix the ends of the threads.
- Various items designed to be woven into macramé, of which beads, woodwork, buttons and rhinestones are the most common.
Selection of threads and cords for weaving
On the market you can find a huge supply of materials for needlework. Depending on the type of product, the right kind of threads or cords are selected for it.
Mulino is a decorative colored threads, which are widely used for embroidery and small works in macrame technique. For weaving it is necessary to choose the smoothest threads, without lint. Weave from them can be popular jewelry in the form of multicolored bracelets (daisies), earrings or pendants.
For the same products, but larger and stiffer, you can buy waxed cotton thread of different colors, which is usually used for sewing shoes. It slides well when working and retains a long volumetric shape, thanks to the impregnation with wax.
Strands of natural silk are well suited for the manufacture of more expensive accessories. They are used to make handbags, purses, various ornaments, braided braid for finishing clothing or interior items.
Nylon waxed thread is a material of larger diameter than the same cotton thread. They can be used to braid household items, make a variety of small decorative things and decorate items made of other materials such as leather or fabric.
Large items for making interior details can be made from jute rope or cord. It has two convenient qualities: sufficient softness and malleability in the work and, at the same time, great strength. It is used to make panels, flower troughs, curtains for doors and windows.
Special threads for beginners in the technique of weaving are also on sale. They are synthetic threads that are convenient, beautiful and practical.
The simplest kinds of weaving
Openwork weaving from threads and cords can begin to study with the Hercules knot. To perform it, you need to take two small sections of thread and fix one end of each of them at the top.
If you get the right thread under the one on the left, you get a knot, which should be tightened. If you attach one more thread from the edges, you get four. The horizontal one acts as a fastener, and the second and third are used to tighten the knots.
On the Internet there are many schemes and instructions for macrame with their own hands and there, necessarily, is a description of a flat knot. The right and left threads are intertwined twice, and then the ends of each thread are connected. A simple flat knot of two loops is formed, which can be further tied in a pattern and get a whole chain of flat knots.
On the basis of these knots is done and a square. To weave it, you need to fasten the ends of four strands, you can multicolored. The two middle strands will remain in the middle and serve for volume, around which the other two strands will form a vertical band of a series of flat knots. This way you can braid and any solid object – a handle for a knife or a cane, a handle for a bag, the base for a curtain.
What styles does macrame go with?
Someone will say that macrame products are a bygone era and grandmother’s pendants, but modern designers are increasingly resorting to them to create very stylish and original interiors.
Objects made in the knotwork technique become the central decoration of the house and can successfully compete in attractiveness with other elements of decor.
Almost no interior in the ethnic style can do without macramé. Such products are decorated with all sorts of fringe, tassels, wooden and metal beads, stylized pendants are added to the weave. Macramé is also excellent for the country style, creating the necessary vintage effect in the interior.
The popular boho trend cannot exist without products made in knotted technique. Bohemian interior looks like a collection of disorganized elements, among which you can find many amazing things, including products from macrame.
Artfully woven panels, door curtains and all kinds of rugs with knots are especially popular in the boho style.
Macramé can be found in Scandinavian-style homes and even in attics. The knotting technique is very suitable for the delicate design of the room, without overloading it with details.
In what style can be used?
Macramé in the modern style of high-tech or minimalism will absolutely be inappropriate, but there are many other, more decorative styles, where this art takes a place of honor.
Boho
A mixture of ethnic, vintage details with a hippie flair. Natural materials and basic shades are considered indispensable attributes. Therefore, wood jewelry with strings will fit in the best way possible.
Scandinavian
Wickerwork looks great surrounded by cold monochrome design: thanks to them, Scandi becomes more cozy. Bonus: one of the attributes of the style are houseplants, which just ask to be in knitted cachet.
Loft
As the industrial style is also very eclectic, macramé will not be superfluous: the truth is better to use dark products – black, gray, brown, maroon.
The variability of macrame is not limited to wall décor: the threads are used to weave bed headboards, air partitions for zoning kitchen-living rooms, children’s cradles.
Despite the high humidity, cord decor is used in bathrooms: holders for flowers or woven pockets, where you can put cosmetics, will be useful.
