Basket Cradle

• 4mm Macrame Cord (Nylon or Cotton) – 300 yards
• Two 4-inch Brass Rings
• Four 7-inch Brass Rings
• Rattan Hanging Chair or Basket (15 to 18 inches tall)
• 16 Oval Beads (32mm long)
• 4 Round Beads (25mm)
• 65 Beads (15mm)
• Project Board and Pins
• Tape

• Larks Head Knot
• Alternating Square Knots (ASK)
• Double Half Hitch (DHH)
• Spiral Stitch
• Barrel Knot
• Overhand Knot (OH)

Cutting Instructions:

Cut 24 cords, each 10½ yards long
Cut 48 cords, each 36 inches long (1 yard)

Prepare the cords by applying tape to the ends, to prevent unraveling.  This is especially important if you are using twisted style material to make the Basket Cradle.

Creating the First Hanger Design

Step 1:  Mount 12 of the cords to one 4-inch ring with Larks Head knots. Arrange the cords into two groups of 6, across from each other on the ring.  When you are finished, there will be 24 strands available, in two separate groups. 

The original pattern for the Basket Cradle suggested you suspend the ring while you work, but you can also make it with the ring placed on a table.  Just make sure you have plenty of room to work.

Tip:  To make the cords easier to control, bundle up the bulk of the material by wrapping the ends around your hand several times.  Secure the bundle with a rubber band or scrap cord, after sliding it off your hand.  This is called a Butterfly, and really helps if you are working with long cords.  As you progress, simply loosen the bundle, and pull out what you need.

Step 2:  Using ONE GROUP of 12 strands, tie the first row of 3 Alternating Square Knots, close to the ring.  Use two working cords and two fillers per knot.

Step 3: Tie several more rows of ASK, until the panel measures 4 inches long.

Step 4: Mentally number the cords 1 thru 12, moving left to right.  Use cord 1 to hold the knots, and direct it horizontally, to the right.  Secure it to your board so it’s taut.  Attach cords 2 thru 12 to it with DHH. 

Direct the same holding cord back to the left and secure it again.  Attach cords 12 thru 2 to it with DHH, in that order.

Step 5:  Divide the cords into three groups of four.  Tie the Spiral Stitch in each group, consisting of 7 knots.

Step 6: Alternate the cords like you do with ASK, and tie another set of Spiral Stitch sennits (2).  Tie an Overhand knot with cords 1 and 2 as well as 11 and 12, since they are not used to make the sennits.  These knots should line up with the middle of the Spirals.

Tie a third set of Spiral Stitches the same way, alternating back to using all the cords, so there are three sennits.

Step 7:  Repeat step 4.

Step 8: Attach all the cords to the top of a 7-inch ring, with Double Half Hitches.  The distance between the DHH you made in step 7, and the ring, should be 4 inches in the center, and 5 inches towards the outside edges of the Basket Cradle. 

Step 9:  Divide the cords into three groups of four cords again.  Tie one SK in each group, for a total of 3 knots.  Mentally number the knots 1 thru 3. Place a 15mm bead on each of the working cords for knot 2.  Tie 2 SK just below the bead, using only those four cords.

Add one 32mm Oval bead to both filler cords for knot 1 as well as knot 3.  Tie an Overhand Knot in each of the working cords.  They should be lined up with the middle of the Oval bead.  Tie a Square Knot just below each of the Oval beads.  The strands with the OH knots are still the working cords.

Step 10: Mentally number the cords 1 thru 12.  Use cords 3 thru 6 to tie one SK.  Do the same with cords 7 thru 10.

Add one 25mm Bead onto both cords 5 and 6.  Add one 15mm bead to cord 4 as well as cord 7.

Tie an Overhand knot in cord 1, so it lines up with the beads.  Do the same with cord 12.

Step 11: Repeat step 9.  When you are finished, attach all the cords to the bottom of the ring with DHH.

Step 12:  Move down 4 inches in the center and 5 inches near the outside.  This mimics what you did in step 8.  Next, repeat step 4.

Step 13:  Repeat steps 5 and 6, followed by step 4 again.  This is the reverse order of what you did at the top of the Basket Cradle.  Finish this step by tying 5 rows of ASK.

Step 14:  Direct cords 1 and 12 towards each other, in a V shape.  They are holding cords, so make sure they’re taut.  Attach cords 2 thru 6 to holding cord 1, with DHH.  Attach cords 11 thru 7 to holding cord 12.  To complete the design, attach one holding cord to the other.

Step 15:  Repeat steps 2 thru 14 with the other 12 cords coming from the same 4-inch ring (same hanger design).

Creating the Second Hanger Design

Step 16:  Repeat steps 1 thru 15 to make a second hanger for the other end of the Basket Cradle.

Finishing Touches

Step 17:  To attach one panel of the hanger to the basket, by directing 6 cords to the inside of it, and 6 on the outside.  Take one cord from the inside, and pass it through a space in the basket, to the outside.  Do the same with one on the outside, heading to the inside.  Wrap them around the top edge of the basket once.  Using the two strands together, tie a tight Barrel knot.  It should rest on the outside of the Basket Cradle.

Repeat this process 5 more times, using the rest of the cords.

Do the same with the second half of the same hanger, attaching it to the opposite side of the basket, directly across from the first half.  Make sure it hangs evenly.

Step 18:  Attach the second hanger at the opposite end of the Basket Cradle, in the same manner.

Step 19:  To make the Tassels, take the 1-yard cords and divide them into four bundles of 12.  Use a 20-inch piece of scrap cord and tie it around the middle of one bundle.  Fold the bundle in half, and wrap the cord around the top of the bundle several times.  End by making a Half Hitch.

Repeat the process to make 3 more Tassels.

Step 20:  Attach the Tassels in the area where the hangers were attached to the basket.  Just pass the ends of the scrap cords through openings, and tie tight Barrel knots to hold them in place. 

Apply beads to the tips of the cords, after trimming them so they are even.  Tie a Barrel knot below the beads to hold them in place.  Make sure you include the ends of the cords used to make the hanger.