Bookworm Design

Supplies Needed:

• 10+ yards of 2mm Macrame cord
• One 15mm Bead for the head
• Project Board and pins

Knots Used:

• Linen Stitch
• Alternating Square Knots (ASK)
• Barrel Knot
• Square Knot (SK)
• Mirror Square Knot (MSK)
• Wrapped Knot

Cutting and Preparing the Cords

• Cut 6 cords, each 60 inches long
• Cut 1 cord, 10 inches long
• Cut 2 cords, each 20 inches long

Creating the Head

Step 1:  Find the center of all the 60-inch cords and place them on your work surface horizontally.  Place the 8-inch cord at the center point, resting vertically.

Fold the long cords in half, around the short cord.  Pass the folded portion AND the 8-inch cord through the bead. The ends of the short cord should stick out above the bead, for the antennas of the Bookworm Design.

Tie a Barrel Knot using both portions of the short cord (working together). It should rest against the bead.

Designing the Body

Step 3:  Tie a Square Knot just below the bead, using 4 working cords (2 strands working together x 2).  There should be 8 fillers.

Step 4:  Tie the Linen Stitch by taking 1 strand and wrapping it around the others.  Wrap for 1 inch.  The coils should be close together and as tight as you can make them.  Don’t forget the half hitch to secure it.  Switch cords, and wrap the new cord around ALL the others, for another ½ inch.

Step 5:  Separate 4 of the longest strands from the bundle of cords, and move them out of the way.  Choose a different cord from the ones used in the previous steps, and make another 1-inch section of the Linen Stitch. Because you have 4 less strands to wrap around, the design will be narrower.

Step 6:  Switch strands, and continue on for another inch.

Step 7:  Repeat step 6 two more times.

Step 8:  Repeat step 5, separating 4 additional strands (the longest ones).

Step 9:  Complete the body of the Bookworm Design by wrapping for 2 more inches.  Tie a Square Knot with the 4 strands that are left.  The last cord used to make the Linen Stitch should be one of the working cords.

Use one of the 20-inch cords and make a Wrapped Knot at the end of the body.  It should cover the Square Knot you tied in the last step.  Cut off any excess from the 20-inch cord. Be careful not to cut the others.

Step 10:  Trim the 4 ends so they are even.  Tie a Barrel Knot at the tip of each cord. 

If you prefer, you can add a bead to each end, followed by a Barrel Knot.

Creating the Bookmark

To make something other than a bookmark with the Bookworm design, simply adjust the number of rows of ASK.  For example: A necklace could be made by adding beads to the strands, instead of knots.  The design can be hung by the loop in the body.

Step 11:  Use the 8 strands you separated out in steps 5 and 8.  Bring them together so the body of the Bookworm folds as in the image.  Tie a tight Square Knot with 2 working cords and 6 fillers.

Step 12:  Tie the first row of ASK using all the strands.  There should be 2 SK in this row, made up of 4 strands each (2 fillers).  The knot on the right will be a standard Square Knot.  The one on the left, however, should be a Mirror Square Knot. This part of the Bookworm Design needs to be symmetrical, which is why the knots are tied in this manner.

Step 13:  Tie the second row using cords 3 thru 6, making 1 Square knot.

Step 14:  Repeat steps 12 and 13 until the bookmark is the length you want. End the design with a row containing only 1 knot.

Step 15:  Tie 1 SK with 2 working cords and 6 fillers.  Use another 20-inch cord and tie a Wrapped knot around all the strands.  This one does not need to cover the SK; it can start next to it instead.

Finishing Touches