Brocade Knot
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Description:
The Brocade Knot is very unique and resembles a flower.
This is a challenging Chinese Macrame technique,
compared to the other decorative knots. It looks like a
confusing bundle of coils at first, but it really does work
out in the end. You can use it to decorate just about anything.
Try making a chain of them as part of a belt. Or create
a special bookmark with an Oriental flair.
Note: When designing this unique knot,
be sure to use some type of Project Board
that can hold pins. You’ll need them to help you control
the loops.
You can click on any of the small images for the
Brocade Knot, and a larger photo will show up in a new window.
Revised in January, 2010
To practice the Chinese Brocade Knot, you’ll need
a long cord, at least 72 inches long. Locate the center
and secure it to your board directly in front of you. Secure
all the loops as you make them, and mentally label each fold or loop as shown in the images.
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Step 1: Fold the cord in half. Form Loop 1 by directing the right portion to the left, under the left portion of the cord. The left portion will be called the tail, and the right is the working end for now. Secure the crossing point. Bring the cord back to the right, forming loop 2. Pass the working end over the tail as you do so. |
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Step 2: Create Loop 3 on the right, in a clockwise direction. Direct the working end under loop 1, so you end up going under all 3 coils in that area. You should end up at the top of the knot, on the left side. Remember to secure the loops as they are made. |
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Step 3: Direct the working end back down towards the right. Form a narrow fold between loops 1 and 2. Mentally label it loop 4. I pulled it a little too snug in the image, so you should have a bit more slack than what is shown.
Create loop 5 at the lower right, in a clockwise direction. Pass the end under loop 3, going under both coils. |
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Step 4: Direct the working end into loop 1 from below. Next, bring it back down towards the bottom of the knot, passing over all the coils. |
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This is what the first half of the Brocade Knot should look like at this point. The working end rests to the right of the tail. Make sure loop 4 is a little wider than shown. You'll see what I mean in the next step.
Step 5: You will now switch ends. Use the left portion (tail) as the working end, and secure the one you were just using. |
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Step 6: The black stick was used to widen loops 2 and 4, which rest on your left, near the top of the Brocade knot. You'll be passing the new working end through them, from below, which follows the path of the stick. |
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Step 7: The stick shows the path again. When you went into loops 2 and 4, it made another loop (#6). To make loop 7 on the upper left, rotate counter-clockwise and pass the end into loops 2 and 6. Pass over the secured end, so the cord comes to rest near loop 5. |
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Step 8: Direct the working end into loop 5, from the top. Rotate back to the left, passing under the secured end, which is indicated by the stick.
Go into loop 6 from below, which is on the lower left. This step forms loop 8, which nestles inside loop 5. |
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Step 9: There's that stick again, showing the path. Form Loop 9 on the lower left, in a counter-clockwise direction. Direct the end into loop 6 and 8, and out towards loop 3 (upper right). |
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Step 10: You're almost finished! The stick shows the path again. Direct the end into loop 3. Pass under both parts of loop 5. Go into loop 8 and 6 from below. In the image you can only see loop 6, but you need to go into both of them. |
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Step 11: Keep the pins on the outer loops, which are numbered 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. Remove the remaining pins. Tighten the center first, by pulling on the loops.
Remove the slack from each loop one at a time. Don't rush the tightening process, since it's the most important step! |
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Ready to make a Macrame project? You can obtain the supplies in the online store, that was specially set up for Free Macrame Patterns.. Simply click on the Acajou banners, like the one below, and you will be sent to the store.
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