Cell Phone Belt

Description:  The Cell Phone Belt is actually a tiny Macrame purse attached to a simple belt design.  You can use it for your phone, or other small items.  This is a great project for beginners who have a little experience.  This Macrame pattern features tiny picot loops along the edge of the flap, which is part of the back. You can make this design without the picots if you wish.

In the images below, I used a different size material so you could see the knots better. You can click on the icons and larger images will come up in a new window, showing the details.

The finished size will be approximately 4 inches wide x 6 inches long. You can modify the overall length to up to 8 inches, if you have a larger cell phone.

• 2mm Cotton cord or similar material (93 yards)
• 1-inch shank style Button
• 4 Beads with 8mm holes
• Project Board and pins

• Barrel Knot
• Interlaced Plaits
• Alternating Square Knots
• Double Half Hitch

Cutting and Preparing Cords

Belt:  Cut 4 cords, each 5 yards long.

Purse:  Cut 36 cords, each 72 inches long

Extras:  Cut 4 holding cords, each 18 inches long

Creating the Belt

Step 1:  Match up one end of all four 5-yard cords for the belt.  Tie a Barrel knot with the 4 cords (working together), 10 inches from the end.  Secure the knot to your board with a sturdy pin. 

Tip: You can use other decorative knots to make the Cell Phone Belt.  Here are some suggestions:

• Half Hitch Sennit (with holding cords)
• Square Knot sennit
• Spiral Stitch sennit
• Sailors Knot sennit (with 2 cords working as one)
• Vertical Larks Head sennit

Step 3: Slide the beads over all four ends.  Push them onto the braided area, arranging them where you would like them to sit.  The beads can be moved later on, since they are not attached to the cords. 

Note: If you used other knots, you may need to use beads with a larger hole.

Step 4:  Tie another Barrel knot with the four cords.  Trim the excess to 10 inches, so both ends of the belt match.

To finish off the tips of each cord, you can tie tight Barrel knots to prevent unraveling.  If you prefer, you can simply apply glue to the ends to keep them looking neat.  See Finishing Touches for more information.

Move the belt off to the side while you work on the flap for the purse.

Designing the Flap

Tie a second row of ASK, using all the cords, in groups of four.

Repeat the process one more time, adding the last 2 SK Picots. Make sure the first row of ASK is tied beginning with cord 3. The second row of ASK will use all the cords.

When you are finished, there will be 32 cords available to make the back portion of the Cell Phone Belt.

Step 8:  Mentally number the cords 1 thru 32.  Tie the next row of ASK using cords 3 thru 14 and 19 thru 30.  This will leave a space for the button that will be used to close the flap for your Cell Phone Belt.

Step 9:  Make another row of ASK using all the cords.

Step 10:  Place two of the 18-inch cords horizontally, so they rest on top of the strands. Secure them at each end, so they are taut, since they are holding cords. Attach each of the cords to both of them with Double Half Hitches.

Move the Flap for the Cell Phone Belt to the side for now, while you work on the front portion.

Starting the Front of the Purse

Step 12: Place 2 more cords on your board horizontally, to be used as holding cords for the front. Attach the remaining 16 cords for the purse to them, with Larks Head knots.  You can make them the regular direction, or use the reverse variation.  Try to arrange it so the cords are attached in the central portion of the holding cords. Since each strand will be folded in half, you will end up with 32 strands to make the front.

Carefully move the front of the Cell Phone Belt to the side, so you have room for the Flap.

Creating the Body

Step 14:  Place the Flap for the Cell Phone Belt back on your board, so it's upside down.  The inside of it should be facing upward. Arrange it so the ends are all heading vertically.

Place the belt on top of the Flap, horizontally. It should rest just below the bar made by the DHH ( Step 10).

You need to decide if you want the purse attached to the center of the belt, or slightly off center.  So move the belt as needed, until you like the placement.

Step 15:  Arrange the cords so that every other strand coming from the Flap passes in front of the belt.  The rest need to remain behind it. 

At each edge, one holding cord should be in front of the belt, while the other one remains behind.

Step 16:  Place the cords from the Front on top of the Belt and Flap.  The inside should be facing down.  The row of Larks Head knots should rest right on top of the belt. Place a piece of paper between the cords from the front and the ones from the flap. This way you won't get them confused.

Step 17:  Start at the left edge, and tie a row of ASK in the front only, using ALL the strands.  Be sure to include the holding cords. 

When you get to the right edge, CAREFULLY flip the design over to work on the back of the Cell Phone Belt. Since half the cords are in front of the belt and the others behind, the knots will tighten around it, securing it in place.

Step 18:  Continue to tie at least 15 more rows of ASK, or until the length of the Cell Phone Belt is approximately 6 inches (top to bottom).  You will work on the front and the back as if it were a tube. You can add up to 2 inches to the length if you need to make the purse longer.

Step 19:  Take one of the 18-inch holding cords and lay it across the ends horizontally.  Starting at the left edge of the Cell Phone Belt, attach ALL the vertical cords to it with DHH. Make sure you attach the cords for the back, too. When you are finished, the ends of the holding cord will be together.

Tie a tight Square knot (no fillers) with the two ends of the holding cord. 

Step 20:  Repeat step 19 with the other 18-inch cord, but start on the right edge of the design instead, working all the way around. Tighten the DHH so there is no space between the two rows.

Finishing Touches

Step 21: Turn the Cell Phone Belt inside out, so you have access to the bottom.   Take 2 cords from the back as well as the front, and tie a tight SK.  Do this all the way across the bottom.  Be sure to tie off the holding cords, too.

Step 22:  Trim the ends to 2 inches, and apply fabric glue to the entire row of Square Knots.  When it is dry, trim the ends to approximately ½-inch long. 

Step 23:  Turn the Cell Phone Belt back the right way.  The flap needs to be folded over the front section. 

Determine where the button needs to be placed to match the buttonhole.  Use a piece of scrap cord and direct it into spaces in the front where the button will rest.  Center it and direct the ends into the shank of the button, heading into it from different directions.

Tie a tight SK with the two ends (no fillers).  Apply glue and allow it to dry before cutting off the excess.