Collar Choker

Description:  This Collar Choker can be embellished in several different ways, or made with no decorations at all. By adding beads, charms, a pendant, or novelty buttons, this Micro-Macrame design can end up having a very elaborate appearance.  Be sure to use cord that is comfortable to the touch, since this choker rests against the skin.

Supplies Needed:

• 1mm Cotton Embroidery Cord or similar soft material (30 yards total)
• 1 Shank Style Button, ½ inch in size
• Measuring Tape
• Project Board and pins or tape

Knots Used:

• Buttonhole Clasp (Vertical Larks Head Knots)
• Square Knot
• Alternating Square Knots

Preparing the Cords

• 2 strands 120 inches long
• 2 strands 100 inches long
• 2 strands 90 inches long
• 2 strands 80 inches long
• 2 strands 75 inches long
• 2 strands 70 inches long

Creating the Buttonhole Clasp

Find the center of the 120-inch cords.  Secure both of them to your board near that point.  Use the left strand to tie 5 Vertical Larks Head knots onto the right cord.

Turn the design around, and tie 5 more knots in the same manner, next to the others.

To complete the clasp, bring all 4 strands together, forming a circle.  Tie a Square knot to secure it. 

Tip: Make sure the button fits before tying the knot. If you want the clasp to be larger than ½ inch, tie additional knots before completing the loop.

Designing the First Half of the Collar Choker

Step 1:  Tie 2 additional Square Knots just below the one tied for the clasp. 

For the remainder of the pattern, you will by tying 2 Square knots, one below the other. I’ll refer to them as Double Square Knots.

If you want the edges of the Collar Choker to be symmetrical, the knots along the right edge can be tied as Mirror Square Knots, which are made in reverse. See Square Knots for more details.

Step 2:  Add a 100-inch cord to two of the strands.  You do this by centering the new cord under the strands you are adding it to.  Secure it with a pin.  Tie Double Square Knots using the new strands as the working cords and the other ones as fillers.   Repeat the process with the other 100-inch cord, attaching it to the other 2 strands.  You will end up with 8 strands to work with.

Step 3:  Alternate Cords by omitting 2 strands furthest to the left and right. In other words, if the strands were numbered 1 thru 8, you would use cords 3 through 6 to tie the Double Square Knots.

Step 4:  Using ALL the cords, tie 2 sets of Double Square knots.

Step 5:  Repeat steps 3 and 4. This part of the Collar Choker design will rest in the back and side of the neck, so is the best place to make adjustments.  For a choker less than 15 inches, omit steps 5 and 6.

Step 6:  Repeat steps 3 and 4 again, if you want the design to be 15 inches or more. You can add additional rows of knots in this section, following steps 3 and 4 above.  Make sure you end with step 4 (two sets of knots).

Step 7:  Repeat step 3.  Add the 90-inch cords to the strands furthest to the right and left, just as you did in step 2, tying Double Square Knots. These should be the strands that were omitted.  You will now have 12 strands to work with, and this row should have 3 sets of knots. 

Step 8:  Alternate cords by omitting 2 from the right and left sides.  Divide the remaining strands into two groups and tie Double Square Knots in each group.

Step 9:  Using ALL the strands, tie Double Square knots in each of the three groups.

Step 10:  Repeat step 8. Add the 80-inch cords to the two strands furthest to the right and left of the design (the ones you omitted). Add them just as you did before, tying Double Square Knots.   When finished you will have 16 strands, and 4 sets of knots.

Step 11:  Alternate cords by omitting 2 strands from the right and left sides of the design.  Tie Double Square knots in the remaining 3 groups.

Step 12:  Use ALL the cords, and divide them up into four sets.  Tie Double Square knots in each of the four groups.

Step 13:  Repeat step 11.  Add the 75-inch cords to the strands furthest to the right and left (the ones omitted). Add them as you did earlier in the choker pattern, tying Double Square knots.  This row will now have 20 strands to work with and have 5 distinct groups of knots.

Step 14:  Alternate cords by omitting 2 from each side of the design.  Tie Double Square knots in the remaining 4 groups.

Step 15:  Use ALL the strands and tie Double Square knots in each of the 5 groups.

Step 16:  Repeat step 14 and 15.

Step 17:  Repeat step 14.  Add the 70-inch cords to the strands not being used, furthest to the right and left edges.  Tie Double Square knots when adding them in.  You should now have 6 sets of knots and 24 strands to work with.  Mark this spot with 2 pins, by securing the Collar Choker to the project board at this point.

Step 18: Alternate Cords and tie another row of Double Square knots, in each of the groups, omitting the strands furthest to the right and left.  There should be 5 sets of knots.

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Designing the Second Half of the Collar Choker

Step 20:  Now you will reverse the process to complete the other half of the choker.  Start by counting the rows from the pins placed in step 17, to where you ended in step 19.  Tie Alternating Square knots for that same number of rows.  Some rows will have six knots, others five.  You should end this step with a row consisting of 6 knots.

Tie the first Square Knot in one group along the edge, using 4 strands.  Add the omitted strands in as fillers for the second Square Knot, which is tied just below the first one.  Trim them so they are shorter than the others and can be easily identified.  Make sure they rest on the inside of the Collar Choker design. Do the same with the omitted strands at the opposite edge.

Step 22:  Alternate cords, and tie another row of Double Square knots. There should be 4 sets of knots.  For the next row, use all the strands to make the Double Square Knots.  There will be 5 sets of them.

Step 23:  Repeat step 22.

Step 24:  Omit 2 strands from each side of the design.  Work them in as before, while you are tying the next row of knots.  Tie Double Square Knots using the remaining strands.  There should be 4 groups of knots in this row.

Step 25:  Alternate Cords, and tie the next row, which should consist of 3 sets of Double Square knots.  Use all the strands for the next row of knots (4 sets).

Step 26:  Omit 2 cords from each end, working them into the pattern as described in step 24.  Tie a row of Double Square knots with the remaining cords.  There should be 3 sets of knots.

Step 28:  Count the number of rows on the other end of the Collar Choker, between the single Square knots next to the clasp and where the design widens into 3 groups of knots.  This is the section where one row will have 2 sets of knots, and the next will have a single knot (steps 3 thru 6).  Tie the same number of rows, omitting the 2 strands closest to the right and left edge before you get started. Work them into the knots as you did before.  You should end up with a row consisting of 2 sets of knots.

Step 29:  Using the remaining strands, tie 3 Square Knots.  Use 2 strands to tie the knots, and the rest as fillers. 

Finishing Touches

Step 30:  Direct the working cords to the back of the Collar Choker design, and tie a tight Square knot with NO fillers.  Apply glue and allow it to dry.  Cut off any remainder.

Step 31:  Slide the button onto 2 of the remaining strands.  Use those same strands as working cords, and the others as fillers.  Tie a tight Square Knot.  Apply glue and allow it to dry.  Cut off any remaining cord.