Cotton Crisscross Planter

• 3mm Cotton Cable Cord
• One 6-inch Brass Ring
• One 23-inch Brass Ring
• 2 wood dowels, 13 inches long, ¾-inch thick
• One bead, approximately 30 to 40mm long
  

• Larks Head Knot (Reverse variation)
• Double Half Hitch
• Square Knot
• Wrapped Knot

Cutting Instructions

• Cut 12 cords, each 9 yards long
• Cut 1 cord, 7 yards long
• Cut 1 cord, 30 yards long
• Cut 1 cord, 36 inches long

Section 1 (Top)

Step 1:  Take the 7-yard cord and mount it to the 6-inch ring with a Reverse Larks Head Knot.  Wrap each end around the ring to cover it, heading in opposite directions.  It's important that you wrap the ring very well for the Cotton Crisscross Planter, so the metal cannot be seen. To secure the ends, tie a tight Square Knot (no fillers).

Step 2:  Mount 8 of the 9-yard cords to the ring with reverse Larks Head Knots.  Place them over the area where the SK is tied, so it can’t be seen.  The cords are folded in half in the process, resulting in 16 strands.

Step 3:  Move down 7 inches, and attach each strand to a dowel, with a Double Half Hitch.  Make sure each strand is pulled taut, and the first dowel for the Cotton Crisscross Planter is level.

Step 4:  Take 2 of the 9-yard cords and mount them to the dowel with reverse Larks Head knots.  They should be placed to the left of the others already in place.  Take the remaining two 9-yard cords and do the same, placing them to the right of the others.

Section 2 (Middle)

Row 1: The first row of DHH is made using cords 12 and 13 as the holding cords.  Secure them so they are diagonal.  Cord 12 should head to the right, and 13 should be on your left (crisscrossed). 

Attach cords 11 thru 1 to holding cord 13, with DHH.  Attach cords 14 thru 24 to holding cord 12 with DHH.

Row 2:  The new holding cords are 11 (for the right) and 14 (for the left). 

Attach cords 10 thru 1 to holding cord 14, with DHH.  Be sure to attach the holding cord from the previous row (13).

Attach cords 15 thru 24 to holding cord 11, with DHH.  Attach the previous holding cord (12).

Row 3:  The holding cords for this row are 10 on the right, and 15 on the left. 

Attach cords 9 thru 1 to holding cord 15 with DHH.  Be sure to attach the previous holding cord (14).

Attach cords 16 thru 24 to holding cord 10 with DHH.  Attach the previous holding cord (11).

Step 6:  Mentally number the cords 1 thru 24.  Move down 2 inches. Use cords 11 thru 14 to tie a Square Knot.

Add the bead onto the filler cords (12 and 13).  Tie a Square Knot below the bead.

Row 1:  Mentally re-number the cords 1 thru 24.  Direct holding cord 3 to the center of the diamond shape, on a diagonal slant similar to the top half.  Attach cords 4 thru 12 to it with DHH.

Direct cord 22 towards the center next, as the holding cord on the right.  Attach cords 21 thru 13 to it with DHH. 

To complete the row, attach one holding cord to the other.

Row 2:  Cords 2 and 23 are the next holding cords. 

Attach cords 4 thru 12 to holding cord 2 with DHH.  Attach cords 21 thru 13 to holding cord 23, with DHH. 

To complete the row, attach the previous holding cords to the new ones. Make sure you crisscross them first (Cord 22 on the left, and cord 3 on the right).

Row 3:  The final set of holding cords are 1 and 24.  Attach 4 thru 12 to holding cord 1.  Attach 21 thru 13 to holding cord 24.

To complete the row, attach the previous holding cords to the new ones.  Make sure you crisscross them like you did in Row 2.

Step 8:  Move down 7 inches.  Attach all the cords to the second dowel, with DHH.

Section 3 (Just Above Ring)

Step 9:  Take the 30-yard cord and fold it in half.  Attach it to the large ring with a Reverse Larks Head Knot. Use each end to wrap the ring completely, just like you did with the smaller one at the top of the Cotton Crisscross Planter.  Secure it with a Square Knot, which should be at the bottom of the ring.

Step 10: Divide the cords coming from the dowel into four groups of six.  Mentally label the groups 1 thru 4, moving left to right.

The cords in group 2 should be attached to the ring on the far left side.  There should be 12 inches distance between the dowel and where they are attached.  Those in group 3 should be placed on the far right, also 12 inches below the dowel. 

Refer to the diagram for the Cotton Crisscross Planter as needed, to understand the placement for these strands.

Group 1 should pass under the strands in both groups 2 and 4, heading right.  Attach them just to the left of the strands in group 3, leaving 2 inches of space between the two groups.

Group 4 should pass under the strands in group 3, and over the ones in group 1, heading left.  Attach them just to the right of the cords in group 2, leaving 2 inches of space between the two groups.

Section 4 (Inside Ring)

Step 11: Take the cords in group 2, and attach them to the left side of the ring, approximately 11 inches lower down.  Next, attach them to the ring again, this time near the center of the ring at the bottom of the Cotton Crisscross Planter. Be sure to leave room for another group of cords.

Step 12:  Take the cords in group 3 and repeat the previous step, attaching the cords on the right side of the ring, and near the center at the bottom.

Step 13:  The remaining cords will be used to make the Flower Pouch for your Cotton Crisscross Planter.  Mentally number them 1 thru 12.

Row 1:  Move down 6 inches.  Tie three SK with the 12 strands.

Row 2: Move down 3 inches.  Tie 2 SK with cords 3 – 6 and 7 – 10.

Take cords 1, 2, 11, and 12 and tie a SK.  It should rest at the same level as the others in this row.  Pull it to the front of the others.

Step 14:  Use a 1-yard cord to make a 2-inch long Wrapped Knot around the 12 cords.  Make sure the last Square knot you tied stays in the front.  Also, try to place the top of the Wrapped knot approximately 3 inches below the SK.

Step 15:  Divide the cords into two groups of 6 strands.  Attach them to the lower curve of the ring with DHH.  They should be placed to the right and left of the ones in the center, crossing over them.

Finishing Touches

Step 16:  The fringe at the bottom of the Cotton Crisscross Planter can be decorated with beads, or be left plain. 

To make a beaded fringe, apply beads to each cord, followed by an Overhand Knot.  You can add several along the length.  When you get to the tip of the strand, tie a Barrel Knot after the bead, since they don’t untie as easily.

To make a wavy fringe, trim the cords so they are form a shape of some type.  A V-shape or curved fringe looks very nice.  Unravel each strand, and trim as needed to neaten the fringe.