Diamond Point Curtain

Description: The Diamond Point Curtain has a beautiful diamond design along the bottom edge.  It’s supposed to be a short curtain, resting over the top 1/3 of the window.  This is a great Macramé project for beginners, and teaches some interesting techniques. 

The finished size is approximately 12 inches tall and 40 inches wide.  To modify the width to fit your window size, simply cut more cords (4 cords per inch).  Make sure you end up with an even number of strands. 

To make the Diamond Point curtain taller (top to bottom), cut each of the cords an additional 8 inches longer for every additional inch of length you add.

Supplies Needed: 

• 4mm cord in 2 colors (Color A - 200 yards) (Color B- 90 yards)
• 1 Tension Rod at least 42 inches in length
• Beads (optional)

Decorative Knots Used:

• Alternating Square Knots (ASK)
• Larks Head Knot
• Double Half Hitch (DHH)
• Square Knot (SK)
• Mirror Square Knot (MSK)
• Wrapped Knot

Cutting and Mounting Cords

Step 1: Cut the cords as follows:

Color A – Cut 72 cords, each 100 inches long.

Prepare the ends with tape, wax, or glue to prevent unraveling.  See Cord Preparation for more details.

Step 2:  Mount the cords to the rod with Larks Head knots in the following order, folding them in half in the process.  Move left to right as you attach the strands.

• Mount 8 Color B followed by 8 Color A Cords.
• Mount 8 Color B cords, then 56 Color A Cords.
• Mount 8 Color B followed by 8 Color A Cords. Finish with 8 Color B cords.

Designing the Curtain

Step 3:  Tie the first row of Alternating Square Knots directly below the rod.  Use 4 cords per knot (2 fillers).  These should all be left-facing Square Knots.

Step 4:  Alternate the cords, and use 2 strands from adjacent knots to make each of the new ones in the second row.   Tie a row of Mirror Square Knots, which are right-facing.

IMPORTANT: Six of the knots will be composed of both colors.  On the left portion of the design, tie 3 of these dual-color knots as regular, left-facing SK.  All the other knots for this row should be MSK.

Step 5:  Tie another row of ASK, as you did in step 3 (left facing only).

Step 6:  Repeat step 4.

Step 7:  Continue to alternate between steps 3 and 4, as you tie the remaining rows.  Stop when this part of the Diamond Point Curtain measures approximately 8 inches from top to bottom.  Make sure you end on a row containing all left-facing SK (like step 3).

Step 8:  Use the first 16 strands on the left (color B).  Tie ASK as follows, after mentally numbering them 1 – 16.  Tie each SK with 4 cords.

Row 1:  Tie 3 MSK with cords 3 thru 14.              

Row 2:  Tie 3 SK using cords 1 thru 12.

Row 3:  Tie 2 MSK using strands 3 thru 10.

Row 4:  Tie 2 SK using 1 thru 8.

Step 9:  You will now be making “V” Patterns with the ASK along the bottom edge.  Organize the cords into groups of 16, moving left to right. 
Mentally number the strands 1 thru 16 in each group.  Tie 3 rows of ASK as follows:

Row 1:  Tie 3 MSK with cords 3 thru 14.
Row 2:  Tie 2 SK with cords 5 thru 12.
Row 3:  Tie 1 MSK with cords 7 thru 10.

Repeat this process all the way across the lower edge of the Diamond Point Curtain.

Making the Points

Step 10:  Now you will be making the “Points” along the bottom edge with rows of Double Half Hitches (DHH).  Organize, and mentally number each group of 16 strands, as you did in the previous steps.  For each design, you will use cords from 2 groups, as follows:

Use cord 1 from the right group (color A), and direct it diagonally towards the left.  Secure it so it is taut, since it is used as a holding cord. 

Attach cords 8 through 16 from the left group to the holding cord with DHH.   This process is easier if you attach them in reverse order (16, 15, …8).

Step 11:  Use cord 2 from the right group (color A) as the holding cord, and tie the next row of DHH onto it, so they rest just below the first row. The DHH are tied with cords 8 through 16 from the left group. Make sure the knots are tied firmly with no space between the bars.

Step 12:  Continue this process for 5 more rows, progressing through the next five strands in the right group as the holding cord. 

Step 13:  Repeat steps 10 through 12 with the remaining groups of cords, until you reach the center of the Diamond Point curtain.

Finishing Touches

Step 15:  Trim the cords coming from the Wrapped Knot at the edges to approximately 6 inches.  Apply beads to the ends followed by a Barrel knot. 
Do you prefer not to use beads?  Consider finishing the ends with the Matthew Walker knot.

Step 16:  Trim the cords along the bottom edge of the Diamond Point Curtain so they are 2 inches long.  Flip the curtain over and weave the ends into the design to hold them in place.  Apply glue to the ends to secure them to the back.