Elephant Decoration

Description: This Elephant decoration is meant to hang on a wall.  The wire determines the overall shape, so you can modify it to suit your needs.  The pattern is written so the finished size is approimately 12 inches high and 20 inches long. But you can use this Macrame design to make a nice pendant or holiday ornament, simply by using finer cord (1mm to 2mm), and reducing the length of the cut strands to half the size specified.

• 4mm Jute, Hemp, or other material
  Color A:  80 yards
  Color B:  8 yards
• One 32mm round bead (eye)
• Thick craft wire (1 yard)

• Larks Head Knot (reverse variation)
• Double Half Hitch (DHH)
• Alternating Square Knots (ASK)
• Wrapped Knot
• Overhand Knot

Cutting Instructions

Color A:  Cut 1 cord, 10 yards long (body)
             Cut 11 cords, each 5 yards long (body)
             Cut 10 cords, each 1 yard long (ear)
             Cut 2 cords, 18 inches long (tail and eyelashes)
             Cut 1 cord, 4 yards long (to wrap wire)

Color B:  Cut 8 cords, each 6 inches long (tail and eyelashes)
             Cut 6 cords, each 40 inches long (ear)

Designing the Body

Step 1:  Bend the wire into the general shape of the Elephant Decoration.  This includes the trunk, head, and top edge of the body.

Step 2:  Wrap the entire wire with the 4-yard Color A cord.  The best way is to mount it to the wire with a Reverse Larks head knot, placing it half way between the two ends. Use each end of the cord to wrap the wire, moving away from the knot as you progress.  When you are finished wrapping, make a Half Hitch or Overhand knot to hold the cord in place.

Step 3: Fold the 10-yard cord in half (color A), and mount it to the covered wire with a Reverse Larks Head knot.  Place it near the left end, just above the trunk area, where the wire curves.

Next, take each end, and add a Half Hitch on either side of the Larks Head knot.  All the cords will be mounted in this manner.

Step 4:  Mount the eleven 5-yard Color A cords the same way, placing them all to the right of the first cord you mounted.

Step 5:  Arrange the 24 strands into 6 groups, each containing 4 cords.  The Alternating Square Knots you will make in each group will have 2 working cords and 2 fillers.  Mentally number the cords 1 thru 24. 

Row A: Tie the first row of ASK, using cords 1 – 24.   Make sure the knots are horizontal, and that you are facing the Elephant decoration, and do not turn it sideways.

Row B: Tie the ASK with cords 3 thru 22. 

Row C:  Use cords 1 thru 24 to tie the ASK.

Row D:  Pass cords 1 and 2 around the wire, attaching them with Double Half Hitches.  Do the same with cords 23 and 24.   You will still use these strands to make the rest of the Elephant decoration; so bring them back to where they started.

Direct cords 3 – 6 through the hole in the bead. If they cannot all fit, use cords 4 and 5 instead.  Complete the row by tying the ASK using cords 7 thru 22.

Row E:  Tie the ASK with cords 1 – 24.

Row F:  Direct cords 1 and 2 around the wire again, attaching them with DHH. Do the same with cords 23 and 24.  Complete the row by tying the ASK with cords 3 through 22.

Row G:  Tie the ASK with cords 1 – 24.

Row H:  Tie the final row of ASK using cords 3 – 22.

Creating the Trunk

Step 6: Locate cords 1 – 4, which will be used to make the trunk for your Elephant decoration.  Use cord 1 to tie a Double Half Hitch onto the wire, which should be on your left.

Next, use the 4 strands to tie a Square Knot.

Repeat this over and over until the trunk area of the wire is covered.  Stop approximately ½-inch away from the tip of the wire.  Bend the wire over the cords, including the one you used to wrap it, back in step 2.  Tie tight DHH to cover the bended portion, so it cannot be seen. 

Direct the ends to the back of the trunk, and try to slip them through the back of the knots if you can.  Apply glue to hold them in place.

Step 7:  Tie 4 rows of ASK, using the remaining cords (5 – 24).

Step 8: Direct cords 5, 6, 23, and 24 to the back of the Elephant Decoration, and trim them to 2 inches. Weave them into the back of some of the knots and apply glue to hold them in place.  

Making the Legs

Step 9: To make the legs for the Elephant decoration, divide the remaining 16 cords into two groups of 8.  In each group, tie 3 rows of Alternating Square Knots.

In the left leg, direct cord 1 towards the right, to be used as a holding cord.  Attach the remaining 7 strands to it with DHH, pulling each one tightly so the bar that forms rests against the third row of ASK.

For the right leg, use cord 8 as the holding cord (furthest to the right).

Step 10:  Direct the ends to the back of the legs.  Trim the cords so they are 2 inches long.  Pass them through the back of some of the knots if you can.  Apply glue to hold them in place.

Creating the Tail

Step 11: Take 3 of the 6-inch Color B cords and place them at the right end of the wire, to make the tail for your Elephant decoration.  One end of the cords should dangle below the wire.  Bend the wire to hold them in place.

Use an 18-inch Color A cord to make a Wrapped Knot around the tail cords, making sure you go around the end of the wire, too. The top end of the Color B cords should not be seen.

Unravel each strand, and trim them as needed to form the tail. 

Designing the Ears

Step 12: You will need a project board and pins to make the ears.  If you don’t have one, secure the holding cords to the table with tape.

Use one of the 1-yard Color A cords, and tie an Overhand knot about 6 inches from the left end.

Secure the knot to the board, so this holding cord is horizontal, with the knot on your left.

Step 13:  Take 8 of the 1-yard cords (Color A), and mount them to the holding cord with a reverse Larks Head knot.  Take each end and tie an additional Half Hitch on either side of the Larks Head.  Arrange them so they all rest to the right of the Overhand Knot.

Step 14:  Tie an Overhand Knot at the other end of the holding cord, resting next to the other knots.  Both these knots prevent the mounted cords from sliding off the holding cord.

Step 15:  In groups of four, tie a row of 4 Square Knots with the mounted cords.  Pull them tightly, so the ear will curve properly.

Step 16:  Take the last 1-yard cord (Color A) and use it as a second holding cord.  Attach all the strands to it with DHH.  Do not attach the ends of the first holding cord; leave them attached to the board. 

Using the ends of the second holding cord, tie Overhand knots on either side of the row of DHH, to prevent them from sliding off.

Step 17: Divide the 16 strands into 6 groups, each containing either 2 or 3 cords.

Take the six 40-inch Color B cords and make a Wrapped Knot around each group.  It works out better if you start the knot close to the second bar made in step 16, moving outward.  If you place the loop 2.5 inches away from the bar, the Wrapped knots will all be about the same size.

Step 18:  Place the ear onto the Elephant decoration.  Direct the ends of all the cords used to make the ears, through the body of the design, so they end up in back.  This should include the ends of the holding cords.

To hold the ear in place, tie tight Square Knots with groups of two strands, which will have no fillers.  Apply glue and allow it to dry before cutting off the excess material.

Finishing Touches

Step 19:  To make the eyelashes for the Elephant decoration, secure the 18-inch Color A cord to your board or work surface.  It will be used to hold the knots. Mount the remaining 5 Color B cords to it with Reverse Larks Head knots.  Try to arrange it so they are close to the center.

Trim, unravel and fluff the cords to form the eyelashes.

Direct the ends of the color A cord through spaces above the eye, so they end up in back.  The eyelashes should rest around the bead.  Secure the design in the back by tying a tight Square Knot with the two ends of the holding cord.  Apply glue and trim off the excess.