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Fancy Owl Purse

Description: This Fancy Owl Purse is similar to an old Macramé pattern that I saw many years ago. It is a small handbag, approximately 9 inches wide and 12 inches tall. The flap looks like the face of an Owl, and the strap has V-shaped designs. The original pattern was published in the 1970's, and was made with Cotton cord. Nowadays we have other materials, but cotton is still a good choice for this unique Macrame project.

The Fancy Owl Purse pattern was updated and improved in March, 2011.

Supplies Needed:

6mm Cord Material (185 yards total)
Project Board and pins
Two 2-inch Rings
Two 24mm Round Beads (Black or Brown for Eyes)
Shank Button (same color as beads)

Knots Used:

Cutting and Preparing Cords

Cut the cords to the following lengths:

Strap: 8 cords, each 7 yards long
Front: 12 cords, each 4 yards long
Back: 12 cords, each 4 yards long
Flap: 12 cords, each 2.5 yards long
Holding Cords: 2 strands, each 36 inches long

Prepare the ends with glue, tape, or wax to prevent unraveling. If using twisted style cord, be sure not to omit this important step.

You can click on the small images of the Fancy Owl Purse, and larger ones will come up in a new window.

Designing the Strap

Step 1: Arrange the cords for the strap vertically on the Project Board, so you have access to the center of them. You’ll design the strap moving from the center towards the ends.

Step 2: Mentally number the ends 1 - 8. Tie 2 Square Knots at the center, using 4 strands per knot. In other words, the SK on the left is made with cords 1 - 4. The one on the right is made with 5 - 8.

Step 3: Crisscross cords 4 and 5. Direct them diagonally, towards the outside of the cords. Cord 5 should head left, and cord 4 to the right. These will be holding cords, so secure them to your board.

Step 4: Attach cords 3 thru 1 to holding cord 5, and 6 thru 8 to holding cord 4. Use Double Half Hitches to attach each strand.

Step 5: Tie a Square Knot with the 6 vertucal strands, using 1 and 8 as working cords, and the other four as fillers.

Do not include the two holding cords, which should still be secured to the board.

Step 6: Direct holding cord 5, which is on the left, towards the center of the diamond shape. Make sure it's diagonal. Attach cords 1 thru 3 to it with DHH.

Step 7: Direct holding cord 4 towards the center next, and secure it. Attach cords 8 - 6 to it with DHH, in that order.

Next, attach holding cord 5 to it as well.

You have now completed the first diamond for the strap of the Fancy Owl Purse.

Step 8: Mentally number the cords coming from the diamond 1 - 8. Tie a Square Knot just below the point, using cords 3 - 6.

Repeat steps 3 thru 8 to make five more diamonds, to finish the first half of the strap for your Fancy Owl Purse. There is no need to crisscross the cords in step 3.

When you are finished making the last diamond, DO NOT tie the Square Knot below it.

Turn the strap around, and repeat steps 3 - 8, to make the second half of the strap.

You will need to make Mirror SK (Right Facing), above and below each diamond, as well as in the center of them. Remove the strap from the board when you are through.

Before you move on, tie Overhand Knots in each of the ends making up the strap. Do this for both halves. This will help you identify them later on.

Creating the Body

Step 9: Secure a holding cord (36 inch) to your project board horizontally. Beginning near the center of it, attach the 12 cords for the front of the Fancy Owl Purse. Use Reverse Larks Head Knots. The cords are folded in half in this process, so you have 24 strands to work with.

Tie a tight Barrel Knot at each end of the holding cord, so they rest next to the mounted strands. This will prevent the cords from sliding off.

Step 10: Tie the first row of Alternating Square Knots so they rest just below the mounting knots. Each knot should be tied with two working cords and two fillers.

Step 11: Make the second row of ASK. There will be 2 cords at each edge that are unused (1, 2, 23, and 24). Mark them with tape so you can identify them easily.

Step 12: Repeat Step 9 to mount the cords for the back of the Fancy Owl Purse.

Step 13: Repeat Steps 10 and 11. There will be four unused cords on the back portion, which should be marked, too.

Step 14: Place the front of the Fancy Owl Purse on the left, and the back of it on your right. Place one end of the strap between them. Arrange it so the SK in the first row of the back and front lines up with the SK in the center of the last diamond.

On the left, tie a SK using cords 23 and 24 from the front, along with cords 1 and 2 from the strap.

On the right, tie a SK using cords 1 and 2 from the back, along with cords 7 and 8 from the strap.

Step 15: Turn the purse around, and repeat step 14 to attach the other end of the strap to the opposite edge of the front and back designs. Double check to make sure the strap is not twisted before tying the knots.

Step 16: Hang the Fancy Owl Purse up by the strap, to make it easier to work on. Direct the ends of the holding cords to the inside and weave them through the back of some of the knots in the strap. Use fabric glue to hold them in place permanently.

Step 17: Make the third row of ASK, moving all the way around both halves of the purse. Be sure not to combine the cords for the front with those from the back. You’re working on this as if it were a cylinder or tube.

Step 18: Here's an image of what the area below the strap looks like after several rows of ASK are tied.

Tie 11 more rows of ASK, continuing to work all the way around.

Bottom Diagonal Edge

Step 19: The bottom edge of the Fancy Owl Purse needs to be worked on separately, rather than all the way around. DO NOT use the strap cords, which have the Overhand knots in them. Use only the 24 strands for the front.

Tie the rows of ASK as follows:

Row 1: Use cords 1 - 4, 5 - 8, 9 - 12, 13 - 16, 17 - 20, and 21 - 24.
Row 2: Use cords 3 - 6, 7 - 10, 11 - 14, 15 - 18, and 19 - 22.
Row 3: Use cords 5 - 8, 9 - 12, 13 - 16, and 17 - 20.
Row 4: Use cords 7 - 10, 11 - 14, and 15 - 18.
Row 5: Use cords 9 - 12 and 13 - 16.
Row 6: Use cords 11 - 14.

Step 20: Repeat step 19, using the cords from the back of the Fancy Owl Purse.

Step 21: Fold the Fancy Owl Purse so the diagonal edges are together, and the front is on top of the back.

Step 22: Starting at the point at the center of the purse, take one cord from each half (back and front), and tie a tight SK. These knots will have no fillers.

Step 23: Repeat this process all along both diagonal edges, to close the bottom. Make sure you include the strap cords.

This is what the lower edge looks like when you are finished.

Tip: After each knot is tied, trim the cord to 4 - 6 inches, so you know which ones have been used.

Creating the Flap

Step 24: Take the 10 cords for the flap and mount them onto the holding cord, in the back portion of the Fancy Owl Purse. Fit them in between the other knots. Use Reverse Larks Head knots to attach them. It will be a tight squeeze.

Step 25: Mentally number the cords 1 - 20. Tie 9 rows of Alternating Square Knots.

Step 26: Divide the cords into five groups of four strands. Slide a bead over cords 6 and 7, and tie a SK below it, using cords 5 - 8. Slide a bead over cords 14 and 15, and tie a SK just below, using cords 13 - 16.

Tie 2 Square Knots using cords 1 - 4. Do the same with cords 17 - 20. Tie two SK with cords 9 - 12 (between the eyes).

Step 27: Move cords 9 - 12 out of the way. Tie a SK with cords 3 - 6, and another one with 15 - 18.

Step 28: Secure cord 10 to your board, since it will hold the knots. Use cord 9 to tie 3 vertical Larks Head knots onto it. The heads should face outward.

Cord 11 is the next holding cord. Tie 3 LH onto it with cord 12, to make the right half of the clasp.

Tie the next few rows of ASK as follows:

Row 1: Use cords 1 - 4, 5 - 8, 9 - 12, 13 - 16, and 17 - 20.
Row 2: Use cords 3 - 6, 7 - 10, 11 - 14, and 15 - 18.
Row 3: Use cords 5 - 8, 9 - 12, and 13 - 16.
Row 4: Use cords 7 - 10 and 11 - 14.
Row 5: Use cords 9 - 12.

Step 29: To finish off the edge of the flap, simply take each strand and tie a Barrel Knot. They should rest next to the last row of SK, all along the edge.

Finishing Touches

Step 30: Take a piece of scrap cord and direct it through spaces between the eyes. Position the rings around the eyes. The scrap cord holds them in place. Tie a Square Knot on the underside of the flap, to hold the rings securely.

Step 31: Cut scrap cord into 8-inch sections and mount them to the rings with Larks Head Knots. Trim them so they are neat, and unravel the ends. You can brush them if you want the eyes to be fluffy. Pass scrap cord through spaces in the flap and around the rings again, in two or more areas, to keep the design in place.

Trim and neaten the feathers around the eyes, making sure the metal is completely hidden.

Step 32: To make the fringe along the bottom edge of the Fancy Owl Purse, trim the cords so they are approximately 2 inches long. Make sure you trim them so they follow the angle of the bottom. Unravel each one and trim them again to neaten them. Do the same with the cords at the edge of the flap.

You can brush the fibers to make the fringe fluffy, which as you can see looks very nice.

Step 33: Take a piece of scrap cord and slide it through the shank of the button. Direct the ends to the inside of the purse, after placing the button where you want it. Make sure it fits through the clasp, and is in the center of the front portion of the Fancy Owl Purse. Tie a tight Square Knot on the inside of the purse to secure the button.

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