Macrame Splendor

Description:  Macrame Splendor is a lovely Hanging Table that is 6 feet tall when completed.  It features a very nice brushed fringe at both the top and bottom. 

The Macrame Table in the image was made by Rocky Czekala. She provided the photo as well as the inspiration for this project.

Decorative Knots Used:

• Wrapped Knot
• Double Half Hitch (DHH)
• Alternating Square Knots
• Spiral Stitch
• Linen Stitch

Supplies Needed:

• 6mm Braided or Twisted Cord: (3) 100-yard rolls
• Three 9-inch Rings
• One 12-inch Ring
• One 2-inch Ring
• 3 Beads with holes large enough for 4 cords
• 1 Circular piece of glass or finished wood, 20 inches in diameter

Cutting and Preparing the Cords

Cut the cords as follows:

18 strands of material, each 12 yards long
12 cords, each 6 yards long
One 2-yard cord

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

Creating the Top Section

Step 1:  Fold all of the 12-yard cords in half, and pass them through the 3-inch ring.  Center the cords so the ends are even. 

Fold the 6-yard cords in half, and place them on top of the long cords.

Step 2: Use the 2-yard cord and tie a Wrapped knot around all the strands.  Try to wrap for at least 2 inches.  Apply glue to the wrapped portion and cut off anything left of the short cord when the glue is dry.

Step 3:  Move down 4 inches.  Attach all the 12-yard cords to one
9-inch ring, with DHH.  Arrange them into alternating groups.  Eight strands should be followed by a group of 4, then 8 again and so on, all the way around the ring.

Step 4:  Attach the 6-yard cords to the ring with DHH.  The best way to do this is to secure 4 at a time, so they rest between the groups you made in step 3.

Step 5:  Take 4 of the short cords (6-yard) and tie a sennit of Square Knots (SK).  Stop when the design is 5 inches long.

Use the next 6 strands and tie Alternating Square Knots (ASK). Each of the knots will have only 1 filler cord.  Stop when the sennit is 5 inches long.

Step 6:  Repeat step 5 with the remaining cords, alternating between groups of 4 and 6.  When finished, you should have 6 of each type of sennit.

Step 8: Select 4 strands coming from one SK sennit, and 2 from the next group over (ASK sennit). Tie a new Alternating Square Knot sennit with these strands, measuring 4 inches. 

Repeat step 8 with the remaining strands, using groups of 6 cords for each sennit.

Step 9:  Repeat step 7.

Step 11:  Trim the remainder of the 6-yard cords to approximately 6 to 8 inches, and unravel them.  Brush until they are smooth.  SAVE the scraps for the last step.  Apply glue to the wrapped portions for extra security.  To alter the appearance of this Macrame Splendor table, try adding small beads to the ends for a beaded fringe instead of a fluffy one.

Designing the Long Sennits

Step 12:  Now you will use the 12-yard cords.  Divide them up into 3 groups of 4, and three groups of 8. 

Using each of the 4-strand groups, tie a Spiral Stitch sennit until it is 20 inches long.  Add a bead over all four strands. 

Use the longest strands in the group as the working cords, and make another Spiral Stitch sennit 20 inches long.  It’s fine to switch the cords around at this point.

Step 13:  With each of the 8-strand groups, mentally number the cords 1 through 8. Tie 2 SK with cords 3 thru 6.  Tie the next row with cords 1 thru 4, and 5 thru 8.  Make sure you tie 2 SK with these cords, too.

Move down 2 inches, and repeat this process.  Do this as many times as necessary, so the long sennits making up the middle of the Macrame Splendor table end up measuring 40 inches.

Step 14:  Move down 6 inches and attach the cords to the 12-inch ring with DHH.  Leave equal amounts of space between the strands associated with each sennit.

Finishing Touches

Step 15:  Trim all the cords to 15 inches (below the ring).  Use the scraps, and cut 36 cords, each 31 inches in length.  Attach them to the ring with Larks Head knots.  Place 6 of them between each of the groups of cords coming from the long sennits.  Unravel and brush the ends so they are smooth.  If you used a beaded fringe up top, you can do so here as well.