Picot Butterfly
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Description: This Picot Butterfly is made with basic knots, and is a great Macramé project for beginners and kids. Picots are one of my favorite techniques to use, since they form a delicate loop design. That’s why these decorative knots are often used for butterflies, birds and other animals. Try making this appealing Butterfly design with Yarn, which will soften the appearance even more. The finished size is approximately 24 inches. |
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| Supplies Needed: |
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- 2mm Cord for Wings (Color A: 71 yards)
- 2mm Cord for Body (Multiple Colors: 80 yards total)
- Black Pipe Cleaners (Antennas: 8 to 12 inches long)
- 2 Wire Coat Hangers
- Masking Tape
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| Knots Used: |
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Cutting and Preparing the Cords |
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Color A: Cut 2 cords, each 35 yards long and 1 cord 36-inches long
Mutliple Colors: Cut a total of 20 cords, each 4 yards long
Prepare the ends with one of the methods described in Cord Preparation. |
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This diagram shows the different parts of the Picot Butterfly, including the knots you will be tying.
Click on the image and a larger photo will show up in a new window. |
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Designing the Wings |
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Step 1: Cut off the hooks from 2 of the wire hangers. Leave the twisted portion intact, which should be at least one inch long. Lay the hangers side-by-side on your work surface with the twisted areas facing each other. Join the two twisted portions together with the tape.
Step 2: Fold 1 of the 35-yard cords in half, and place it around the central portion of the frame, where the twisted areas are located. This cord will be used to cover 1 hanger. The metal is the “filler” for the knots.
Tie the first half of a Square Knot, two separate times. These are called Half Knots.
Step 3: Move towards the triangular portion of the hanger, about 1 inch away from the first knot. Tie 2 more Half knots. Push the second knot close to the first one. This creates two small loops, which are called " picots".
Step 4: Repeat step 3 over and over, all along the triangular portion of the hanger you are working with. The knots should be spaced approximately 2 inches apart before pushing them together. Stop when you reach the central section again.
Step 5: Apply glue to the last Half Knot tied, which should be tighter than the others. Direct the ends of both cords so they rest next to the twisted area of the wire, where the frame is joined together. Tape them temporarily to hold them in place. |
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| Step 6: Repeat steps 2 thru 5 to cover the other hanger. In the final step, the ends should also pass across the center, but from the opposite direction than the first set of cords. |
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Creating the Body and Antennas |
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| Step 7: Bend the pipe cleaner in the middle, so it is shaped like a U (or a rounded V form). Take the cords for the body of the Picot Butterfly and fold them over the curve at the bottom. Center them so the ends are even. |
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Step 8: Divide the cords into 4 groups of 10 strands. Make a Lanyard Knot sennit using the multiple strands. Make sure you tighten the knot as much as you can. Stop when the “head” of the Picot Butterfly is approximately 2 inches long.
Step 9: Pass 2 groups of cords (total of 10) in front of the twisted area where the two hangers are linked. Direct the remaining 2 groups to the back of it. Remove the tape holding the ends of the cords used to make the wings.
Step 10: Continue to tie Lanyard knots for at least 4 more inches. The first few knots need to be very tight. They will be formed around the wire, holding the wings together, so need to provide firm support to the twisted portion of the wire. |
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Finishing Touches |
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Step 11: Trim the ends of the cords used to make the wings, so they do not stick out beyond the body of the Picot Butterfly.
Step 12: Gather all the strands for the body together. Use the 36-inch cord to make a Wrapped Knot. It should be at least 2 inches long. Apply glue to the knot and trim off the excess.
Step 13: To make the fringe, start by trimming the strands so they are even. Tie a Barrel knot at the end of each cord, to prevent unraveling. If you prefer, you can use the Matthew Walker knot for the ends. A third option is to apply glue on the tips instead of the knots. See Finishing Techniques for more information. |
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| Step 14: Use small pieces of scrap cord to hang the Picot Butterfly to a wall. Pass them around the frame at the top of the wings, center them, and tie a Barrel Knot to make a loop. If you prefer, you can hang the Butterfly up by the picot loops instead. |
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