Shopping Bag

Supplies Needed:

• 6mm Macramé Cord, preferably Nylon (236 yards are required)
• Two ½-inch diameter Dowels, each 16 inches long
• Beads or Knobs that fit the dowels
• Project Board and Pins

Knots Used:

• Alternating Square Knots (ASK)
• Larks Head Knots
• Square Knot (SK)
• Mirror Square Knot (MSK)

Creating the Handles

Step 1:  Cut 2 cords, each 180 inches in length (5 yards). Cut 6 cords, each 144 inches long (4 yards). Lay them on your work surface vertically as follows:

(1) 5-yard cord  --  (6) 4-yard cords  --  (1) 5-yard cord

Step 2:  Tie a sennit of 10 Square Knots using the longest strands as the working cords, and the 4-yard strands as fillers.

Step 3:  Number the strands moving left to right.  The long cords should be #1 and #8.  Tie 4 SK with cords 1 – 4, and 6 SK with 5 – 8.

Step 5:  Number the strands 1 thru 8 (longest cords are #1 and #8).  Tie 6 SK with cords 1 thru 4, and 4 SK with 5 – 8.

Mounting Process

Step 7:  Secure one handle to your project board so it curves.  The portions with the 6 SK need to be attached near the ends of the dowel.  The sections with the 4 SK will rest to the inside of the others.  Refer to the image to help you with placement (top of page).

Lay the dowel down, so it rests on top of the cords, and next to the final SK tied in the handles.  Mount each cord to the dowel with Larks Head Knots.

Important:  Use the process for the Vertical Larks Head to attach the cords, even though the dowel is horizontal.  Essentially, you’ll bring the end under, then over the dowel and into the loop for the first half of the knot.  Pass over, then under it for the second half. 

Repeat this process with the other handle, attaching the strands to the second dowel.

Step 8:  Cut 12 cords, each 128 inches long (3.5 yards).  Mount each cord to one of the dowels, in the central portion, between the handles.  Attach them with Larks Head Knots, folding them in half in the process. 

Step 9: Cut 4 cords, each 128 inches in length (3.5 yards).  Mount 2 of them near the right end of the dowel, between the 2 short portions of the handle.  Use Larks Head knots to attach them.

Use the remaining two cords, and attach them in the same position, but at the other end of the same dowel.

Designing the Upper Body Section

Step 11: This first row of Alternating SK should rest just below the dowel, and as close to it as possible.  Moving left to right, tie 6 SK.  Reverse the direction you tie the knots, and make 6 MSK to complete the row. 

Step 12:  Alternate cords, ignoring the 2 strands furthest to the right and left of the design.  Tie 6 SK, and 5 MSK, moving left to right.

Note:  Remember that ASK are tied using 2 strands from adjacent knots in the previous row.  This automatically causes you to ignore 4 strands from the edges, but it’s a good idea to deliberately omit them.

Step 13: Alternate cords, ignoring 2 additional strands furthest to the right and left.  Tie 5 SK and 5 MSK.

Step 14:  Repeat steps 11 through 13 for the other half of the Shopping Bag.

Creating the Sides (Gussets)

Step 15:  Cut 8 cords, each 128 inches in length (3.5 yards).  Fold 2 of them in half, and secure them to your board. Tie a Square Knot close to the fold.  Pull on the ends to remove the slack above the knot.   Repeat this process with the remaining 6 strands, so you end up with 4 sets of cords.

Step 16:  Place 2 of the knots you just made next to the strand furthest to the left edge of the body.  Secure them to your board. Do the same on the right.  The SK in these added cords should line up with row #1 of the SK in the body of the Shopping Bag (just below the dowel).

Step 17:  Mentally number the cords 1 thru 64, moving left to right.  Follow the pattern below after applying tape to cords #1 and #64 (for identification):

Row 2:

• #3 thru #6 = SK
• #7 thru #10 = MSK          
• #55 thru 58 and #59 thru 62 = SK

Row 3:

• #53 thru #56 = MSK
•  #57 thru #60 = SK
•  #5 thru 8 and #9 thru 12 = SK

Step 18:  Repeat steps 15 through 17 for the other half of the shopping bag.

Step 19:  Place both halves of the purse together, with the inside surfaces together.  Hold the design between your knees so you have access to the sides.  The following knots complete rows 2 and 3, (started in step 17):

Tie one SK with cords #1 and 2 from one half, and # 63 and 64 from the other half.  

Alternate cords, and tie 2 SK using cords #61 thru 64 from one half, and #1 thru 4 from the other half. 

Designing the Lower Body

Step 21:  Follow this pattern for the next row of ASK:

• #3 thru #6 = SK
• #7 thru #10 = MSK
• #11 thru #62 = Tie SK (with groups of 4 strands)
• #63, 64, 1, and 2 = SK

Repeat this process on the other end of the Shopping Bag.

Step 22:  Using cords #1 thru #52, tie the next row of Alternating Square Knots.  Tie a MSK with #53 thru #56.  Tie a SK with #57 thru 60, as well as #61 thru 64.  

Repeat this pattern on the opposite end.

Closing the Bottom

Step 24:  Turn the Shopping Bag inside out, and hold it between your knees to access the bottom.  You’ll begin closing the bottom at one corner.  Take 2 strands closest to the corner, and tie a SK (no fillers).

Step 25:  Select the next 2 strands, from both halves, and tie a SK with the 4 cords (2 fillers). Try to make sure that 1 working cord is from one half, and the other from the second half of the purse.

Step 26:  Repeat step 25 two more times. Make sure you use strands that are next to the ones already knotted.

Step 27:  Repeat this process (steps 24 thru 26), at the 3 remaining corners. 

Step 28:  Use the remaining strands and tie SK all along the bottom.  When selecting cords for these knots, make sure that 2 are from the front half, and the other 2 from the back half of the purse. 

You can tie additional SK with no fillers if any of the spaces between knots are too large.  This also applies if there are less than 4 strands left at the end.

Finishing Touches

Step 29:  Trim all the ends so they are 1 inch long.  Apply glue to the knots in the bottom and allow it to dry completely.  Unravel each end, and brush until smooth and fluffy.

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