Teardrop Purse
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Description: The Teardrop Purse design is a great Macrame pattern to help you learn important skills such as adding cords and creating symmetry. The name comes from the fact that the straps form a teardrop shape. This pattern is a bit challenging, so is not recommended for beginners to this craft.
You can click on the small images and a larger picture will show up so you can see the details more easily. |
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Supplies Needed:
- 6mm Macramé cord in 2 different colors, 100 yards of each
- Project Board and Pins
- Cellophane or Masking Tape
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| Knots Used: |
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| Note: All of the Square Knots in the Teardrop Purse will have 2 fillers, and 2 working cords. The standard Square knot (SK) starts off with the right strand passing over the left. Then the left strand goes over the right for the second half of the knot. The Mirror Square Knot (MSK) is tied with those steps reversed.
You’ll be cutting cords as you progress through the pattern, rather than all at the beginning. |
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Creating the Straps
- Cut 4 cords, 6 yards long (Color A)
- Cut 4 cords, 4 yards long (Color A)
Put tape on the ends, for easy identification later on, and to prevent unraveling. |
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Step 1: Use 4 strands for this step. Secure the center of each cord to your Macramé board, with pins. Move left to right, placing them as follows:
- #1 – 6 yard
- #2 – 4 yard
- #3 – 4 yard
- #4 – 6 yard
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| Step 2: Tie a tight Square Knot in the center of the cords, where the pin is located. Secure the knot to your board. |
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Step 3: Tie 20 Square Knots with the 4 strands. Use the long cords to tie each knot, and the short ones as fillers.
Step 4: Turn the design around, and repeat step 3. |
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Repeat Steps 1 thru 4, using the remaining strands, to make the second strap. Use Mirror Square Knots instead.
In the image, the first strap is on the right, and the second one you just made is on the left. |
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Adding Cords for the Body
- Cut 36 cords, (color B), each 95 inches long.
Prepare the ends with glue, wax, or tape, especially if you are using twisted style cord. These strands will be called the “body cords”, since they make up the bulk of the Teardrop Purse. You should sit facing one end of the straps for these next steps. Refer to the images as necessary. |
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Step 5: Move the right strap off to one side. You will use only the left one for now. Add one body cord to the strap cord furthest to the right. To do this, center the new strand underneath, and secure it with a pin. |
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Step 6: Tie a MSK, using the four strap cords ONLY. This will hold the new body cord in place. The strands making up the knot will all be color A. |
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Step 7: Add another body cord, by folding it in half, to the right of the one previously added. Secure it with a pin. |
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Step 8: Tie a MSK, using both parts of the new strand as well as the body cord added in step 5. The knot will be made up of only color B, and will rest beside the strap. Tug on the filler cords to remove any slack. |
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| Tip: Mark this knot with a small piece of tape, or a pin. In the images you can see I used chalk, which is not a good idea, since it is hard to get out. |
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Step 9: Add a body cord to the same strap cord used in step 5 (the one furthest to the right). Center it, and secure it with a pin. Tie a MSK with the 4 strap cords only (all color A), just as you did in step 6. |
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Step 10: Tie a MSK using the new body cord just added in step 9, along with 2 of the adjacent strands, which will be from the knot you made in step 8. |
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Step 11: Add 6 more body cords, just as you did in steps 9 and 10. This completes the addition of the body cords onto the left strap of the Teardrop Purse. |
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The following steps mimic the ones you just completed, but the knots are tied in reverse. The "heads" of the knots will point in the opposite direction.
Step 12: Move the design just made off to the side. You will now use the right strap of the Teardrop Purse. Add one body cord to the strap cord furthest to the left. Center the strand underneath, and secure it with a pin. |
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Step 13: Tie a SK, using only the strap cords. This process is the same as in step 6.
Step 14: Add another body cord, by folding it in half, securing it to the left of the one added in the previous step.
Step 15: Tie a SK, using both of these new strands as well as the body cord added in step 12. Tug on the filler cords to remove any slack. Mark this knot with tape or a pin.
Step 16: Add a body cord to the same strap cord you used in step 12. Center it, and secure it with a pin. Tie a SK with strap cords only to hold it.
Step 17: Tie a SK using the new body cord just added, along with 2 of the adjacent strands, which are from the knot you made in step 15. |
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Step 18: Add 6 more body cords, just as you did in steps 16 and 17. When finished, half the cords for the body of the purse will have been added to the straps of the Teardrop Purse. |
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| Repeat steps 5 through 18, at the other end of the straps. |
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Designing the Sides
To begin the first side of the handbag, re-secure the design, so the straps are resting vertically, approximately 2 inches apart. The added cords will rest between them, similar to the image above, but closer together.
- Cut 2 cords of color A, each 90 inches long.
We’ll call these strands “side cords”. Tie an Overhand knot at the ends of these cords, to make it easy to identify them later on. |
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Step 19: Fold one side cord in half, and secure it with a pin, in the space between the straps. It should rest to the right of the marked knot, which you tied in step 8 (the left strap). Tie a SK with these two new strands, along with the 2 adjacent strands from the marked knot. |
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| Tip: This new knot will be made up of both colors. Tug on the fillers to remove the slack, so the loop doesn't show. |
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Step 20: Fold the other side cord in half, and secure it to the left of the marked knot from step 15 (on the right strap). It’ll rest beside the one added in the previous step. Tie a MSK with the new strands and 2 from the adjacent marked knot (color B). Remove any slack. |
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Step 21: Using both body and side cords, tie rows of Alternating Square Knots as described below. You should be moving left to right. In each new row you will use two additional cords that you added in previous steps. This will cause the side section of the Teardrop Purse to widen as you progress. |
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- Row 1: MSK x 1 (color B), SK x 1 (color A), SK x1 (color B)
- Row 2: MSK x 1, SK x 1, MSK x 1, SK x 1
- Row 3: MSK x 2, SK x 3
- Row 4: MSK x 2, SK x 1, MSK x 1, SK x 2
- Row 5: MSK x 3, SK x 4
- Row 6: MSK x 3, SK x 1, MSK x 1, SK x 3
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Note: If you get confused, remember that Alternating Square Knots are made from using 2 strands from adjacent knots in the previous row.
Step 22: Repeat the process to create the second side, at the other end of the straps. |
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Creating the Body of the Teardrop Purse |
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Step 23: Fold the design so the straps are at the top of your work surface, directly in front of you. The loose ends should be heading towards the bottom. The side designs you just made should be to either side of you. One strap will be lying on top of the other. Essentially, the cords should be organized to look like the general shape of Teardrop Purse.
Take hold of the remaining portion of the strap cords, and bring them into the center, forming a teardrop shaped design. If you recall, these strands are color A, and there is tape on the ends of them. The 8 strands for the front half (on top) should be from the same strap. Ignore the 8 strands for the back half (bottom) for now. |
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| The Square Knot Button is an optional feature for the Teardrop Purse. If you wish, you can omit this next step. |
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Step 24: Use the strap cords only (color A). Number them 1 thru 8. Use strands #3 thru #6 to tie one Square Knot. Move down ¼-inch and tie a short sennit of 4 Square Knots. Pass the ends through the space from front to back to from the Square Knot Button. Tie a SK with strands #1 thru #4, and a MSK with strands #5 thru #8. |
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| Step 25: Flip the design over to work on the back half of the Teardrop Purse. Number the strands 1 thru 8. Tie a tight Square Knot with cords 3 thru 6. Just below, tie a SK with cords 1 thru 4, and a MSK with cords 5 thru 8. |
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Step 26: Organize all the cords into 2 groups, the front and the back. This is easier if you can hang the purse up by the straps, so the cords dangle freely. Make sure the sides of the Teardrop Purse are to either side of you, so you work on it symmetrically.
Step 27: Tie the first row of Alternating Square Knots, in the front section. Tie Square Knots (SK) to the left of the center, and Mirror Square Knots (MSK) on the right. The knot that rests directly under the button should be a Square Knot (not MSK).
Repeat this process for the back half of the Teardrop Purse. Make sure the new knots match up to the ones above them (SK versus MSK). |
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Step 28: Join the front and back by tying 1 SK with the side cords, on both the left and right portions of the design. The strands will all be the same color (A). |
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| Step 29: For the next row, continue to make the Alternating pattern, for both halves of the Teardrop purse. When you get to the sides, one knot should be a SK and the other should be a MSK. You're simply following the same design you made when working on the side sections. If you look closely, you can see how the knots change direction as the design progresses. Just continue that design. |
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| Step 30: Repeat steps 27 thru 29, on both halves of the handbag. You should have enough cord to tie a total of 14 rows |
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Step 31: The last row will be a little different from the others. Ignore the 4 strands (color B) that are closest to the side cords (color A), at both ends of the design. Omit the same strands on the back half as well. Just push them out of the way for now.
Tie a final row of knots, with the same design as in previous steps. Bypass the cords you omitted, and choose 2 from the sides along with the 2 cords next to the 4 not being used. By going past the omitted cords, the bottom part of the Teardrop purse is tightened. You need to do the same thing on the opposite side of the handbag. |
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Making the Bottom |
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| Step 32: To close the bottom, turn the Teardrop Purse inside out. Hold the design between your knees. Tie tight Square Knots using groups of 4 cords. Make sure you select 2 strands from one half of the purse, and 2 from the opposite half, to tie the knots. Use all the strands, including the ones you omitted in step 31. All these knots will be sideways compared to the overall design. |
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Finishing Touches |
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| Step 33: Apply glue to all the knots in the bottom section. When dry, trim all the strands to ½ inches in length and unravel them. This makes a fluffy fringe on the inside of the Teardrop Purse. Weaving them into the pattern is another option. Turn the handbag right side out, and it’s ready to use. |
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