DIY Macramé Key-Chains
Whatever happened to the good old traditional Macramé Key Chains? Every time we see one in a store we want to buy it, but we end up using the same plastic or fluff ball keychains for everything.
Let’s bring back this 600-year-old tradition! Make your own Macramé keychains and bring back long gone traditions. Take your kids down memory lane and tell them stories about how your grandparents or great-grandparents taught you how to knit, sew and knot.
What You Need To Make Macramé Key-Chains
Lets Get Knotting...
1. Prepping the Cord
• Cut 2 equal length cords
• Fold the cords such that one side is double the length of the other.
• Loop the fold over one of the key rings and feed the ends through to tighten. Make sure the shorter ends of the cords are in the middle
This is known as a Larks Head Knot.
2. Making the Square Knot
In this process, the 2 shorter cords in the middle stay still while the two longer cords create the knots.
• Take the outer left cord and loosely cross it over the two center cords and under the outer right cord. This should create the shape of the number ‘4’
• Bring the outer right cord behind the 2 center cords, up and through the shape 4 loop
• Pull the two outer cords to tighten the knot until it rests up against the key ring.
This is half of your Square Knot. Repeat the above steps to complete the other half of your square not, but this time start with the cord on the outer right.
• Take the outer right cord and loosely cross it over the two center cords and under the outer left cord. This should create the shape of the number ‘4’ backwards
• Bring the outer left cord behind the 2 center cords, up and through the backward shape 4 loop
• Pull the two outer cords to tighten the knot until it rests up against the previous knot
This is one Square Knot. Repeat the above steps to make 8 to 10 square knots.
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3. Adding the Bead
• Add your bead by pulling the center strings through the hole in the bead.
• Slide the bead up to the base of the knots.
• Add another square knot to fasten your bead in place
• You can now add another bead and or continue making square knots.
Remember, every bead you add, you have to fasten by making a square knot after.
4. Finishing Up
• Once you are done making the square knots and have reached your desired keychain length, tie the 4 cords together in a regular knot.
• You can either leave the extra cords hanging as tassels or add beads in each individual cord and fasted it with a regular knot.
Voilà! You just brought back a 600-year-old tradition. Make some more and use them as gifts or matching key-chains for the family! What you and your kids will always remember though is the stories told while making and using the key-chains.
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Feeling adventurous and motivated? Try this slightly more advanced Macramé Technique!