help with macrame

[la Principessa]

can anyone help me out? i want to make a purse by macrame-ing and all the patterns ive seen online made me more confused. lol i got the regular stitch down pat but can't figure out any other patterns. thanks :D

[hippiestead]

By regular stitch, do you mean the square knot? Second question is: Do you use 3 threads or 4 for simple bracelets & necklaces?

[la Principessa]

yes the square knot. for bracelets and necklaces i use four. i cant figure out how to make bracelets any wider than that though.

[Sarah_Again]

I have an extreme craving for sour cream.

Damn this pregnancy,...

Oh wait, that wasn't me. Right. Please forgive me, I need sleep.

Anyway,
I was watching a show on this today! I had no idea what it was before then....

[la Principessa]

lol...thanks for the help?

[MimiJ]

you might be able to acheive what you're trying to do by using the alternating square knot pattern. Just tweak it by using more strings. It's hard to describe without pictures, but it will definitely make things wider.

[hippiestead]

To make a purse, I would take a thick (3mm) piece of hemp & make a circle that's the same size as you want the mouth of the purse. Then take long lengths of 1-2mm hemp twine, fold them in half & lace them onto the circle, making sure that the number of lengths is in multiples of 4. Then tie one square knot on each set of 4 around the circle. Once that it done, take 2 strings from one knot & two strings from the know next to it & tie those 4 into a square knot. Repeat until the second row is done. Then just keep alternating until it's as deep as you want the purse to be. Macrame purses work best if you add a cloth inner lining.

Hope this helps

[la Principessa]

that helps, thank you! ill just try to get started and maybe post pics if it turns out well!

[hippiestead]

The pics over here: http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?t=172993&f=415

show the basic technique that I described but are laced onto dowel rods. I used the square knot, the spiral knot (which is almost like a square knot except that you don't alternate the second knot in the stitch...you keep knotting in the same direction) and the half-hitch.

Good luck on your purse!