(Note – If you’re new to my page, this is how it works: At the beginning of each week I randomly draw a new project from my Challenge Bucket, then see what I can create before the week is over. You can read all about the Challenge here.)
Yup, I decided this challenge would have 2 parts! Last week I really enjoyed dipping my toes into the macrame world. I was happy to complete a couple small projects and learn some knotting skills, but it really felt like it wasn’t enough. Plus, there was a wall hanging I kept seeing all over Pinterest that I couldn’t get out of my head! I kept going back to admire it and whisper to myself, “That’s so pretty!” I really wanted to attempt to make my own version of that beautiful piece, so that became my goal for this challenge!
I began this week by searching for a tutorial or pattern to get this newbie started, but could find no information on the pictures I admired. As I looked closer at the patterns, I realized that I already knew some of the knots. Could my newfound knowledge of knotting be enough to get me through? Could I use some “detective skills” to sleuth out the pattern on my own? Well I was about to find out!
I analyzed and researched what type/size of cord I should get, then I placed an Amazon order (gotta love next-day delivery!) Next, I set to the task of trying to figure out where to start. I’d need a dowel, which I found in my stash from a past project. I’d need somewhere to work, which ended up being the front of the old dresser in my office – the dowel set perfectly on top of the knobs. I was off to a good start!
I looked at the inspiration photos again – this hanging had 11 completely separate sections, but they actually consisted of only 4 different patterns. One was the Spiral Knot, which I’d learned last week, so I really just needed to figure out 3 more!
The first one I would try had vine and leaves in it, so I searched through hundreds of macrame images for a similar pattern that was named. You might be surprised to learn it was called Vine and Leaf. Imagine that! 🙂 Once I had the name, I simply looked for a tutorial on YouTube. It was easy to find, and in no time I learned a new knot and a new pattern! I practiced it on the cord I bought last week as I was still waiting for the new cord to arrive. This cord was great to learn on, as it was easy to untie – which would come in handy later!
With the arrival of the new cord the next day, I immediately cut out new lengths to make the Vine and Leaf in the proper, smaller size. I liked the look of the smaller pattern, and tried to correct some spacing errors I’d made in my first attempt. I then learned a Berry Knot to place at the bottom and Section 1 was done! Only 10 more to go!
The next section was just a Spiral Knot and I used the larger cord. (From looking at various macrame designs, I learned that one can add a lot of interest to a single pattern simply by changing the cord size. It doesn’t always have to be a new pattern to keep it interesting!) I admit it looks a little wonky in the picture, but I was able to bend it straighter later.
For the next pattern I realized I just needed to combine the Vine and the Berry Knot. This one was quick and fun to do!
My workspace. While it worked great for the project, it was not very ergonomic. At this point my back and hips were starting to get very sore!
I guess it could also be because I’m “middle aged”.
I completed a couple more Spiral Knots in the smaller and larger cords, then it was time to learn the last pattern I needed.
I couldn’t figure out what this last one was called, so just started knotting based on what I knew. This got me a little way, but then I got very stuck. I searched and searched through internet images and finally found something similar called the Diamond Pattern. This gave me the final information I needed to complete my last unknown section!
Now all I had to do was simply repeat the patterns on the other side of my dowel. Seemed simple enough till I realized that I didn’t have enough cord!! I measured out everything I would need and discovered that I wasn’t short by much, but I was definitely short.
My determination to “make it work” set in. I decided to completely undo the Vine and Leaf pattern I had practiced on the large cord. This took a little bit of time, but wasn’t terrible, and it gave me enough to finish my Spiral Knots.
For the smaller cord, I noticed that some of my previous sections had quite large tails that would need to be trimmed. Could I tie in those extra pieces to finish the project? I read up on how to add cord mid-project, and decided I would at least give it a try. I didn’t want to buy (or wait for) more cord.
It took quite a bit of fiddling, but after tying in new cord 6 times (!) I successfully used my scrap cords to complete the patterns!
The knotting was now complete! Something I love about this wall hanging is how all the individual patterns enhance each other. On their own, they’re nice, but together they create something SO much better! Kinda like us people, hey?
Now I had to figure out how – and where – to hang it.
I cut off the extra dowel, then learned how to make a Constrictor Knot to attach a hanging string. I then proceeded to run around the house holding up the wall hanging in different rooms against different paint colors. I settled on the TV room in the basement. It has a darker paint color which was nice behind the light-colored cord. It also has a wall that’s been empty since we moved in 13 years ago! I never knew what to put there so it just stayed empty. I held up my wall hanging up and smiled – it was perfect!
Do you ever complete a project and are so pleased with it that it makes you grin from ear to ear? That’s exactly how I felt! It was a similar feeling to what I had when I completed my squirrel-holding-cola painting a couple weeks ago. These Creativity Challenges are definitely bringing me all the joy!
“That was fun!” I said to myself.
I’ll admit this project is far from perfect. Parts are uneven and not everything hangs just right. But Friends, it was SO fun! There is joy in the final product, but so much more joy in the journey!
Can’t wait to see what next week brings!
