By Show Me Step by StepPublished
Based on a video by Soulful Notions.
A macrame keychain is a perfect first macrame project. It is small, it takes about half an hour, and it uses only a few yards of cord. This one, from Soulful Notions, is shaped like a seashell or leaf and finished with a soft brushed tassel. Make one for your own keys, then make a handful more for gifts.
The finished keychain is about 6 1/2 inches long and 1 3/4 inches wide. You need four pieces of 3mm single strand cotton cord at 30 inches each, plus one 10 inch piece for the gathering knot. Add a 1 1/4 inch swivel clasp, sharp scissors and a pet comb or brush for the fringe. A hook on the wall, or a clipboard, holds the clasp while you work.
The reverse lark's head knot attaches the cords to the clasp. Everything else is the double half hitch, also called a diagonal clove hitch. You hold one cord at an angle as a guide and tie each working cord over it twice. If that knot is new to you, practise the half hitch on a spare piece first.
The shell only looks right when the two halves mirror each other. After each pair of rows, step back and compare. If one side sits higher, loosen the last knot and slide it down. Keep the guide cord at the same angle on both sides, and pull every knot with the same firmness.
Single strand cotton is the best choice here. It knots crisply and brushes out into a soft tassel. Braided cord holds its shape but will not brush out, and 3-ply rope gives a crinkled tassel. Thinner 2mm cord makes a smaller, more delicate keychain if you shorten every cut length a little.
Macrame keychains make sweet stocking stuffers, teacher gifts and party favours. Match the cord to someone's favourite colour, or make a set for a bridal party. A batch of five takes an evening once you know the pattern.
Once you are comfortable, try square knots and other macrame basics. If you like making keychains, resin keychains are a fun next step.
10 steps · about 9 minutes.Check off each step as you go and your progress saves automatically.
Hang the swivel clasp on a wall hook so both hands are free. Fold one 30 inch cord in half to find the centre. Take the loop behind the ring, bring it over the front, and pull the two ends down through the loop. That is a reverse lark's head knot. Repeat with all four cords so you have eight strands hanging from the clasp.
Tip
Push the knots close together on the ring so the top of the shell stays neat.
Divide the eight strands into two groups of four. On one side, take the fifth cord in and lay it across the other three at a gentle angle. This is your guide cord. Take the very next cord, bring it over the guide and pull it through the loop it makes. Do that twice to close the knot. This first row sits close to the top.
Tip
Keep the first row only slightly diagonal. It forms the top curve of the shell.
Work along the guide cord, tying each cord over it twice, until all three cords are knotted. Hold the guide cord taut and at the same angle the whole way. Use your thumb to push each finished knot up into place so the row looks tidy. You now have one side of the top row done.
Tip
If a knot looks loose, push it up before tying the next one. It is hard to fix later.
Now do the same in the opposite direction. On the other group of four, take the fourth cord, point it across the others as the guide, and tie each cord over it: over, through and tighten, twice each, all the way to the end. Check that both rows are close to even. They do not need to be perfect, but neither side should sit much higher.
Tip
Compare both rows at eye level. Small differences are easier to spot that way.
For the second row, use the first cord that comes out on each side as the new guide and pull it down at an angle. This time, leave a little space. Pull the first knot all the way up, leave a small gap with the second, and a slightly bigger gap with the third. Those gaps are what make the shell flare out like a real seashell.
Tip
Do not pull this row as tight as the first. The space gives the shell its shape.
Repeat the same steps for the third row, always starting with the very first cord on each side as the guide. Keep leaving a little space between this row and the one above. After the third row, step back and look at both sides. If one knot sits loose or uneven, give it a gentle tug to match the other side.
Tip
Count your rows out loud. It is easy to lose track on a small piece.
Tie the fourth and final row on each side the same way. This one can sit a little closer to the row above than the previous ones did, which helps the bottom of the shell taper in. When both sides are done, push all the knots back so the centre closes up nicely and the two halves meet in the middle.
Tip
Pinch the bottom of the shell together while you move to the next step.
Take the short 10 inch cord and make a small loop pointing down, laid along the bundle below the shell. Wrap the long end around the bundle and the loop, starting right under the last knots. Two wraps is enough, but more makes a longer band. Push the end through the little loop, hold it tight, and pull the top tail to draw it inside.
Tip
Trim both tails close and tuck any ends that poke out back under the wraps.
Decide how long you want the tassel. Soulful Notions goes about two inches below the gathering knot. Hold the strands together and cut straight across with sharp scissors. You can leave the fringe as it is for a twisted rope look, or brush it out for a soft, fluffy tassel.
Tip
Cut a little long first. You can trim again after brushing, since brushing adds volume.
Brush the fringe with a metal pet comb or slicker brush, working from the bottom up so the strands untwist into soft fibres. Hold the gathering knot with your other hand so you do not pull it loose. Once the tassel is fluffy, give it a final trim to straighten the ends. Your keychain is ready to clip onto your keys.
Tip
Brush over a towel. Cotton cord sheds a lot of fluff as it untwists.
Keep going
How to Make a Macrame Christmas Tree Ornament
10 steps · about 9 minutes
How to Make a Macrame Keychain - Easy Seashell Pattern for Beginners
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OLFA 18" x 24" Self-Healing Cutting Mat
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