Let’s  macramé! We love to play with wire. Soft Flex beading wire is great for stringing beads, but it is wonderful for so many other designs too. You can think outside the box and explore color. You can make the wire the centerpiece of your design with braids, stitching and knotting. There are so many ways to make creative jewelry.

Macramé is likely derived from Arabic or Turkish words describing fringes and weaving techniques. It is a form of crafting textiles using knots. Early macramé was used as a decorative fringe. It later fell into favor with sailors and was used for hammocks, fringe work on railing and bells and decorative finishes to knife handles and bottles. Macramé exploded in popularity during the 1970s and was used for wall hangings, jewelry, and clothing. On into the 21st century, we have found macramé especially fun to use with Soft Flex Wire. Explore jewelry making with our  colored wire and a macramé board!

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more tips. Visit our Facebook page if you want to catch our live shows and sales. And join our Facebook group – VIB, if you want to join a friendly community of jewelry designers and all around creative people. We would love to see your macramé designs. Post pictures on our VIB group!

Before we get to the projects, we would like to let you know about our BOGO sale. Right now, if you purchase a multi-color  Trios Beading Wire Pack, you will get a Mini Macramé Board for free! It is a great time to stock up on color wire and get a great tool for your next - or even first - macramé project!

Sara loves using her Mini Macramé Board for all kinds of projects. She uses it for macramé, obviously, but she also loves using the board when she needs to secure her jewelry so she can braid the wire or knot between beads. 

The Mini Macramé Board is a foam board with notches all around it. The notches lightly grip and clutch the wire and keep it in place while you work. The board is a 'self-healing' board. If you stick pins in the board or open a notch with a wider wire or cord, the foam will gradually return to its original state.  

Sara created a sweet little bracelet using beads featured in our  Winter Wonderland Design Kit. Let's get on to the projects!

Double Strand Macramé Bracelet

Designer Kristen Fagan

Materials
.019 Soft Flex Beading Wire in Black Onyx - 40"
.019 Soft Flex Beading Wire in Red Coral - 72"
Swarovski Jet Black 28mm Crystal Twist Link - 1
Swarovski 6mm Light Siam Crystal Round Beads - 12
2x2mm Silver Filled Crimp Tubes - 8
3x3mm Silver Filled Crimp Tubes - 2
15mm Silver Lobster Clasp
6mm Silver Jump Ring - 1

Tools
Mini Macramé Board
Universal Magical Crimper
Mighty Crimping Pliers
Cutters

Instructions

Step 1: Cut the black beading wire into two 12" lengths. Fold one 12" piece in half, push the looped end through one side of the Swarovski twist link connector, fold it over the connector and pull the rest of the cord through the looped end. Repeat this on the other side of the twist link connector. These strands will be anchored and remain stationary. Lay the design on your macramé board with the strands vertical and tuck the strands into the grooves.

Step 2: Cut the red beading wire into two 36" lengths. Center one 36" length of red beading wire under the two anchored black strands. Begin the 1st half of your square knot by folding the right wire over the middle strands and under the left wire. Pull the left wire under the right and middle strands and through the loop on the right side. Slide wire knot close to your connector and pull tightly.

Step 3: Finish the 2nd half of the square knot by folding the left wire over the middle strands and under the right wire. Pull the right wire under the left and middle strands and through the loop on the left side. Pull tightly and repeat the steps – right, left, right, left, right. (Note: If you feel your bracelet start twisting, you may have knotted two right sides or two left sides in a row - simply remove the knot from the wire and fix direction.)

Step 4: Continue knotting until the desired length for one half of your bracelet is reached keeping your clasp size in mind. Pick up your second 36" length of red wire and repeat the square knot on the other side of your bracelet.

Step 5: Once your strands are at the desired length, string a 3x3mm crimp tube to each of the strands ends and thread through the clasp. Before you crimp, check that the size length is correct and that the strands are straight. Once your happy, crimp the 3x3mm crimp tubes using the mighty crimping pliers.

Step 6: Now, let’s make the second strand of this bracelet. Cut two 8" strands of black beading wire. Thread one strand through one side of the black crystal connector. String a 2x2mm crimp tube onto both ends of the black beading wire and even out the tails. Crimp the wire in place using the magical crimper.

Step 7: String one red crystal on one wire and one red crystal on the second wire. String a second 2x2mm crimp tube onto both ends of the black beading wire and crimp about 1/2" apart from the first crimp.

Step 8: Repeat Step 7.

Step 9: String one red crystal on one wire and one red crystal on the second wire. String a second 2x2mm crimp tube onto both ends of the black beading wire, loop one strand of the black wire around the clasp and back through the last crimp tube, crimp and trim excess wire.

Step 10: Repeat all the steps on the other half of the bracelet. For added interest, I attached the second strand on opposite sides of the macramé square knot strand.

Art Deco Macramé Bracelet

Designer Kristen Fagan

Materials
Steel Blue Econoflex Wire, .019 Diameter - 70"
TierraCast Antique Silver Deco Cube Beads - 6 pcs
3x3mm Silver Filled Crimp Tubes - 2 pcs
Silver Jump Rings - 2 pcs
Toggle Clasp - 1 set

Tools
Mini Macramé Board
Mighty Crimper
Cutters

Instructions

Step 1: Cut two 12" strands of Econoflex craft beading wire and anchor them into a notch on the top of your mini macrame board.

Step 2: Cut one 50" strand of Econoflex craft beading wire - this will be your knotting strand.

Step 3: Create 20 knots using the Half Knot Spiral method. The right wire goes over the two center wires, then under the left wire. The left wire goes under the two center wires, then comes up through the hole and passes over the right wire.

Step 4: Pick up one silver cube bead, remove the two center wires anchored at the bottom of your macrame board and string the bead them and up to your last knot.

Step 5:Wrap your knotting wire around the bead and continue your Half Knot Spiral pattern below the bead creating another 20 knots.

Step 6: Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you reach your desired bracelet length, keeping your clasp size in mind.

Step 7: Add a 3mm crimp tube and crimp around 1 jump ring using the mighty crimper. Attach one side of the toggle clasp to the jump ring. On the other end of the bracelet, add a 3mm crimp tube and crimp around 1 jump ring using the mighty crimper. Attach the other side of the toggle clasp to the jump ring. Click here for crimping instructions.

Join the fun in our VIB Facebook Group today! Stay in the know. Stay up to date. From our bead shows to our video shows and sales, you can stay in touch with us. The community is full of artistic and helpful beaders and crafty people. Inspire and be inspired. Share your pictures and get the beading bug from others!

Visit the  Soft Flex Company YouTube Channel!

Blog contributor Thomas Soles is the Trade Show Coordinator for Soft Flex Company. His favorite stones are Lapis and Pietersite. His favorite hobby is day dreaming. And his favorite mustache is Tom Selleck's. As you can see, he has a healthy (or possibly unhealthy) sense of humor. You can write to him at Thomas@SoftFlexCompany.com