Tutorial: Square Knot Macrame Bracelet

This macrame bracelet is made entirely of square knots. I finished it with a large vintage carved jade bead I'd been saving for just this sort of thing.

How-to:

(click images to view larger) 

Cut one 2 foot (60cm) length of cord for central filler.

Cut one 7 foot (2.5 m) length of cord for knotting.

 You will also need a bead with a hole large enough to thread at least one (and preferably two) cords through.

At the half-way mark on your filler cord (the shorter piece) create a loop an appropriate size to fit your bead. Tuck this loop under the clamp of your clipboard.

Find the half-way mark on your knotting cord (the longer piece) and secure around the filler cords as shown above.

Begin tying square knots as illustrated in the series of photos above.

Continue tying square knots until you have reached a good length for your bracelet. Remember that you are knotting only with the knotting cord. The central filler cord remains stationary and the knotting cord is knotted around it.

Finish your bracelet by clipping off the central filler cords and threading the knotting cords through the hole in your bead. If the hole in your bead is too small to accommodate both knotting cords, carefully anchor one of the knotting cords to the bracelet by stitching with needle and thread and clipping off the end of that cord. Thread the remaining knotting cord through the bead. Secure the bead onto the cord(s) by wrapping the cord(s) with embroidery floss or yarn to prevent the bead from slipping off. Unravel the end of the cord(s) to create a tassel. You may want to trim the end of the tassel.