Transcripts
1. Introduction: Are you going too fast need to slow down and do something with your hands, meet macrame a beautiful, functional, art. Hi, I'm Eva. I'm an entrepreneur, an artist, and a yoga teacher. I have learned how to stay in peace with a busy life schedule and my art has a lot to do with that. I used to work as a graphic designer. I love to paint and to write. But recently I'm dedicated to macram. I use macram as the mindfulness practice. It's for me the opportunity to slow down and clear my mind by focusing only on one single task. This is so important these days when everything is so digital, so fast and all happening at the same time. It's really easy to get overwhelmed. Creating macrame can be your way to meditate and to balance yourself. I believe that through this activity, you practice form of dynamic meditation based on movement and repetition. By bringing your attention to the task at hand, you become more conscious in a daily life. Plus you get to create all these beautiful functional things. In this class, I will introduce you to my approach to macrame so that you can explore your creativity and relax at the same time. For your class project, we'll be creating a piece of hanging wall art, a handy plant holder for your new plump babies, and a macro my heart, that will teach us an important lesson on how to build form with your macrame notes and stitches. But don't worry, this class is for absolute, ultimate beginners, and for people who don't have time. It's enough when you spent 20 minutes a day or a week, whatever you got. We'll start with preparing the dowel and choosing the right quartz. I'll be guiding you through each step of the way and empowering you with practice exercises, so you can really understand the notes and stitches you're using and hopefully feel confident to mix and match them to create analysts combinations. We will cover this square knot and the purlins spiral stitch. Then we'll be combining these to create our final projects. By the end of this class, you will not only have the understanding of the basic stitches that you'll need to embark on your macrame journey. But also you will get the tool that you can use to grant yourself and slow down to relax your mind in your day-to-day. If you are ready to focus on this journey, let's get started.
2. Class project: Let's dive into what your project is about for this class. Your class project is to create wall hanging art and the plant holder based on the lessons in this course. I encourage you to upload the picture of your projects in the project gallery, but also the picture of the progress on the way. This way we can comment on each other projects and learn from that. From my experience, the more you share, the more you'll get benefit out of that. I split the classes in the way that first, you will learn how to prepare the dowel, how to choose the cord, how to set up your mind and working space. These are all the preparation and then we start the projects. Then on the first day, you will learn the basic square knot, the second day, pearl and the spiral stitch. On the third day, you will learn stitches to create wall hanging macrame art. On day 4, you will create a plant holder, and the last project on the day 5, is a heart-shaped macrame. I recommend to watch all the preparation videos first and then continue the projects along with me. I suggest to spend from 30-60 minutes a day for the project class. You can do it day by day, but also you can spread it to the longer period of time. Remember that is all for you and for your pleasure. To start your project as the first step, prepare all the materials that you're going to use in this class. You will find it in the class materials. Also download the resources from the resource section.
3. Using Macramé for Mindfulness: There are several ways to practice mindfulness, like meditation, walking in the forest, gentle movements or art. All of them have the same goal, relax, and increase a self-awareness. During many mindfulness practices, I have discovered a positive benefit of creating macrame from my mind and body. When you keep your hands busy by creating a stitches from the cord, you relax your brain. Why? Because it has only one single task to focus on. For some people, it's difficult to sit in the meditation and sometimes giving them one simple task is the only way they can start meditating. In this class, we will create a macrame with the focus on mindfulness and the self-care. It's the time to slow down and clear your mind. Let's start the journey.
4. Materials: Before we start the class, we need to make a few preparations. I'm going to tell now the list of all materials that we're going to use in this project. Let's begin preparing it right now to have a free mind later than focus on pure creation process. For this project, you will need two types of braided cord, 150 meters of 45 millimeters cord, and 50 meters or three millimeters cord. But also if you don't want to invest now in two types of cords, you can get one 200 meters of five millimeters cord. What you're going to need also are the scissors, the measure, and the clothes rack or some place where you can hang the macrame. It can be even the nail on the wall. There is another class about the working space where I'm explaining why they recommend clothes rack and also I'm giving the alternatives. You're going to need also the wooden or metal ring and the dowel or the stick. Here it depends on your preferences and we show you how to prepare the raw stick to make a dowel for your macrame, but you could also buy one. You can watch the class Have To Prepare A Dowel, and then decide if you want to prepare your own or if you want to buy it.
5. Preparing the Dowel: In this class, I will tell you have to prepare your dowel. This is the class for those of you who wants to make your own dowel. As you can see here, I have the dowel that I bought and I have a dowel that I prepared myself. In this class, I will go through the whole process of preparing the dowel, answering the questions, what kind of wood to get, how to clean it, how to dry it, how to polish it, and so on so that you have all the details if you want to go with this option. The best wood for the macrame are at the seaside because they are already very well washed and they are preserved by the sea salt and also polished and without the bark. So they are just perfect. But of course, if you don't have an access to the seaside at the moment, you can go to the park and to the forest and get the stick there. It's good when the forest is not humid because the woods should be rather dry. So try to find the piece of the wood which is already dry, which is not decayed, and the best if it's already without the bark, but if it has the bark which is easily to remove, you can also take it. When you come back from the forest with a supply of sticks, it's worth washing them all through with a kitchen sponge under the water. It's good if you keep it at the water for minimum 24 hours. I do not use any additional detergents, such as washing or liquid. But what you can do during wet cleaning, you can use citric or acid in step. It will make the wood a brighter color or even whiten. Once it is still wet, is also a good moment to cut off all the small wooden barks as they are getting soft. I'm using the knife or the small saw for some thicker parts. Then it's very important step, the drying. Dry the sticks on the radiator or under the sun for a minimum of 48 hours. The last step, which is also not necessary, is polishing it with the [inaudible] paper to give it more smoothness.
6. Choosing The Right Cord: In this class I'm going to talk about the cords. I will explain what are the most popular types of the cord, how to calculate the length of the cord, and how to prepare it for your Macram. There are two, the most popular types of the cord. The first is the braided cord, and the second is a twisted cord. In this class, we are going use the braided cord. Why? Because it's so much more useful when you are learning because it's smoother, it's easier to slide, so when you have to tighten your cord or when you have to undo it, it's just easier. This kind of cord is also more stable at the end. The twisted one, as the name suggests, is twisted. It means that it's also easy to untwist. While you are making the Macram, at some point the string they start to separate. When you are learning and when you have to do it and undo it a lot and practicing, that at some point, it will look like the half of the cord is unravel, it's separated so that's why it's better to use at the beginning of the threaded card. Also this kind, this twisted cord, is most popular in other projects like home Macram, where you have pompoms, where you have leaves because you can comp this chord like a hair, and then you have a special effect. But we are not doing this project in this class, and we're going to use this one. For the wall hanging, we're going to use five millimeters braided cord, it's going to be thicker, and for the plant holder, three millimeters. Also you can use both of them in both projects, but it's nicer when it's a little bit thicker on the wall hanging, and when it's also a bit thinner on plant hanger. You can choose if you want to go with two of them or if you want to choose one, then I recommend the thicker one five millimeters. I will also show you where I'm buying the cords. This is the shop where you can buy it for every country in the world. It is also in English. Why I like this shop because it has the variety of types of the cord, but also with many different colors, which I love. If you like to experiment with different colors, then as you can see here, you have here really, really big choice of them. Here in this tab, if you want to take the braided cord, you'll need to click here, and then we are choosing the five or three millimeters, and then you can go with the flower, choose the color that you love so that you feel also nice by doing this project. There's also one very common question that is asked. The question is, how long should be the cord? It depends on the project, depends on the size of your Macram want to have, depends on the pattern. But I will give you the tip for the wide. The number of strings should be always multiplied by 4. Why? Because in this square node the basic node that we're going to use you need four strings. It's always safer in any patterns that you create to have the number of strings multiplied by 4. Then regarding the length, I will give you just a simple formula. The cord length should be exactly the same as Macram length that you want to create, multiplied by 4 and multiplied by 2. Two because of the double folding of the cord that we're going to use. For example, if you want to have your Macram 50 centimeters long, you should cut cords four meters long. You will also find this role in the materials for this class. The last thing that I want to show you is how to cut the cord. Let's say I want to cut the cord two meters. My measure has 1.5 meters, so I need to take the whole measure and then 50 centimeters more. Once I have it, then I cut it. I'm not using the measure anymore. I use my first string as the reference for the rest. Why? Because this way you will avoid the differences between the length of the cords.
7. Preparing Your Mind & Work Space: In this class, I'm going to tell you about preparing the mind and the working space. Why is that important? It's, first of all, to make a comfort for yourself so that you have a comfort in your mind and in your body so that you can take the most benefit out of this process and you can have pleasure while doing your macrame. The first thing that we're going to address is your mind space. Here, the very important thing is to dedicate the time for yourself so that it's time for you that you can do your own things that no one is disturbing you and you can do that without any judgments. The second thing is the physical space. Regarding the mind space, plan the time to create the macrame, put it in the calendar as the meeting with the very important person, it means with you. Second, inform the others about that time so that no one is disturbing you. Regarding the working space, find the comfort place where you can stay on your own. Tidy it up. Why? Because it helps also tidying up your brain from unnecessary thoughts. The clean area around you is the clean brain in your head. Set up the place where you are going to hang your macrame project. I'm using the clothes rack from IKEA that you can get very easily online. Why I'm using that because it's mobile. I can move it, I can use it in my room, I can use it in the garden, in the garage, so wherever I feel that we would like to create, I can go there and do it. Also, my projects are hanging freely, so it helps me in the creation process. Alternatively, you also find any other place in your hearth, your home, where you can hang your macrame, it can be even the nail on the wall. Just bear in mind that it should be minimum on the level of your head while you're standing to make it easier for you later on. How to place a dowel on the clothes rack. I'm using pieces of cords, why? Because I can regulate the length depending on the macrame size or depending on my position if I want to stand or sit. As you can see, I can easily regulate that by this little knot so I can place it higher or lower. Second, because I can fit here any type of the dowel. I like to use the raw sticks, which are not straight and like that, I don't have to worry that my dowel would be unstable. But if you are using the nail on the wall, you simply attach the cord on both ends of the dowel, and you hang it.
8. Basic Knot: Square Knot: I'm really happy that we arrived at this class because this is the first lesson when we want to start with the practice. Today, I will show you the so-called square knot, and why we start with this? First of all, because it's very easy to learn, and you can create many different designs with this one square knot as well as many different projects like wall hanging, plump hanger, pillowcase, and many others. But what's the most important for me, is that it's so simple that you really need a minimum effort to make it right, so you can deeply relax while using it. Let's get started. Before we start with the practice, we need to prepare a few things. What you will need is the dowel, the cord, eight pieces, one half meter long each and working space. Now you can pause the video and prepare all these things. Let's start with attaching the cord to the dowel. I take my piece of the cord, I fold it in half. I take the end with the loop over the dowel and the other end through the loop. To tight it well, I hold the dowel with one hand and I pull it down so that it stick very well to my dowel. I keep going like that with all of my pieces step by step. Also, what is important here in this technique is to make sure that my cord is not twisting at the top. Once I will attach all my pieces, then I always like to tie them all so that they're exactly tight in the same way. Just one after the other and also checking the distance in between them so that they are straight. Now I can start to create the first square knot. I need the four cords for that. I have two center cords and one on the left and one on the right. Now I fold the left cord across and over the two center cords and behind the right cord. Now I fold the right cord across and behind the two center cords and up through the loop. Then I hold the two center cords and I pull the left and the right one up. This is my first half. This is the left half of the square knot. Now we're making the second half exactly the same way. I fold the right cord across and over the two center cords and behind the left one. Then the left cord behind the two centers and throughout the loop. Like this, I create a second half, and also I hold two center cords, then I pull two side cords up. That's the way how the square knot looks. Now we're going to make the whole row of the square knots to the right. Always you need the four strings to make the square knots, so basically, two lines attached to the dowel. The materials of this class, you will find a diagram that I just displayed you few seconds before, so that you can practice that at home. Also, you can pause the video right now, just to practice this technique so that you feel comfortable with that before we go further. I'm starting always with the left side and then the right side, but you can do it the other way around. Just important is that you always start with the same size so that you get used to it. What is very important in this knot is to hold the two center lines. Because if you will not do that, then that will happen. Mostly, I'm holding these two center lines in more with my ring and my middle finger so that they are well tied. The pattern that we're going to create now is so-called alternate square knot. It means that we create the whole row of the square knots. Then the second row we make from the two of the square knots above. We take two lines from the left one, and two lines from the right one. What is also important in making the macrame in any knot you're using is to tighten them in exactly the same way so that they are straight, and they have similar size. Not that some of them are smaller and some are bigger, this is very crucial. I will show you the example what will happen when you tied it too much. You can see that it's twisting a little bit, and it's not really straight. Of course, you can undo that anytime and then just do it again. A very important thing that I want to tell you is to allow yourself to make a mistake. Of course, we are in the learning process, so allow yourself to it. Not always, your first macrame will be perfect. It's really not about that. Just focus on creation part and be gentle to yourself. Remember that it is first of all, for your pleasure. In the beginning, maybe you will have to focus a little bit more to make the square knot. But again, practicing this knot often will help a lot. Before you know it, you can totally zone out and relax while making the square knot. Thanks to this repetition pattern, at some point, you will realize that it's actually a very meditative process, where your mind can rest. It's like creating the new narrow path in your brain. When you repeat something over and over, you start doing that automatically. Sometimes, at the beginning, you can drift away with your mind so much that you will do, for example, two times the left half, instead the left and the right, like I'm doing right now in the video. Then you will see that something is wrong. You will see that it starts to twist gently to the right. Of course, you can always undo that. It's super easy, especially with this cord. I will give you a little tip. Anytime, in case you forget which side of the square knot you were working on, you can check which site has a little loop, and this would be the side to continue work. Now, I'm doing the second half. You can see the little loop on the left. If I would continue with this, I should start from the left cord. I finish now the row creating the last base of the square knot. Like this, I have my first pattern done. Another pattern that I would like to show you is to use a square knot to create a triangle shape. Again, I'm starting with the four square knots at the beginning, so the whole row. Then with every row, I'm already using one square knot. In this one, I'm going to make three, and the next one, two. Then one so that I have a nice triangle shape. When I'm done with my first triangle, I can keep going down with the shape, and create some rhombus, which we call in macrame diamond. Now, instead of reducing, I'm going to add in one square knot in the row. I have already one square knot at the top. In this row, I want to make two alternating, one on the left side, one on the right side. Then I'm going with exactly the same pattern, with three, four, and so on, depends how many strings you have. We have here today for this practice, a very small macrame weave, only eight strings. But if you have a bigger macrame, of course, you can go from left edge to the right edge, the whole row. Then again, when I'm done with my triangle, I'm starting to reducing. Going with three, two, and one square knot in the row. Like that, we have the second pattern, a second design done. You can continue, of course, with the diamonds farther, but I would stop just here. We have now so-called diamonds, but we have two kinds of diamonds in macrame. The one that you know already, and a small diamond that I'm going to show you right now. The diamonds here are just single square knots. I'm going to show you now the pattern, where you can use these small diamonds to create a very nice and light design for your macrame. I start with creating two little diamonds on the same level from the left and the right side because I like when the macrame is symmetric. But, of course, there is no row here in the pattern in the design. You can just go with the flow with this, what you feel right now that your macrame should look like. Also, what's very important to remember, that it's not about the goal, but the process. For me, personally, the best thing about the macrame is not the final result as wall hanging or plant hanger, but the entire process of creating it. It helps me to clear my mind and to relax. Just simply, that's my way to meditate. This way, we have another pattern, another design, that you've learned that you can use in your own projects. Of course, you can mix all of them together, creating [inaudible] in the macrame. I will show you also the other inspirations what you can do with this knot that we've learned today. You can practice with exactly the same patterns, but, of course, you can also experiment with your own design. You will find these inspirations in the materials part this class. Now, you know how to make the square knot. You have learned many different designs. I've said before, take your time for the practice. It's not about finishing as soon as possible, but having fun in the process, and having pleasure in the creation part. Now, I encourage you to create your own macrame. You can use a design that you've learned. You can create something completely new, let your mind be free. Don't forget to post it in the project gallery.
9. Basic Knot: Spiral Stitch and Pearl: You have learned now how to make the square knot. The square knot is very often the base for the other patterns in the macrame. In this class, I will show you the other macrame shapes that you can create using the square knot that you know already. This way, you will have the variety of patterns and shape that you can use in your macrame projects, either for your wall, hanging art, or for the plant holder. First, I will show you the knot which is called the pearl. What we need to do, we need to create three single square knots. We're going to make the one under the other and what's important here is to not leaving the space in between them so that our pearl has really nice round shape. As we have that case in the single diamonds, you can also find the location where you want to create your pearl in the macrame so you can adjust the length. It should be a little bit higher or lower, it should be on the left or on the right, it really depends on your preferences. When you're done, then make sure that you have three square knots, so calculate the little loops on the left side. Then next, we take the two central cords and we put it above the square knots in between the lines, exactly in the middle, and we pull them down so that you can see that the square knots that we just create, they create a nice round shape. Now it is important to pull the centralized down saw that the pearl is well attached to the strings. What I'm doing next, I make just a half square knot to make it more stable. Like that, I have my first pearl done and I continue with the next one. If I want to do more pearls on my macrame, I make it on the right side. As you know already, that I like when it's symmetric, but of course, it really depends on you, where you want to place it. I also will make another one in the center, just showing you how it can look like. Now you can stop the video and start practicing this knot. You can use it wherever you want. You can mix it with the other square knots that you've just learned with the other pattern. You can place it in the middle of your diamond, for example, or at the very bottom or very top or on the side, it really depends on your imagination. Another pattern that I would like to show you is the spiral stitch. This one is super simple. You make it exactly the same way as you make the square knot, but you are doing only one half. In my case now, I'm doing only the left half square knot, I'm not doing the right one, and I continue all the time with the left one. I take the left cord and as in the square knot, exactly the same process, I could continue all the way down. Then you will see that at some point it starts to twist to the right. When it come to the point where it wants to turn itself, let it turn, and then keep going from the left side. In the spiral stitch, it's important to be consistent with the side because if you will forget and at some point you will do the right side, it will look really different so keep going with one side till the end. Of course, you decide how long it should be. In my case, I'm just showing you the little parts so that you can have the overview how it looks like. If you want to create more spiral stitch in your macrame, then it's good when you do it symmetric. When you did it on the left side, then start with the right side. You do exactly the same, but just doing the right half square knot so that at the end, it looks really nice because of the symmetry. Be consistent also here. When you start with the right side, keep going with this right half till the end. As you can see at the end, the left side is twisting to the right and the right side is twisting to the left. This is the effect that we want to achieve.
10. Hanging Wall Art: I'm very excited about this project because today we're going to for the first time, create a wall hanging art. You will use the techniques that you already learned in the previous classes, so that you know how to use them in the practice. This art will be just an example of the design that you can create. I believe that after this class today, you will be encouraged to create your own designs with your style. Let's start with the materials. What you will need in this class is five millimeters braided cord, cut it in 24 pieces, four meters long each and one piece, 50 centimeters long. You will need scissors and measure, dowel, minor working space. First, I have attached my 24 cords in the dowel with a large head that you know already. I start with creating the whole row of the square knots, one next to the other. Once I have it done, I'm using now the alternating square knots and I'm going to correctly using the number of knots in the row. I need to take the two lines from the left square knot and two lines from the right square node. It means that the two lines on the left side, they are staying free. I will reduce one square knot on the left side but also on the right side. At the end, I will create the triangle shape. Remember to slow down. It's not about finishing that as soon as possible. Do not think about the final result but about this present moment where you are and take the most pleasure out of that. This is also a very repetitive movement, what we are creating right now. Use this opportunity to relax yourself. When you arrive to the bottom of your triangle. This is the place which will be the central place of your macrame. It's nice to create here something that is eye-catching. I want to make this area looking rich. What I can do here, I can make here some pearls. I'm creating the three square knots. From this square knots, I create the pearl, as you know already from the previous classes. Remember, about leaving a little bit of space at the top where you need to put the two center lines. As you know in the pearl, trade the half square knot to close it. As one that looks rich, I will create two more pearls on the side, on the left and on the right. If you want, you can go even with more amount of pearls until the top or creating five. It really depends on your preferences. What I create next is the outline of the triangle which I will make from that single square knots line. I'm creating the first on the very left side. You can adjust the height where it should start. Bear in mind that you have pearls in the center, so it can't be too high. We will be doing that by using alternating square knots so it goes diagonal down into the right. What's important here is pulling the lines of both down, so that they are stretched. Once I create the whole line until the center then I repeat exactly the same process on the right side. Just remember to create the knots on the same height. As a next step, I will create the rows of the square knots, one under the other. Also here you can adjust their height where you want to start it. In my case is around two centimeters. You create a three square knots like in the pearl but we are not creating the pearl here, although you can, of course but I'm leaving it just like that. You can also create it as often as you want. I'm leaving two lines, three in between them. Like that, I keep going until the center creating four on the left side and I continue with the right side creating exactly the same. Once I have it, I create again the outline of the triangle below. I'm making that in exactly the same distance that they had above but also you can decide if you want to maybe extend that. It also looks nice. It really depends on you. Once I have it all done on the left and the right side then I keep going with the next pattern, which is the spiral stage. Again as above, you are choosing the height where each would start. In my case is exactly the same level as the square knots that I've just created above. We are creating the spiral stage. You decide how long that should be. In my case, it's five knots. Also, you decide if you want to make here the left or the right spiral stage. I'm going to left one. Why? For me it's always easier to remember that on the left side of the macrame, I create the left-side spirals stage and on the right side, the right side spiral stage. My spirals stage are exactly under the patches from above but you can also design it in completely different way. Once I have it down on the left side then I continue with the right side. As the last step, I will create the third triangle outline as we did before, just to give it more stability at the bottom. As I said at the beginning of this class, this is just an example. What you can do with this teachings that you've just learned. You can do exactly the same pattern that I just did in this macrame. But you can also invent something completely different, something that you like more. Your creativity is endless. For the very last step, we need to cut the course that is left. I recommend to hang the macrame on the wall first and then cut because like that, you will avoid and that the strings will be not straight. Also you can decide how you want to cut it. In this case, I'm cutting that straight but you can also go with that triangle shape. I'm really curious to see your projects, so please do share them in the project gallery. In the materials you will also find this project as the reference.
11. Functional Art: Plant Holder: In this class, I will show you how to create a functional art as we go today day the plant holder. I will guide you through the entire process of creating it by choosing the cords, the length of the cord attaching it to the ring, then creating the patterns, and all the things and tips that you need to know so that at the end of this class, you can create your own plant holder. Before we start the class, we need to prepare a few things. What you will need in this project is the wooden or metal ring, of course, the scissors and the measure. Your working and mind space, three millimeters braided cord, and you need to cut it eight pieces, seven meters long each, and one-piece, one and a half meter long. Once you have all your materials prepared, then we start from attaching the ring to your working space. In my case, is that closed rod. I'm just using the simple cord because as before we were talking in mind and working space. I can adjust the length of that, and it's just very simple, you don't need anything extra. I have my shrinks prepared, and what I'm doing now is that lacks had not this one, you know already, so this is this knot which we are using to attach the cord to develop or in our case to the rink. As before, I'll make the loop and take the two ends throughout the loop and I touch it to the ring. Like that, I'm doing with all of my strings, I should have here eight strings hanging. The long one seven meters long. I recommend to use the wooden or the metal ring, not plastic one, because the plant can be quite heavy and plastic can be not enough for this weight. I should have eight strings hanging on my ring, and at the end, I'm trying to distribute it that way that it's evenly on the left and the right side. What I'm doing next is the spiral stage. I'm going to make it from the left side, but you can do it also from the right side, that doesn't really matter. For the first line, it's important to make it really straight. Make sure that the strings are not mixing in between each other, and that it's really under the lags hats. I continue like that for a couple more, you can make as many as you want depending on how long you won't have the plant holder. In my case, it's around 10 half square knots. But also you can make it really longer and that you will see that it starts to twist, and it really have the nice shape. Then, when I have it done, what I need to do, I need to separate my chords in four groups, in each group four lines because what I'm going to do now is to create the square knots one under the other. Here starts the process that is very repetitive, so you can relax and just focus on this creation, let your mind to be free, and always remember when you're doing the square knot if you will forget which side should be next, then check the little loop if it's on the right or the left side as we said before, and then start from that side. I'm going to make for each string around 20 square knots, but also you can make it longer, you can make it shorter, again, depends on that how long you want have the plant holder. The plant holder that we can now make in this project has around 80 centimeters, so you can decide. You have enough long for the string to make it much longer, so don't be afraid about that. As you can see, I have created already the four strings with the square knots. In my case, every pattern of the square knot has around 19 centimeters. I will measure also the distance underneath so that I make always the same for every string. In my case, I'm choosing seven centimeters. It's always worth to measure that and to have the same length for every string. Even if the number of square knots is not equal, it doesn't matter because maybe sometimes you have tightened it more or less. The most important is the length at the end. What I'm doing next is the parallel, so I'm creating the free square knots, and then from that, as you know already from the previous video, I'm creating the parallel. Directly under the parallel on creating the spiral stage and again, you can choose if you want to go with level derived side and just be consistent with that, let's make it also as long as you want. You can experiment also with your own patterns, so you can make, for example, only the spiral stage, or only the quarter knots, or you can mix them together, so it really depends on your preferences. When you have it done, it's always good to compare one later another to check the length, especially in the spiral stage when you don't necessarily want to calculate how many spiral stitches you did. Next, I measured that the distance between the spirals stitch and the single square knot that I'm going to create now, and this is the very important part because you need to now connect all the lines together. I take one string and the order string, which is just next to this, I measure that again just to know what the cells should be also in another strings, and I make the square knot two lines from the left one, and two lines from the right one. Take your time for this part is very crucial to make that exactly the same distance between the strings, so the same location of the single square knot because on that depends if your plant will have straight. I am repeating exactly the same process for the next strings. Again, I take this string, which is the next one, so the nearest one to my current one, and then I create a square knot to connect them. Again, it's always worth to compare them to see if they're exactly on the same level. Like that, I create only for single square knots, and the last one is connecting all the lines together, given already the shape for the plant holder. Now let's take the port of your plant just to measure where should be the second square knot. Again, we are creating alternating square knots, so we now want to connect strings from above. I take the two lines from the square knot on the left side and the lines of the square node from the right side, and I repeat the process for all of my strings. Once I have it done then, again, I take my pot, I put it inside, and now I want to see and just to check how I want to place my plant inside. If I want to place it lower or higher, it really depends on your preferences. At the end to secure the bundle of chords together, we need to create a rap knot. Take your one-half meter string, hold all of their courts together, and using a separate land of cord, create a loop and lay it down the center of the bundle. Start to wrap the long and around and around the bundle, of course, including the loop you just created, leaving the short and picking out the top, be sure to wrap it tightly and hold in place using your fingers. You can make it as long as you want, just that minimum number of wrapping is five so that it's stable. When you have wrapped almost to the bottom of the loop, thread the end to the loop, and then pull upwards on the end, picking out the top to tack the bottom and up into the rock, and then trim the ends to complete. Then just cut the upper end of the string, and we have rap knot ready. At the end, we need to, of course, cut the strings that are left, and also it depends on your preference as how long they should be. Congratulations, this way you made your plant holder, and now it's that this part when you can place your plant in the plant holder, take you time to place it straight so that it looks nice. My plant has quite many leaves, so in this case also good to distributed them more or less evenly in between the strings. In a plan holders project, we need to wait for the wow, FX till the end because before are you can't really see how your work looks like, but once it's done, then it looks really amazing. I hope that you'll like your work that she did. I'm really excited to see your projects in the project gallery, so don't forget to publish it there, and also if you have any questions on the way, I'm here for years, so do not hesitate to ask me.
12. Giving Form: Heart-Shape Macramé: Today we will make the final project for this class, which is a heart-shaped macrame. I will show you how to create a form from the square knot so that you can create any other shapes that you can imagine. But the heart refers not only to the shape, but also to the deeper sense of this project. I invite you to create the macrame with the intention. I believe that through focusing the energy on something particular, we are attracting it. So the intention can be, for example, I want that this macrame bring joy in my life. Or I want that this macrame bring abundance or health or love you decide. You can dedicate it to the house where it's going to hang or to the person who you will give it to. Just let it flow from your heart. Before we start, let's prepare the materials. What you will need is the dowel, the measure, five millimeter braided cord, cut it in 16 pieces, three meters long, and your mind and working space. As the preparation, you can also play some nice music or light the candles to create a nice atmosphere. At the beginning, let's spend a couple of moments to connect with yourself. Find a comfortable place to sit. Then close your eyes and just focus on new breaths. Through your breath, relax your body and your mind. Don't rush. Just focus on this present moment, here and now, and connecting with your breath. Now you can place your hand on your heart if you want. Let's say the intention loud or in your mind. Allow yourself to really feel it, to really connect with this feeling that you want to attract. Once you're ready, slowly open your eyes and let's start with the creation part. First, I attach the cords to the dowel. In this project, I'm using the dowel that I made by myself. Then I'm choosing a width high my heart will start. You can use the measuring here if you like. In my case it will be the seven centimeters. Then from that point, I will start weighting the top of my heart. To do that, I create the first square knot using the third and the fourth cord. Once I have it, I create the other square knot just next to this one on the right side. So again, taking the two cords and making a single square knot, double-check the location of this second square comparing to the first one. Because it will be important to get a regular heart shape. On the other side, I make exactly the same. The top of my heart will be from this two square knots from each side. Next, I will be adding square knots in the row. As the top row, I have those square knots on one side. Now I will create three by alternating square knots. I'm taking the two lines from the left and two lines from the square knot above. I repeat the same on the other side. Once I have it done, then I'm adding one more square knot in the row below. So I'm going to create four and four in each side also by alternating square knots. Once I have it done, I will create the row that will connect the two halves of my heart. Also am using the method of alternating square knots so I need to take the two lines from the square knot above and the two lines from the square knot on the right side. It means that the two lines on the very left side, they are staying free. Keep going with the work. You can stop the video anytime so that you get along with the project. Remember, no rush, it's all for your pleasure. Now, very important during this project is to remind yourself about your intention that you said at the beginning. From that point, continue with the alternating square knots. But this time already using by one so that we are creating the triangle shape. We're making a free space on the left and on the right side. As this project is technically very easy for you already, you can now shift your awareness also to yourself, for example, to your body. If you relax your body, especially your shoulders and your arms, also into your mind, if you can relax your mind even more. So now in this project, we start to pay attention to everything. What is happening within us. Creating the row with one single square knot means that you arrived to the bottom of your heart, as you can already see in the shape. You can stop it here, or you can add something extra in your macrame. I am, for example, doing a three small diamonds because I like when the macrame is a little bit longer. So I want to use the space and create here something decorative. I am creating these diamonds from four square knots. I hope that you are happy with the project that you just made, and the entire process of creating it. Please do not forget about sharing your projects in the project gallery. You can also share your intention. The more you talk about that, the more energy you sound.
13. Other Applications: You have learned in this class how to create a wall hanging art and the plant hanger. I believe that it's not the end of your macram journey. This art has so much to offer. You can create from macram, so many functional arts like pillowcase for your living room, napkins for your kitchen, small carpets for the bathroom, hanging chairs in the chilling area, and even jewelry. It's not only relaxing but also very practical. I hope to see you in the next classes where we will learn how to create other macram forms. You can start following me so that you get notified about my next classes.
14. Final Thoughts: Congratulations on making it through the class. If we look back at our journey, you know the basic macrame knots. You'll learn how to use them to create beautiful wall hanging art and how to create a plant holder. Finally, you'll learn how to give a certain form too much trauma. If there's one thing I hope you take from this class is that you feel confident in creating your own macrame knot projects with your style and design. I believe that you could slow down while taking part in this project and that you find your way to relax. Thanks to macrame. I'm really excited to see your projects. Please upload that in the project gallery so that we can all get inspirations from each other. Also, feel free to post a comment on the discussion section and the review for this class. I feel really grateful that you've been in this journey with me. Thank you, and see you next time.
Ewa Szczepaniak, Artist & Enterpreneur
