Tuesday’s Tutorial: Hootie Macrame Belt

Today’s tutorial is another macrame belt.  I named this belt Hootie.  It reminds me of an owl’s face.  I have been making lots of belts lately and really like this design. Even though it features the dreaded DDHH.

DDHH=Diagonal Double Half Hitch.

I don’t know why I am not fond of this knot. It is easy to make. It is not hard on my hands. I think it could be because I like to go for perfection. And with this knot, I don’t always get it right the first time. I stare at each one for a few seconds.  And then redo about every fifth one.  So… that could be why I don’t work with them much.

But, that said, I am going to show you how to make them anyway. Maybe you will like them. If you plan to go into micro-macrame jewelry you will need to know DHH. A lot of the patterns use them.

Let’s get started.

You will need.

• 32 yards of 3 1/2mm braided macrame cord
• 5-8 beads (depending on # of DDHH sections)  measuring 3/8″ up to 1/2″
• 8 additional small beads for the tail cords (optional)
• macrame board or covered ceiling tile
• T-pins
• scissors
• yard stick, tape measure or ruler

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Directions to make Hootie Macrame Belt.

Step 1. Cut eight 4 yard cords.

Step 2.
Find the center of each cord and pin the centers side by side vertically on the macrame board. You will work bottom half of the belt first. Number cords 1-8.

Step 3.

• Row 1:  Tie one Square Knot with cords 3-6.
• Row 2:  Tie 2 Square Knots (SK) with cords 1-4 and 5-8.
• Rows 3-10:  Repeat Rows 1 & 2 four times.
• Row 11:  Tie one SK with cords 3-6.

Step 4.
You will tie Diagonal Double Half Hitch knots (DDHH) in this step. Using a T-pin, pin Cord 1 diagonally to board.

Cord 1 will be the right diagonal anchor cord and you will double half hitch cords 2 through 4 onto it. Begin with Cord 2. Refer to photo for assistance, as needed.

Now, do the same on the right side, using Cord 8 as the left diagonal anchor cord. Double half hitch cords 5 through 7 onto it. Begin with Cord 7 and work down.

Step 5.
Next, you will shape the “face” of the owl. With Cords 1-3 (only one filler cord), tie a sennet of 4 SK’s. One after the other in a vertical row. Repeat for Cords 6-8.

Add one bead (no larger than 1/2″) to Cords 4-5. See photo. (Renumber cords in your head. No need to remark them.)

Step 6.
In this step, you will tie more DDHH’s but using different anchor holding cords. Pin Cord 4 diagonally left to board. Double half hitch cords 1-3 onto it. Begin with Cord 3.

Now, do the same on the right side, using Cord 5 as the right diagonal anchor cord. Pin Cord 5 diagonally right to board. Double half hitch Cords 6-8 onto it. Begin with Cord 6 and work down.

Step 7.
Repeat Steps 3 through 6 until you reach the length desired OR until you are about 14″ from the shortest cord. Last row should have only ONE SQUARE KNOT.

Step 8.
Tie one large SK using Cords 1-2 on the left as tying cords, 3 through 6 as fillers, and 7-8 as right tying cords. Repeat twice more for a total of 3 large SK’s.

Step 9.
The Tail. Determine how long you wish the tail to be. You should have about 12″ to work with. Cut the ends even or stagger.

Add one small bead to every other cord. Tie an overhand knot at the tip of each 8 cords. Trim close to the knot. Melt cords to keep from fraying. Touch cord lightly with match or lighter. Do not burn or scorch.

Step 10.
You are finished with the bottom half of the belt and now ready to work the top half. Unpin belt from board. Reverse directions.

When you first started this belt, you tied one SK with Cords 3-6. Locate this knot and BEGIN WITH STEP 4.

Next work Step 5 and Step 6.
Now go to Step 7.

Make the same number of sections to match the upper half OR until you are about 14″ from the shortest cord. Last row should have only ONE SQUARE KNOT.

Repeat Steps 8 and 9.

Done!!  Congrats. You can now wear your belt.

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Notes: Variations of this belt are endless. You can tie fewer SK rows in between the Hootie faces.

You can add as many Hootie faces as you wish.

You can add a belt buckle instead of tying in the front.

Add more beads, less beads. Or you can go completely without beads. Be creative and make this pattern your own.

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Measurements and Cord Length:

• Lavender belt measures 30″ from Large SK to Large SK. Total length (including tail) end-to-end is 60″.

• Burgundy belt measures 36″ from Large SK to Large SK. Total length end-to-end is 62″.

• Turquoise belt measures 40″.

Cutting 4 yard cords works for all of these. Or you can experiment with shorter cord lengths, as desired.