How To Make “Little Missy” Macrame Purse

Many of you have asked “how do I close up the bottom of a macrame purse?” And though I do already have basic directions posted on how to do this, I thought I would do another tutorial and provide detailed illustrations to make the steps clearer.

And the best part…

You get the tutorial for the entire purse, not just closing up the bottom. Two for One.

This is the Little Missy Purse I have mentioned before. I have made and sold quite a few. Cute little purse for a precious little girl to carry her allowance in. Fast and easy to make.

I am doing mine in two different colors to illustrate the joining of sides and how to close up the bottom.

Ready? OK, let’s get started.

First, the supplies list.

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Supplies/Tools Needed

6mm braided macrame cord (I am using brown and cream)
two 3″ D shaped plastic Marbella rings
ruler/yardstick/tape measure
scissors
craft glue
macrame board (or covered ceiling tile)
T pins

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Instructions: How to Make Little Missy Purse

Cut 12 cords 40″ long – brown.
Cut 12 cords 40″ long – cream.
Or 24 cords all one color.

Melt the cord ends slightly with lighter or matches to keep from fraying. Don’t hold fire to cord long. Just a nanosecond. Could burn cord. You can see in this photo the fraying that happens as you work with the cord, IF you do not melt the tips first.

Find centers of six brown and six cream cords and pin to macrame board. (Set aside the balance of the cut cords for later.)

Lark’s Head 6 brown cords to the 1st D ring.

Notice the “knobs” formed on the backside. You will be working from the knobless side.

You will now begin tying macrame knots. Mostly Square Knots (SK) will be used in this project.

Starting on the left, number cords from 1-12.

Row 1. Tie one Square Knot (SK) with cords 1-4, 5-8, 9-12.

There are now 3 Square Knots in this row.

Row 2. Tie a SK with cords 3-6 and 7-10.

Find the center of one of the extra 40″ brown cords. These will be called the “add on” cords. Place it next to the FIRST cord on the left. Find the center of another 40″ brown cords. Place it next to the LAST cord on the right.

Tie a Square Knot (SK) with the new cord just added and cords 1 and 2. (The new cord when folded in half becomes two cords to work with.)

Pull down on the loop formed, smooth it out.

Repeat this by tying a SK with the new cord added on the right plus cords 11 and 12.

This row now has 4 Square Knots.

Renumber cords 1-16.

Row 3. Tie SK’s with cords 3-6, 7-10, 11-14.

Repeat the “add on” process. Same as you did for Row 2.

This row now has 5 SK’s.

Renumber cords 1-20.

Row 4. Tie SK’s with cords 3-6, 7-10, 11-14, 15-18.

Repeat the “add on” process.

This row now has 6 Square Knots. Renumber cords 1-24.

Set aside Side 1.

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Now you will work Side 2. Repeat all steps to attach cords to the 2nd D ring. Do all steps up to the 6 SK’s in Row 4. Number cords 1-24.

Now lay both sides side-by-side on macrame board to join the two.

Tie SK with cords 23 and 24 from Side 1 plus cords 1 and 2 from Side 2.

This one SK starts the next row. Row 5.

Renumber cords 1-48.

Now, to finish Row 5, tie SK’s with cords 3-6, 7-10, 11-14, 15-18, 19-22 (skip 23-26, knot is already there), 27-30, 31-34, 35-38, 39-42, 43-46.

Row 5 now has 11 Square Knots (SK).

Now join sides together to work purse in a tube, in the round. Unpin Side 1 from macrame board and place it next to Side 2.

Tie one SK with the last two cords on the left and the first two cords on the right. See photo for assistance.

This completes Row 5. It now has 12 SK’s.

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Begin tying in the round.

Row 6. Starting with cords 1-4, tie one SK.

Go all around, tying in the round. These are called Alternating Square Knots (ASK) since you are tying a knot with 2 cords from the above SK and 2 cords from the above adjacent SK. (12 SK’s)

Row 7. Tie one row of ASK’s. Go all around. Don’t tie with the same cords as in Row 6. (12 SK’s)

This is how your Little Missy purse should look after 7 rows.

Row 8. Tie one row of ASK’s. Go all around. Don’t tie with the same cords as in Row 7. (12 SK’s)

Row 9. Tie one row of ASK’s. Go all around. Don’t tie with the same cords as in Row 8. (12 SK’s)

Row 10. Tie one row of ASK’s. Go all around. Don’t tie with the same cords as in Row 9. Make sure to tie each knot tight. (12 SK’s)

This is how your purse should look after 10 rows.

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Closing Up the Bottom of Purse

Turn purse inside out.

The “knobs” up near the D rings will now be on the outside.

Locate Cords 1 and 48. Tie an Overhand Knot on cord ends to identify later. Do the same with Cords 24 and 25.

Turn purse sideways or fit between your knees. Divide cords into 24 and 24. Front and Back cords.

Use the cords with Overhand Knots on the ends as your guide.

Tie a Square Knot with no filler cords with Cords 48 and 1. Just those two cords.

Push cords out of your way. Tie a SK with the NEXT TWO CORDS FROM THE LEFT and THE NEXT TWO CORDS FROM THE RIGHT.

Pull on the filler cords to tighten knot. Continue tying knots this way. Two from one side and two from the other until you reach the last 2 cords. They have Overhand Knots on the ends. Tie a Square Knot with no filler cords with just those two cords.

All knot tying is now complete.

OK, let’s do a check of the closing knots. You should have one SK (no filler) in one corner, 11 SK along the bottom of the purse and one SK (no filler) in the other corner.

Here is a bottom view of the closing knots.

And a flat view of the closing knots.

Make sure you pulled down on all filler cords. So the bottom will look as smooth as possible.

Trim each cord to about an inch. Melt the cut ends with a lighter or match to prevent fraying. Touch cord lightly so not to burn.

Turn purse inside out. “Knobs” along the top of the D ring should now be back on the inside.

Apply craft glue to each knot from the inside of the purse. Allow to dry. Shape the bottom.

Push down on the knots from the inside. Purse should be able to stand up on its own. (This is the craft glue I used.)

Embellish, if desired, with buttons, bows, ribbon. You can even add a lining inside.

You are finished!! Enjoy!!

Purse Measurements: 6 1/4″ length, 7 1/2″ height, 1 1/4″ width (at the widest point, the bottom)

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Note: These instructions for closing up the bottom of a macrame purse will work with a large purse, too. You will just have more SK’s to tie.

Tuesday’s Tutorial: New Brown Plant Hanger

Time To Bring The Plants In.

Don’t know about you. But in my area, survival of ANY plant meant it needed to come inside. WEEKS ago!!

Here’s a little something perfect for them to hang in.

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Supplies/Tools Needed to Make Brown Plant Hanger

• 65 yards macrame cord (5-6mm braided or twisted, your choice)
• Two 4″ welded metal rings (preferably treated, not raw metal)
• One 2″ welded metal ring (preferable treated, not raw metal)
• 8 medium size beads (large hole opening)
• 8 large beads (large hole opening)
• “S” hook or something to extend plant hanger from
• yardstick/ruler/measuring tape
• scissors

Directions to Make Brown Plant Hanger

Step 1.

Cut 16 cords 4 yards long.  Cut one cord 1 yard long (for top wrap knot).

Step 2.

Find centers of all 4 yard cords and loop them through the 2″ welded ring.  Hold them tight in your hand and using the 1 yard cord, tie a 1″ Wrap Knot.

Step 3.

Divide cords into 8 groups of 4 cords each. Begin tying Square Knots (SK) with one group. Tie a Sinnet of 6 SK’s. Continue with the rest of the groupings.

Step 4.

Half Hitch (HH) all cords to one of the 4″ welded rings.

Step 5 – Adding Medium Size Beads.

Tie a 2 SK Sinnet with each cord grouping. (Stay with the same cord groupings as created in Step 3.)  Add one medium size bead to all 4 cords in that group. Tie ANOTHER 2 SK Sinnet with the SAME group you just added the bead to. Continue with this process for the rest of the groupings.

Step 6 – Tying Half Knot Sinnet.

Drop down 1 3/4″ and tie a Half Knot (HK) Sinnet of 18 HK’s with one group of 4 cords.  (Stay with the same cord groupings as created in Step 3.)  Your cord will start to twist. That’s OK. It is supposed to do that. Continue with the rest of the groupings.

Step 7 – Adding Large Beads.

Add one large bead to all 4 cords in each group. IMPORTANT: Switch tying cords. Your longer middle filler cords will now become the outside tying cords.  This saves on macrame cord. Otherwise you would have to cut longer cords.

Step 8.

Tie a Half Knot (HK) Sinnet of 18 HK’s with each group.  (Stay with the same cord groupings as created in Step 3.)

Step 9 – Forming the Cradle.

Drop down 4″. Tie ONE ROW of Alternating Square Knots (ASK).

This just means you will tie knots with 2 cords from one grouping and 2 cords from the next grouping. (Not all cords from the same group.) Go all around the entire plant hanger. You should have 8 knots.

Drop down 3″. Tie one row of ASK’s but with 2 SK Sinnet. Continue around. You should end up with 8 groups of 2 knots each.

Step 10 – Finishing.

Drop down 2″. Half Hitch (HH) all cords to the last 4″ welded ring.

Trim cord ends as desired. Cut evenly across or stagger ends, your choice.  Tie an Overhand Knot in each cord end OR melt the tips to prevent from unraveling. Touch cord lightly to melt. Do not burn or scorch the cord.

All done!! Congrats. Plant hanger measures 40″.

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I am assuming you already have some knowledge of how to tie knots.

You need to know how to tie the following basic knots:

• Step 2.  Wrap Knot

• Step 3.  Square Knot and SK Sinnet

• Step 4.  Half Hitch

• Step 6.  Half Knot and HK Sinnet

• Step 9.  Alternating Square Knot

New Macrame Purse Tutorial

Just finished this BROWN MACRAME PURSE and thought I would share the design with you. It is my own creation. One of those ideas floating around in my head for years. A “what if” I did this or “what if” I did that.

I wanted to try out a different way of attaching the rings (handles) instead of the usual way.

This tutorial doesn’t go into great detail on making the knots. If you need that, then go to one of my other macrame tutorials. See sidebar under Tutorials.

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Materials used:

• 100 yards of 3 1/2mm brown braided macrame cord

• 2 – 5″ brown Marbella plastic round rings

Supplies needed:

• macrame board or covered ceiling tile (which is what I use)

• T-pins

• craft glue

• scissors

• tape measure or ruler

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1: Cut 56 cords 1 3/4 yards long and two 1 yard cords. (Put aside one yard cords for later.)

Step 2: Find centers of the 1 3/4 yd cords and pin to macrame board side-by-side with T-pins.

Step 3: CREATING SQUARE KNOT SECTIONS. Tie a Square Knot (SK) with each pair of 2 cords to create 28 square knot sections. (14 for front and 14 for back)

Remove each from the board after tying and tighten, removing any loops formed at the tops. Set aside. Continue tying until you have 28 SK sections.

Step 4: TYING ALTERNATING SQUARE KNOTS. Line up all 28 square knot sections on board side-by-side.

Begin tying knots. Alternating square knots (ASK). Take 2 cords from one square knot section and 2 cords from the next square knot section. Tie one SK. Continue along this row. When finished drop down and continue doing the same for the next row. (You will have untied cords on the sides. Not to worry, those will be filled in when sides are joined.)

Step 5: FORMING A CIRCLE. After you have tied a few rows, remove knotted section from the board and form a circle. You will begin tying in the round. Join the two sides by tying one SK with 2 cords from the left and 2 cords from the right. (See photo)

Step 6: Continue tying SK’s. Fill in any missing SK’s in each row.

Step 7: Now continue tying alternating SK’s in the round until you have reached about 9″ in height. (For me, that was 24 rows) Or continue tying until you reach your desired height, remembering to allow enough cord to tie up the bottom. Make sure the knots in the last row are tied really tight.

Step 8: ATTACHING PURSE HANDLES. OK, purse is almost done. Knots are tied and you are ready to add the handles.

Position the rings (handles) on top of SK sections #5 and #10. Make note of which holes you will be weaving in and out of to attach the handles by looking at which holes the ring overlaid. Take one of the 1 yard cords and start attaching one ring. Starting on the top left. The first hole. Go in the hole, around the ring and out the SAME hole. Go on to the next hole and the next, following the ring. Repeat for the other side. Secure the cord on the inside either by knotting the ends or tying the 2 cord ends together.

Step 9: Turn purse inside out. Press flat with tops of the front square knot sections matching up with the back tops. You should have 14 on front side and 14 on back side. Line up the sides and tie an overhand knot ON THE ENDS in the 2 cords on each side. To mark them. Doing so will help you align sides correctly when tying up the bottom.

Step 10: TYING UP PURSE BOTTOM. Put purse between your knees, bottom up. With the 2 side cords OUT OF THE WAY, get the cords in position to begin tying knots. Make sure cords are all dangling on the sides. Be careful not to “drop” any that may be buried on the inside. Start tying a SK with 2 cords from the left side of the purse and 2 cords from the right side of the purse. Continue tying SK’s. Always 2 from the left, 2 from the right. When you reach the end, there should be 2 leftover cords. The 2 side cords you tied overhand knots from Step 9. Finish them off with a tight knot at the top.

Step 11: This step is a BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY step. Turn purse with the OUTSIDE out. Inspect the bottom. Are the sides aligned correctly and not lopsided?

Is the purse straight and able to stand up?

If the purse is not lopsided, you are good to go!! Turn purse back inside out. Sorry. (Remember, better safe than sorry.)

Step 12: FINISHING UP. You are almost finished!! Since you are happy with the bottom, you can now tighten up the bottom knots. Apply craft glue to both sides of each SK that tied up the bottom. Allow to dry.

Step 13: Cut cord ends leaving about 1/2″ to 3/4″. Melt cord tips (ends) slightly to prevent fraying. Using matches or a cigarette lighter, touch cord a nanosecond, making sure not to burn or scorch cord.

Step 14: Turn outside out and pat yourself on the back. Enjoy your new creation!!

Measurements: 8 1/4″ H, 11″ L, 1″ W

How to Macrame a Purse

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Materials & Supplies Needed To Make Macrame Purse

• 110 yds of 6mm BRAIDED macrame cord (or 5mm braided)
• 20 one inch wooden beads (10 beads front, 10 beads back)
• knotting board or ceiling tile
• T-pins
• tape measure, ruler or yardstick
• scissors
• craft glue

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Step-by-Step Directions (Knot Illustrations are at the end)

STEP 1.  Cut the following cords.

• 36 cords 2 yds 6″ long for purse body
• 4 cords 3 yds long for purse straps
• 4 cords 5 yds long for purse straps

STEP 2/MAKING THE STRAPS.  

You will make the two straps first. Pin the centers of two of the 3 yd cords side by side on knotting board. Pin the centers of two of the 5 yd cords on each side of the 3 yd cords. Cords should be lined up in this order. 5 yd cord, 3 yd cord, 3 yd cord and 5 yd cord. The 3 yard cords are filler cords and the 5 yard cords are the tying cords.  Position on the knotting board with 4 ends going up over top of board and the other 4 hanging down the board.  Refer to illustration.

Working with these 4 cords, tie a Sinnet of 10 Square Knots (SK).  A sinnet is a strip of the same knots tied one after the other with the same tying cords.  Refer to illustration. Leave on knotting board.

Continue adding to this SK sinnet by adding a Sinnet of 15 Half Knots (HK). Half Knots will start to twist after about the 3rd Half Knot. That is ok, it is supposed to do this.

Turn strap around and working in the other direction, continue where you “started”.  (Note: Tie one HALF KNOT before tying a SK. This completes the knot first tied. ) Now you are ready to start tying knots in this direction.

Repeat making the same 10 knot SK sinnet and 15 knot HK sinnet as you did for the top half of these 4 cords.  This completes the 1st Strap. Now repeat the process for the 2nd strap. This is how the two completed straps should look. Set straps aside.

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STEP 3/CREATING THE FRONT PORTION OF PURSE.

Using the 2 yard 6″ cords, fold 2 cords in half and pin the centers side by side on knotting board. With these 4 cords, tie a Square Knot (SK) bringing knot all the way up to T-pin so no loops will be above knots. Set aside. Repeat this process 17 more times. You will have 18 Square Knot Sections. (Throughout this tutorial, these 18 will be referred to as “Square Knot Sections.”)

Pin 6 of the Square Knot Sections created in the above step to the knotting board side by side. Tie them together with Alternating Square Knots (ASK), starting with the 3rd cord on the left. You will tie 5 SK’s in this row. Leave knotting on the board.

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STEP 4/ATTACHING STRAP TO FRONT OF PURSE.

Take one strap and curve it in an upward arc. Pin one end to the left side of the front portion of purse (which is on the knotting board) and the other end of the strap to the right side of the front portion of purse. Tie one Square Knot with cords 3-6 on left and 19-22 on the right. Leave knotting on board. (Numbering of the cords will change as sections are added so when numbering is mentioned in the instructions, just renumber mentally.)

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STEP 5/CREATING THE SIDES.

Pin 3 Square Knot Sections on board and tie them together with a row of 2 Alternating Square Knots.

Do the same with 3 more Square Knot Sections. When knotting is completed pin one of these sections on the left of purse strap THAT IS ON THE KNOTTING BOARD and pin the other section on the right side. (Photo is only showing how to add this newly created section to the right side of the strap. Do the same on the left side.) Tie these sections together with one Square Knot, using 2 free cords from Square Knot Section and 2 from strap. Take off board and set aside.

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OK, let’s do a review of what you have completed thus far. The two straps are completed and one strap has been attached to the front section and the two side sections. This is how your purse should look at this stage.

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STEP 6/CREATING THE BACK & ATTACHING 2ND STRAP.

Just as you did for the front… Pin 6 Square Knot Sections to knotting board side by side. Tie them together with one row of Alternating Square Knots, starting with the 3rd cord on the left. You will tie 5 SK’s in this row. Leave knotting on the board. Refer to knotting illustrations in Step 3 if you need help.

Take the 2nd strap and curve it in an upward arc. Pin one end to the left side of the back portion of purse (which is on the knotting board) and the other end of the strap to the right side of the back portion of purse. Note: Make sure this strap measures the same as the 1st strap. If necessary, “push” up on the sinnet to even it out.

Tie one Square Knot with cords 3-6 on left and 19-22 on the right. Leave knotting on board.

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STEP 7/JOINING SIDES TO BACK.

Join the back to the side sections with one Square Knot using the 2 free cords from the side and 2 cords from the back portion.

Do the same on the other side.

You now have a one complete row of Square Knots going all around the entire purse.

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STEP 8.

You will be tying rows of knots in a circular format, a tube. Tie 6 rows of Alternating Square Knots (ASK) in the following order:

• Row 3: Tie row of Square Knots (SK)
• Row 4: Tie row of Alternating Square Knots (ASK)
• Row 5: Tie row of SK’s
• Row 6: Tie row of ASK’s
• Row 7: Tie row of SK’s
• Row 8: Tie row of ASK’s

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STEP 9/ADD 1ST ROW OF BEADS.

Now you will begin adding beads to the front side of the purse. Number the cords from 1-44 beginning with one half of the side knot. Tie a Square Knot (SK) with cords 5-8, 13-16, 21-24, 29-32, 37-40. Under each of these SK’s put a bead on the 2 filler cords, the center cords of the 4 cords. Tie another SK under each bead, using the same 4 cords as for the knot above the bead.

Tie a sinnet of 8 Half Knots with cords 9-12, 17-20, 25-28, 33-36.  Repeat these steps of adding beads and tying half knot sinnets to the back side of the purse.

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STEP 10/FILL IN SIDES WITH KNOTS. 

To fill in the sides of the purse opposite where beads were added, tie 4 rows of Alternating Square Knots. First row will have one knot, 2nd row will have 2 knots, 3rd row will have 1 knot and 4th row will have 2 knots. Line these knots up with the bead row. (Note: Don’t get ahead. Stop with those last 2 knots.)

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STEP 11. There is one row of knots in between the 2 rows of beads. Tie one row of ASK all around the entire purse.

STEP 12/ADD 2ND ROW OF BEADS. Repeat Steps 9 and 10 to add the 2nd row of beads and fill in the knots on the side. Front and back.

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STEP 13. Now tie 5 rows of Alternating Square Knots all around entire purse.

STEP 14/CLOSING THE BOTTOM.

To close up the bottom of the purse, first, turn purse wrong side out. Go around the last row of knots and make sure the knots are really tight.

With the purse flat on the surface, locate the sides. You will see ONE SQUARE KNOT on each side that separates the front and the back of the purse.  This is where you start tying up the bottom. Ok, ready? Put purse between your knees with the bottom up.

Starting with the farthest (on the side) 6 cords, tie 2 Square Knots, using 4 filler cords and one cord from the left side of the purse and one cord from the right side of the purse.

Continuing closing up the bottom using the next 2 cords from EACH SIDE of the purse and tying ONE Square Knot very tightly.  

Continue this process across the bottom of the purse until you reach the other side. There should be 6 cords left. With these 6 cords, tie 2 Square Knots using 4 filler cords and one cord from the left side of the purse and one cord from the right side of the purse. The same as you did for the 6 cords on the opposite side of the purse.

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STEP 15/CUT BOTTOM CORDS.

This completes the knot tying. Apply craft glue to each knot. Allow to dry.  Cut bottom cords leaving about 1/2″. Melt cut cords with a cigarette lighter or match to keep cords from fraying. Hold fire to the cord ends for just a split second so you won’t burn the cords. Now you are ready to turn purse right side out. Prepare the lining and insert it, if you desire.

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Congratulations!! Your purse is complete and ready to carry. Enjoy!!

Here are pictures of my completed purse.

Purse measurements: 10 3/4″ length, 1 1/2″ width and 9″ height without straps (14 1/2″ height with straps)

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Macrame Cord Suppliers

http://www.kingskountry.com

http://www.macramecords.com

http://www.munrocrafts.com/

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Knot Illustrations