Learning Macramé

So as I sit hear contemplating my bottles, and the twine I have dug out of my deep stash to cover them, I remember the crafting world of my mums.

Back in the 60 & 70s, the CWA (Country Women's Association) was the go to place to learn, exp...eriment, share and socialise.
They are still around too! https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Country-Womens-Association-of-Victoria-Inc-CWA/205818182875358

Back then most mums were ‘stay at home mums’ and needed activities to fill their day, and the CWA was as good as any. I remember going along to a couple (must have been school holidays or a little sick) and had a great old time playing with crafty goodness.

Sadly these types of groups are not like they were back then. This day and age most wives and mums have to work to help pay the bills. So when I first married I kept on crafting with the skills I had, and turned to the library for inspiration and learning.... then the kids came and not much time for crafting anymore.

Now they are older, and I have cut work back to casual I can re-visit my former crafting life! However, now we have the Internet with inspiration, how to’s and most especially ‘youtube’ for the next best thing to a hands on lesson!

I think there officially a ‘how to’ on everything there is to know on ‘youtube’ and of course Macramé!
Macrame School is a great one! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr_ZQ9ELcx9Y89p9GIYTW0w
And they are also here on facebook
Just search Macramé School!

While I am loving the world of the internet learning, I still am old school and love my books!

 

Materials for Macramé

Other than the books and board that mum had from her Macramé years, all I have left of the actual craft is the pictured macramé covered bottle...... but you know, I am happy not to have the belts and wall-hangings, as they would have been a... bit dated now. This bottle though I loved back then and still do, and there is another bottle at my brother's place, equally as nice!

So I have collected a couple of bottles along the way, that I planned to cover.... although I have had them for a few years now and still have not find the time. Now though I feel I have set myself the challenge to cover them and then I can show everyone here how they turn out..... as long as you do not laugh!

So now to figure out what to cover them with, as Macramé supplies are not what they were in the 70s! Also picture is what Semco had on range back then, along with all the wooden beads, were all the rage.

Recently there are some great twine, in general finer, but great colours and variations. Hemptique - http://hemptique.net/ - have great twines, and now there is a couple of other brands that are also producing similar type ranges. I love this stuff for Macramé, and often in the floristry section of craft stores, one can find great twine too.

Then there is Micro Macramé, or Cavandoli knotting, where finer thread is used such as crochet cotton. This is however a whole other wonderful world and a topic for later.

So now I am off think about how I am going to cover one of my bottles!

 

Working Macramé Magic Old and New

Back when Miss De Dillmont wrote her book, the ladies worked their macramé magic on a cushioned frame, using pins to help keep the cords in line to create their patterns.

Back in the 70’s my mum had a board produced by an Australian Company called ‘Semco’, their factory was actually located fairly close to us in Blackrock.
The board worked well for small items such as belts, necklaces and small wall hangings. It was a little difficult using pins into the wood, although doable with thick T-pins, was a little hard for us delicate ladies. So a hammer and nail would work better. Let’s face it, it was not the 1800s anymore!

Later 'Semco' made a new version of the board that was a softer, pressed type fibrous base with a plastic covering. Easier for pins, but would not last as long. Since I learnt on the wooded board, that is what suits me.

Of course if you are making larger items, such as clothing, a bigger handmade board (thanks to my husband) work well. Pot holders and larger wall hangings, start off on the board then hang up and keep on knotting!

The boards were rather well designed (even if only in Imperial) as they came complete with knots and their abbreviations. The wooden board, not so great with the instructions on the back, and the newer on the front… ingenious!

And guess what?.... These are the only knots you need to learn!

Of course there are other tips and tricks to keeping your work to size and shape, but if you learn the basic ‘Square Knot’ first you can make an easy bracelet & key chain. I great little activity for the kids too!

Macramé & Thérèse de Dillmont

There have been numerous posts floating around Facebook, along the lines of “If you could speak with anyone that has passed who would it be?” or the quizzes “Who were you in a past life?”
Well this was rather an appropriate line of thought ...whilst visiting the cemetery today, and I have decided that I would like to have been Thérèse de Dillmont.

Here is a little bit about her……http://www.annatextiles.ch/biograph/dillmont/dillmo.htm

Not much, but she has certainly made her mark in the history of Needlework and Handcrafts.

I have long been referring to her books as I learn and develop skills in craft and Macramé is no exception. Pictured is a very early edition of the ‘Encyclopaedia of Needlework’, this book came to me from my mum via either her mother, or my father’s mother, and possibly further back. However, mum was the first to write her name in it. The book is well worn and fortunately they are still producing the same book(also in 17 languages!), so I carefully preserved the old one, and now I use my very large new one! Also pictured is just the Macrame pages plus a little extra that was also produce by D.M.C., another of their publications thanks to Thérèse.

Surprisingly enough I just found the book pages available on the internet. I guess due to its age, it is public domain now…… of course there is nothing like a real book to flick through!
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20776/20776-h/20776-h.htm

So to be a well-respected member of the craft world such as Thérèse de Dillmont. would be an honor, and if I could learn and share half as much as she did, I would be doing pretty well!

Tomorrow a little bit about the basics of Macramé, for it really is easy to get started!