MACRAME OWL WALL HANGING

Note - When mounting cords on WCs in the ring frame, tighten while being gentle not to pull too much this cord, if it loosens a little, tighten the half hitch knots back in place at the bottom of the ring.

Knots Used (with abbreviations) - see PDF for visual examples.

Additional Abbreviations

WC - Working Cords, term given to cords to make knots. WC are often referred to as cord numbers starting with 1 on the left-hand side. When more cords are added or knots move the cords position, the numbering restarts.

FC - Filler Cords, term given to cords that knots are made around.

Instructions:

Step 1 - Cut WCs in MC, 6 x 2.4metres, 4 x 2.0 metres. 4 x 1.7metres.

Step 2 - Make a LH knot, by folding the WCs in half, then mount the lengths as follows: 1 x 2.4, 2 x 1.7, 2 x 2, 4 x 2.4, 2 x 2, 2 x 1.7, 1 x 2.4 There are now 28 WCs.

Step 3 - Skipping the first 2 WC, work 6 SKs with the next 24 WCs close to the LH mount, leaving the last 2 cords free.

Step 4 - Skipping the first 4 WC, work 5 SKs with the next 20 WCs below the previous row of knots, leaving the last 4 cords free. (Results in Alternating SKs)

Step 5 - Skipping the first 6 WC, work 4 SKs with the next 16 WCs below the previous row of knots, leaving the last 6 cords free.

Step 6 - Skipping the first 8 WC, work 3 SKs with the next 12 WCs below the previous row of knots, leaving the last 8 cords free.

Step 7 - Skipping the first 10 WC, work 2 SKs with the next 8 WCs below the previous row of knots, leaving the last 10 cords free.

Step 8 - Skipping the first 12 WC, work 1 SK with the next 4 WCs below the previous row of knots, leaving the last 12 cords free.

Step 9 - Skip first WC, and lay WC 2 on an angle from left to right below the SKs and use as an FC, work DDHHR with WCs 3 to 14.

Step 10 - Lay WC 27(second last cord) on an angle from right to left below the SKs and use as an FC, work DDHHL with WCs 26 to 15. Complete the point by working another DDHHL with the FC from Step 9.

Step 11 - Lay WC 1 on an angle from left to right below the knots in Step 9, and use as an FC, work DDHHR with WCs 2 to 14.

Step 12 - Lay WC 28(last cord) on an angle from right to left below the knots in Step 10, and use as an FC, work DDHHL with WCs 27 to 15. Complete the point by working another DDHHL with the FC from Step 11.

Step 13 - Place a bead in the centre for the beak by thread through the centre 2 cords. (Sticky tape can help condense the cord to thread through the bead.

Step 14 - Using Col 1, Cut 6 x 2.2cms lengths. Fold a length in half and lay behind the ring just below the first LH knot in MC on the left-hand side, keeping the folded loop above the ring by 5cms work DDHHL around the ring first with the right-hand cord then with the left hand cord.

Step 15 - Using the first 6 MC cord as FC, work DDHHL around these new cords, first with the right-hand cord then with the left-hand cord.

Step 16 - Fold another length in half and lay behind the ring just below the first the knots worked in Step 14 on the left-hand side, keeping the folded loop above the ring by 3cms work DDHHL around the ring first with the right-hand cord then with the left hand cord.

Step 17 - Using the first 6 MC cord as FC, work HDHHL around these new cords.

Step 18 - Fold another length in half and lay behind the ring just below the first the knots worked in Step 16 on the left-hand side, keeping the folded loop above the ring by 1.5cms work DDHHL around the ring first with the right-hand cord then with the left hand cord.

Step 19 - Using the first 6 MC cord as FC, work HHDHL around these new cords.

Step 20 - With the remaining 3 cords, repeat this process in reverse on the right-hand side of the ring.

Step 21 - Working from the centre out take the 2 middle MC cords, and lay with a 9cms space in the middle, keeping cord taught work HDHHL with this cord, then all MC cords to the left, and HDHHR with all MC cords to the right. There will be a space along each side of the ring of approximately 9cms.

Step 22 - Lay the Col 1 cords over these cords and keeping taught attach these to the ring in the same manner. The left-hand cords will sit to the left of the right-hand MC knots, and the right hand cords will sit to the right of the left hand MC knots, filling the 9cms space at the bottom of the ring.

Step 23 - Using Col 2, Cut WCs - 16 x 15 cms.

Step 24 - Fold WCs in half and using a LH knot mount 8 cords on ring in the space to the left facing ends outwards, and mount 8 cords in the space to the right.

Step 25 - Gently tease open the twist on the cord with a brush or comb, trim to form an even arc.

Step 26 - Using MC, Cut WCs - 16 x 15 cms.

Step 27 - Fold WCs in half and using a LH knot mount 8 cords the WC 3(skips 2 MC cords), again facing outwards, repeat on the right-hand side 3 WCs in from the right-hand side.

Step 28 - Gently tease open the twist on the cord with a brush or comb, trim to form an even arc.

Eyes - Make 2

Step 1 - Using Col 2, Cut WCs - 12 x 12 cms.

Step 2 - Fold WCs in half and mount to cord ring, using a LH knot facing away from the ring. There are now 24 lengths.

Step 3 - Gently tease open the twist on the cord with a brush or comb, trim to form an even circle.

Step 4 - Using the Hot Glue, run a circle around the underside of the eyes around the ring area and glue in place, on either side of the bead beak.

Feather Tufts

Step 1 - Using all 3 colours, cut lengths of WC 15cms long. These can be cut as you go until the area is filled with the cords.

Step 2 - The WCs running below the eyes and beak to the bottom of the ring will act as FC for these tufts. To fill the area, only every alternate cord needs to be filled, if there are gaps at the end, extra tufts can be added.

Fold WCs in half and using a LH knot mount on the WC for the body, rotate through the 3 colours, and alternate the direction of the LH knot to create a random pattern of colours. These cords will fray a little as you work, to add to the effect.

Claws and Tail

Step 1 - Working from the centre area and using 5 MC cords to the right and left of the Col 1 cords, sit the branch 5cms below the ring, and attach these 5 cords using HDHHL on the left hand cords and HDHHR with the right hand cords.

Step 2 - Group these 10 cords together behind the branch and using the outer cords, work 2 tight SKs around the middle 8 cords. Trim the tail cords to desired length and tie off.

Finishing

Step 1 - With the remaining cords on the ring, tie off 2 cords with a tight knot and trim to 4cms, these will sit in all directions to blend with the feather tufts.

Step 2 - Cut a length of MC 30cms long and attach at the top of the ring to make a hanger. Tie off and trim.