Macramé Tutorial: Basic Knots for Borders and Braids

Learn the basic, step-by-step macramé techniques to give shape to your design, with Mariella Motilla

Textile art is not only designed for clothing, it can also be a great wall hanging that gives your home a unique touch. Textile designer Mariella Motilla (@mariellamotilla) is an expert. Her art gives life to the interiors of major hotels, important residences and public offices in Mexico.

To create these textile designs you need to set-up your macramé loom and start weaving. This tutorial teaches you how to create borders and a braid to frame the top section of your design.

Watch this video:

Basic knots to create borders and braids

1. Create your first border using a complete square knot followed by a half square knot

Square knots are great fillers. First simply take four cords. The two cords in the center will be your base and the two knots on the far sides will be those you use to create the knot. Cross the first thread over the middle two and the fourth thread across, behind and then pull. Now repeat the process, but the other way around, starting with the fourth thread. This gives you your first complete square knot. Now create a half square knot. Repeat this pattern four times. You should be left with something that looks like this:

2. Start your braid

Now you’ve completed your square knots, it’s time to make a braid. You’ll need an extra cord. It’s a good idea to test how much cord you’re going to need. Mariella used 8 meters. First fold the cord in half and pick up two of the cords on one end of your design. Pass your folded extra cord over both hanging cords and pull a section of it back through from behind.

Now using this section, pick up the next two hanging cords in your design and pull through another section. Pass it behind, open it up and pick up another two cords. Adjust each of the sections of the braid if they slip down your loom and try to make sure that the distance between each section is about the same.

3. Fasten off your braid.

When you reach the end of your braid, fasten it off by placing the two ends behind the loom and stitching them in with a needle and thread. If there’s too much cord, simply trim with your scissors to keep the fastening tidy.

Like these tips? If you want to learn how to combine various techniques to create decorative textiles, don’t miss Mariella Motilla’s online tutorial Macramé: Basic and Complex Knots.

You may be interested in:
- Macramé Knots: Create a Sample Collection, with Belén Senra.
- Introduction to Macramé: Creation of a Decorative Tapestry.
- Circular Macramé Techniques.