Transform your cut-flower holders into works of art with this adaptable decoration. The macramé pattern is worked on your chosen container so it moulds perfectly to the shape of the piece, creating a bespoke item. A woven band in black cotton and jute brings earthy textures to this simple vessel reinvention.
*Note: Our vase was 15cm (6in) high with a diameter of 13cm (5in) at the base and 10cm (4in) at the neck.
*Note: You can add or subtract cords accordingly but use an odd number.
1. Take the 1.5m (5ft) length of 5mm (3⁄16in) natural cotton rope and tie it loosely around the neck of your chosen bottle or vase with a temporary overhand knot, making sure the cord ends are even. This becomes your holding cord (see Essential Terminology).
2. Mount the twenty-three 1.2m (4ft) lengths of 5mm (3⁄16in) natural cotton rope to the holding cord using reverse lark’s head knots.
3. Take the two ends of the holding cord together with one cord from the left-hand side and one cord from the right-hand side and tie these four cords into a tight square knot.
4. Continue to tie a further eleven knots to give you a row of twelve square knots in all.
5. Alternate cords (see Essential Terminology) and tie a row of twelve square knots.
6. Continue an alternating square knot pattern for another two rows.
7. Place a 1m (31⁄4ft) length of 5mm (3⁄16in) natural cotton rope horizontally around the vase and directly beneath the last row of square knots. This now becomes the holding cord. Tie double half hitches with all cords onto the holding cord.
8. Tie a double half hitch knot with one end of the holding cord onto the other. Trim ends short to approx. 1cm (3⁄8in) and tuck them up underneath the row of square knots above.
9. Drop down 3cm (11⁄8in) and place the remaining 1m (31⁄4ft) length of 5mm (3⁄16in) natural cotton rope horizontally around the vase. This now becomes the holding cord. Tie double half hitches with all cords onto the holding cord.
10. Tie a double half hitch knot with one end of the holding cord onto the other. This creates a negative space that will be used as the warp for your weave in steps 15–17. Trim ends short to approx. 1cm (3⁄8in) and tuck them up into the negative space.
11. Separate the cords into eleven groups of four cords each.
12. Take a 65cm (251⁄2in) length of 2mm (3⁄32in) jute and tie a 1cm (3⁄8in) wrapped knot around the first group of four cords.
13. Repeat step 12 for the remaining eleven groups of cords.
14. Trim the cords to the desired length and fray.
15. Join together three 3m (10ft) lengths of 3mm (1⁄8in) jute (to be used as your weft thread) and soumak weave through the negative space for one row, working from left to right.
16. Using the 2m (61⁄2ft) length of 3mm (1⁄8in) black cotton rope as your weft thread, tabby weave through the negative space for three rows. Once a complete row is woven, you will need to weave either over two warp threads or under two so that the second row is sitting in the opposite way to the first row.
17. Join together three 3m (10ft) lengths of 3mm (1⁄8in) jute (to be used as your weft thread) and soumak weave through the negative space for one row, working from right to left.
18. Use a weaving finishing technique to weave in cord ends through the back of the design.
