CLUTCH PURSE

A handmade macramé clutch purse is a sure-fire way to impress your friends on a night out on the town, and it’s just the right size to carry your party essentials. With its pretty chevron flap and magnetic button closure, it is a must-have fashion accessory.

MATERIALS:
KNOTS & TECHNIQUES:

PREPARATION:

Method

  1. Secure the 2m (61⁄2ft) length of rope to a project board with T-pins (see Tools & Materials), making sure it is straight and firm. This becomes your holding cord (see Knotting Terminology).
  2. Alternating lengths of jute with lengths of rope, mount the eighteen 3m (10ft) lengths of jute and the eighteen 3m (10ft) lengths of rope onto the holding cord using reverse lark’s head knots (see Reverse Lark’s Head Knot). The width of the mounted cords should be 24.5cm (93⁄4in) and they should be centred on the holding cord.
  3. Directly beneath the holding cord, tie a row of eighteen square knots (see Square Knot).
  4. Aternate cords (see Knotting Terminology) and tie a row of seventeen square knots.
  5. Continue an alternating square knot pattern (see Alternating Square Knot Pattern) with no spaces in between the rows for another forty-five rows, ending with a row of eighteen square knots. The total length of the macramé should be 27cm (105⁄8in); if necessary, work more rows of square knots to bring the macramé to the required length, but remember it is important to end with a row of eighteen square knots.
  6. Divide the cords into three groups of twenty-four cords: group 1 – cords 1–24; group 2 – cords 25–48; and group 3 – cords 49–72. Complete steps 7– 15 on each of the three groups of cords to create what will be the front flap chevron edge on the finished bag.
  7. On each of the three groups of cords, work a decreasing square knot pattern (see Decreasing Square Knot Pattern) directly beneath the last row tied, beginning with six square knots and finishing with one square knot in the last row.
  8. Number the cords in each of the three groups 1 to 24 (see Numbering Cords).
  9. Make cord 1 a holding cord; bring it down diagonally left to right along the edge of the pattern to sit directly beneath the single square knot and tie diagonal double half hitches with cords 2–12 (see Half Hitch Knots).
  10. Make cord 24 a holding cord; bring it down diagonally right to left along the edge of the pattern to sit directly beneath the single square knot and tie diagonal double half hitches with cords 13–23.
  11. Cross over the holding cords (cords 1 and 24) so that they swap positions.
  12. Now renumber the cords in each group 1 to 24.
  13. Make cord 1 a holding cord; bring it down left to right so it sits directly beneath the row of diagonal double half hitches, and tie diagonal double half hitches with cords 2–12.
  14. Make cord 24 a holding cord; bring it down right to left so it sits directly beneath the row of diagonal double half hitches, and tie diagonal double half hitches with cords 13–23.
  15. Tie holding cords 1 and 24 together with a double overhand knot (see Overhand Knot).
  16. Remove the macramé from the project board. Flip the macramé over and use the weaving finish technique (see Weaving Finish) to conceal the cords along the chevron edge. (Do not trim the holding cord along the straight edge.)
  17. Trim the cords in each group to 5mm (1⁄4in) and use a hot glue gun to secure them down.
  18. To make your macramé into a clutch bag, keep the macramé wrong side facing up but orientate it so that the chevrons are at the top and the straight edge is at the bottom. Fold the bottom edge up by 12cm (43⁄4in) to make the pocket of the bag.
  19. Use the holding cord to lace up the sides of the bag pocket (see Lacing Up), finishing with the cord on the inside of the purse, and secure with a double overhand knot.
  20. Attach the magnetic snap fasteners to complete the purse. Use a hot glue gun to secure one part of each to the back side of the chevrons and the matching part to the front of the bag pocket, so that they match up when the flap is closed.