Heavy Metal Macrame Belt

Figure A

Steps:

1. Cut two 4' lengths of chain.

2. Wrap tape around the ends of the cord as if you were making shoe lace ends.

3. Fold cord in half and loop the folded end over the ring and then back through itself to attach it to the ring.

Figure B

4. Pull each cord end through the ends of the two lengths of chain. Make sure that the ends of the chain are the same so that both sides of chain will be going the same way on the belt.

5. Pull cord end behind ring, then through ring and then down through loop to secure the chain to the ring.

Figure C

6. You will have four loops of cording on the ring at this point. In the center of the 4 loops, tie the elastic beading cord to the ring with several sturdy knots. Once secure, clip off the extra end.

7. Use two or three T-pins to pin the ring to the corkboard.

8. Lay the chains on the outsides, the elastic beading cord in the center, and the white cord in between both on the board.

Figure E

9. Tie a square knot with the white cord, encasing the super stretchy elastic beading cord.

To tie a square knot, bring the right-hand cord over the elastic beading cord and under the left-hand cord.Then pull the left-hand cord in under and through the elastic beading cord and between the right-hand cord loop that you just created. Pull tight. Bring the new right-hand cord under the elastic beading cord and over the new left-hand cord. Then pull the new left-hand cord over the elastic beading cord and between the new right-hand cord again through the loop that you just made. Pull tight.

Figure F

10. Lace the right-hand white cord through the underneath of the right-hand #2 link of chain. Repeat with the left-hand side and pull both sides tight.

11. Pin the chains to the board about 8 inches below where you are working so that the chains are parallel, about 1-1/2" apart.

12. Place beads on the elastic beading cord so that you have used up 3/4" of space on the elastic beading cord.

13. Repeat steps 9, 10 and 11 several times until you have made the belt as long as you want it. Re-pin the belt to the board as you go. The maximum beaded and knotted area for this amount of cord is about 34".

14. To Finish: Tie your last square knot around the elastic beading cord. Thread the elastic beading cord through a large-eye tapestry needle and sew it to the square knot and tie off securely. Cut off end of the elastic beading cord.

Figure H

15. Tape off one end of one of the yard-long pieces of white cord, like you did in step 2. Lace that taped end through the next two chain links that would have been laced if you were to carry on with making the belt. Center that piece of white cord in the chain links.

Figure I

16. Fold other yard-long piece of white cord in half and loop around center of first yard-long piece, between the chains. Pull ends of the second cord through the loop to attach to the first cord.

Figure J

17. Bring original cords of belt over the new knot that was created with the two cords. Tie a square knot with the first yard-long cord that encases the four other pieces of cords.

18. Cut the extra pieces of chain off after the links that carry the cord for the last square knot.

19. Cuts the lengths of cords in various lengths, as these will be the dangles of the belt. I have found that anywhere between 8" and 12" can be fun. Remove tape and burn the ends with a match to stop the fraying.

20. Use a needle and thread to sew beads to ends of the white cord to finish.