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Working Surfaces and Suspension Options

Project Boards: Typically pre-labeled with measurements, these boards are quite handy. Some are hard and sturdy, some are soft and foamy, while others are self-healing. Project boards are a necessity if your project requires stability. They usually take tape and pins equally well. Sometimes they can be limiting by scale. Often, they are best to use when working on a smaller scale, such as with jewelry projects. The grid and measurements help keep patterns consistent, especially while tying netting and straight rows.

For the projects in this book, I used a large (3' x 3' [1 x 1m]) corkboard purchased from a local craft shop. It doesn't have a preprinted grid, but it is large enough to keep projects neat and stable as I worked.

Foam Core and Cardboard: Need a substitute for to a project board? Foam core and cardboard may be handy. They are not self-healing and may not keep the pins super steady, but measurements can be added by hand and they are often available at a moment’s notice. Just be sure when using thinner boards and foam core that you don’t pierce the pins straight through the back of your board. That will result in an “ouch!” Pins may not always be necessary, however.

Pillows: Again, these are best used in smaller projects. Pillows don’t need to be bulky. I make mine here with just a little batting and foam board. The flat side keeps the board steady while I’m working with the plush side, which acts as cushioning as I work with the foam/flat surface. I simply glued a piece of foam core to a lap desk. Pins won’t pierce straight through to the board, but I’m able to tape and pin with a self-drawn grid. While a pillow may not take tape or T-pins so well, it can grip a sinnet strand with safety pins nicely. It beats pinning a project to the pant leg. It’s still mobile if you need to travel with your project.

Hooks and Lines: What about large hanging projects? You have a number of options for these if working directly on the floor or table (just don’t cut it):

• S-Hooks: These can be found in a variety of sizes from a local hardware store, garden center, or plant nursery. S-hooks can be suspended from a hook attached to the ceiling, or suspended from rail, door, or back of a chair.

• Wreath Hanger: Readily available around the holiday season, wreath hangers offer a stable hook to suspend a work-in-progress. This is especially handy for tying longer projects, which enable a comfortable seated or standing position.

• Temporary/Roll-Away Garment Rack: Coupled with a few S-hooks—or just loosely tied to the bar—a garment rack offers a wide and stable suspension zone for working or storing finished projects. Garment racks of all sorts can be found in the home organization departments of most major retailers.

Essentials

T-Pins: T-pins are recommended companions to work with the project boards because they are not as clunky as thumbtacks or pushpins.

Scissors and Shears: Scissors can be used for every project attempted from this book, but if you plan to use a coarse cord, such as jute or sisal, you may want to use gardening pruners to make cuts to keep from damaging the blades from your favorite trimmers.

Measuring Tape or Ruler: Every project in this book starts with a specific amount of cord. The rulings are shared in both imperial and metric systems. Please choose one and stick with it throughout the pattern.

Tape: In this text we will not be using tape to tack down our projects, so much as using the tape to make cuts to cord ends. This is especially handy for use on twisted materials. It keeps the cord from unraveling while you work. At the end of your completed piece, adding a dab of clear-drying glue will keep the ends tidy and permanent. What type of tape do you need? Any tape you have on hand should work okay, including temporary-hold or washi tape. If you end up cutting the taped bits of your work off, you would be losing maybe up to ¼" (0.61cm), so the stronger the tape, the better.

Glue: One of the best things about needlecrafts is that glue isn’t a necessity. Glue is used in this text for the sole purpose of finishing rope ends to prevent them from fraying. Clear-drying fabric glues will have the best hold. If a project (such as a wall hanging) isn’t going to be subjected to water, everyday school glues will work just as well.

Extras

Gloves: Working on an extensive project like a large rug can be taxing on your hands. If you work with an especially wiry/hairy/coarsely textured cord, such as jute, working gloves may be flesh saving. No need to rub your skin raw for lovely home decor!

Beads: Macramé beads can be hard to come by. Most are made up of wood, but ceramics can be found if you look closely. The only measure for a bead you need to note is the size of the hole required for threading. Hole sizes of 6 to 10mm on beads are a rare find in jewelry stores, but they can be found. Typically with ceramic and stone style beads, you may need to take to the Internet to find just the right size. Keep in mind that beads are usually measured using metrics, as it’s the most universal form of measurement.

If you find yourself in a pinch for beads, polymer clay and fast-drying clay can be used for making your own. The Internet is loaded with tutorials for making faux-stone beads using just a couple colors of polymer clay. DIY beads offer you the ability to customize the hole size and bead scale all at once. It can be a little extra work, but you would be fashioned with a truly custom and one-of-a-kind project. Same goes for if you find the most perfect bead, just not in the right color. Spray paint comes in a large variety of colors and can also be used against any number of surfaces.

Rings: Rings come in all types of surfaces, from metal to wood. While they can be difficult to come by, stocking up on 1 ½" to 2 ½" (3.81 to 6.35cm) sizes are ideal when working with plant hangers. Most plant hanger projects can be modified to skip over the use of a ring (see here), but they are quite handy and a quick starting point for such projects. In a pinch, embroidery hoops can be used as substitutes. The wood of embroidery hoops is quite light, so reserve the use of hoops to lighter macramé projects. Hula Hoops® are an excellent option when a larger ring is needed for a project. They're particularly useful when you're creating wall hangings and giant dream catchers (see here).

Dowels and Rods: Wooden dowels are readily available at your local hobby, craft, and hardware shop, but mother nature also offers a plethora of twigs, branches, and driftwood that can be used as project supports.

Splicing Tools: Splicing tools can be used to help extend the length of a cord whenever the use of a knot may be too cumbersome. These tools can be difficult to find, so here are a few substitutes:

• Crochet hook

• Beading tool

• Trombone paper clip or piece of floral wire (formed into a hook)

Sewing Supplies: A needle and thread may be more than enough when working with fabric, but sometimes a sewing machine is just faster. A couple projects within this book use strips of fabric to add a little panache to a simple design. When longer strips of fabric are required, baste-stitching the edge of the strips will help prevent excess wear and fray over time. See here for directions on making fabric strips.