Decorative Macrame Basket

I change my mind often when it comes to making something. I had bought some cotton clothes line a couple of weeks ago to macrame a purse and I was a bit stumped on how to go about doing it, unfortunately. Then this morning inspiration hit me, macrame a basket.

The clothesline is very inexpensive, I think it was 2.44 for 100 feet. I wasn’t exactly sure if the clothesline had enough weight to it to keep a shape so I bought two large metal rings in case I needed support. In the end I didn’t use them and my basket is much smaller than the rings anyway.

I used this container as a base for the beginning of my basket.

First I figured out how much cord I needed to cut by measuring the bottom of the container and the side. Adding the bottom and the side twice, I came up with 9 x 11 x 9 to equal 29 inches. Then I multiplied that by 5 to make sure I had enough cord. With that number (145) I divided it by 36 to get how many yards each cord needed to be. It came out to 4 yards for each cord. (Actually just a tad over 4 but I had already rounded up my numbers a bit so I thought 4 yards would be fine.) I cut 8 cords. I had just enough in the package I bought to get all 8 out of it.

I separated the cords into two bunches of four and found the center of each group, then laid them out perpendicular on top of each other.

Now to make a Chinese Crown Knot, this knot looks much more complicated than it is. To learn how to make this knot and all of the other knots I use check out my video here.

This shows it as it is being pulled together to form the knot.

Here it is pulled tightly. I adjusted the cords a bit to make it lay neatly.

I flipped the whole project over so the flat bottom of the knot would be on the outside to keep the bottom of the basket stable. The container was used for guidance since I couldn’t hang this to work on like a plant hanger. I started off making a square knot with each group of four cords.

Then I separated the cords and used two from one group and two from the next group.

As you can see it sort of looks like a square or depending how you look at it a diamond. Take two cords from one group and two cords from the next group and do another square knot.

Keep doing square knots around. Pulling the knots really tight will result in a small basket. I tried to keep them a little looser because this is purely for decoration.

It is already beginning to form a basket shape after just a few rows of knots.

I moved it onto this pitcher to give me more stability working with it.

I kept knotting until I got the height I wanted. Keeping a group of four cords together, I gathered two cords from one side of the basket and two cords from the other side and made one large square knot to begin the handle. I repeated that on the opposite side of the basket for the second handle.

I crossed each group of four cords to form a round handle and used a wrap knot to join them together and cut off the excess. 

 

I love how this turned out!

 

It looks great in the bathroom but I think I’ll leave out in the foyer for awhile.

 

I am linking up with these parties:

That DIY Party at DIY Show Off

Bewitchin’ Projects Block Party at The Crafting Nook

Happiness is Homemade Link Party at Ducks ‘n a Row

Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things

A Round Tuit at Creating My Way to Success

Craftastic Monday Link Party at Sew Can Do

Mix it Up Monday at Flour Me With Love

Merry Monday Link Party at My Pinterventures

Motivate Me Monday at Keeping It Simple

Mad Skills Party at Mad In Crafts

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings The Heart of Your Home

Inspiration Monday at Redhead Can Decorate

Made By You Monday at Skip To My Lou

Monday Mish Mash Link Party at Country Mouse City Spouse

Inspire Me Monday at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

The Scoop at Confessions of a Plate Addict

Tuesdays at Our Home at Our Home Away From Home

Show + Tell at Tauni Everett

Project Inspire{d} at Cupcakes and Crinoline

Tips and Tricks Link Party at My Life By Jess

Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party at Lou Lou Girls

Create Link Inspire Linky Party at The Crafty Blog Stalker

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

The Inspiration Board at Homework

Share It Link Party at Colors + Craft

From Dream To Reality at The DIY Dreamer

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop at Ducks ‘n a Row

Wow Me Wednesday at Ginger Snap Crafts

Sizzle Into Summer Party at DIY by Design

Talk of the Town at Knick of Time

Party in Your PJ’s at The Cookie Puzzle

Wake Up Wednesday at Eclectic Red Barn

Inspire Me Wednesday at Adventures of Mel

Creative Spark Link Party at Two Purple Couches

Share Your Cup at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

Share Your Style Party at The Essence of Home

Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life

Thursday Favorite Things at Katherine’s Corner

Creative Ways Link Party at Posed Perfection

No Rules Weekend Blog Hop at Sincerely Paula

Creative Exchange Linky Party at Creations by Kara

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home