Macrame Toggle Bracelet
I’ve been surfing sites and breaking open books looking for macrame project ideas, and I noticed that many of the macrame bracelets I’ve seen are designed so be tied around the wrist. Though that’s okay, I wanted a design that would be easier to put on and take off. So, I added a toggle clasp to my bracelet design which uses basic square knots and beads.
To make this bracelet, you’ll need:
1 piece of cord 6 feet long
1 piece of cord 4 feet long
3 large holed beads
1 toggle clasp
scissors
super glue
work area with pins or clip board
For demonstration purposes, I’ve got 2 colors of cord pictured. In my finished piece, I used natural colored hemp, but it’s easier to see the knots when you have two colors.
1. First, thread both pieces of cord through the loop of one part of the toggle clasp as shown here with the circular part.
2. Pull the cord so that the toggle is in the middle of both cords. The shorter cord should be in the middle and the longer cords go on the outside.
3. Tie an overhand knot and push it down so it’s up against the toggle loop.
4. Position the cords on your work area so the longer cords are on the outside and the shorter cords are on the inside.
5. Now, you are ready to make the first square knot which is made up of two knots. Start by doing a half knot (also described in my Twisted Macrame Earrings).
6. Bring the right cord over the two center cords and under the left hand cord.
7. Then bring the left hand cord under the two center cords and up through the loop created by the right hand cord in step 6.
8. Pull the knot snug up against the over hand knot.
9. Then bring the right cord under the two center cords and over the left hand cord. (Notice this is exactly the opposite of the instructions in step 6.)
10. To complete the square knot, bring the cord that is now on your left up through the loop, and pull the knot snug. If your finished square knot looks like a little V, then you’ll know you’ve done it correctly.
11. Continue making square knots (over and under, under and over - over and under, under and over - steps 6 through 10) until you have made 2 inches of square knots.
12. After making your first section of square knots, slip your 1st bead onto the two center cords, and push the bead up against the end of the square knots.
13. Bring the two out side cords down and around the bead and tie 2 square knots.
14. Slip on your 2nd bead, and again tie 2 square knots.
15. Then slip on your 3rd (and final) bead and tie 2 inches of square knots.
16. Now, you just need to thread the other part of the toggle clasp through all four pieces of cord and make an over hand knot just as you did in step 3.
17. Get your glue ready, trim off excess cord, and apply glue to this over hand knot.
18. Let your glue dry before wearing your new bracelet.
I’ve worn my bracelet around for a few days now, and I find it very secure. These instructions are for a 7 ½ inch bracelet. However, you can make it longer or shorter by just adding or omitting some of the knots.
Here's a printer friendly copy of this file.
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All graphics created by Tammy Powley.
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