The subtitle of this article is "taking macramé to a new level" because Joan's jewelry is a far cry from the hemp and cord jewelry many of us first envision when we think of macramé. Her work is more intricate as well. Part of the reason for this (other than her years of experience as a fiber artist) is her use of materials. While she does include linen cord (a macramé standard) she also used 18-gauge nylon for most of her projects. This adds a larger range of color options and the thinner cord provides a more detailed appearance to the piece. Thus, instead of the chunky, funky look of the 70s she creates more refined jewelry that can really be worn every day.
The beginning of the book discusses the necessary materials and equipment to get started, such as a good sized cork board, sewing pins rather than T-pins, and so on, and then she provides a series of tips and suggestions for creating a comfortable work area and working through the projects. The next chapter discusses knots and includes step-by-step instructions along with drawn illustrations for each one. She has instructions for 11 knots along with a discussion of terms, such as anchor cord, you need to be familiar with. Joan suggests that those new to macramé work through the knots and make samples before jumping into any projects right away.
The next section of this 80-paged book has the actual jewelry projects, a total of 10 including a large assortment of earrings, bracelets, a pendant, pin or barrette, and a few necklace projects. A number of the projects also have variations to give you ideas about other ways to approach the design, and if you are interested in try to make your own macramé jewelry designs, her final section "Design Essentials," gives you a place to start.
Obviously, I really liked this book, but if I had to find one criticism it would be that I would have liked to see a list of suppliers. Most of the materials Joan uses are pretty easy to find, such as waxed linen cords and beads, but generally speaking there aren't a very large number of macramé jewelry suppliers around. As someone who is so proficient in the technique, I would guess she knows of a number of places to get supplies.
Micro-Macramé Jewelry: Tips and Techniques for Knotting with Beads can be ordered through Joan Babcock's web site, and the author is also able to accommodate both retail and wholesale orders. For those who enjoying taking a virtual class, she also has a DVD available.
