Market Tote

Hello! Macrame

Posted by Fox Chapel Publishing

About

This sturdy little tote is perfect for picking up produce and other yummy goodies at your local market.

Finished size: 12" x 12" (30.5 x 30.5cm) with 10" (25.5cm) handles

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You Will Need (3 things)

  • 4 mm Craft Cord - Thirty-eight 3 yd. (3m) lengths for purse body One 1 yd. (1m) length for guideline Four 31/2 yd. (3.5m) lengths for handles Two 4 yd. (4m) lengths for handles
  • Grill Lighter
  • Scissors

Steps (16 steps, 180 minutes)

  1. 1

    Form the 1 yd. (100cm) guideline cord into a loop that is 12"–16" (30.5 x 40.5cm) in diameter. Tie the ends of the cord together in an overhand knot to hold the loop in place. This is the mouth of the bag.

  2. 2

    Find the center points of two of the 31/2 yd. (350cm) cords and attach them to the guideline loop using lark’s head knots, positioning the knots next to each other. Repeat with the remaining 31/2 yd. (350cm) cords, positioning them directly opposite the first two cords attached to the guideline (figure 1). These cords form the center strands of the handles.

  3. 3

    Center one 4 yd. (400cm) length of cord behind a set of handle center strands attached to the guideline. Tie a square knot around the center strands with the 4 yd. (400cm) cord (figures 2–3).

  4. 4

    Continue tying square knots around the center strands until the handle is 10"–12" (25.5–30.5cm) long, or until the two working strands are about 3" (7.5cm) long. Tuck the ends of the working strands into the underside of the handle, trim, and melt the tips. Repeat to form the second handle.

  5. 5

    Position the loose end of a handle against the guideline to form the handle into a loop. Make sure the handle is not twisted. Tie each of the four center strands of the handle to the guideline using a double half hitch (figure 4). Do not trim these strands; they will be knotted into the body of the bag. Repeat for the second handle.

  6. 6

    Tie all of the 3 yd. (300cm) cords onto the guideline using lark’s head knots. Evenly distribute the cords around the guideline.

  7. 7

    Divide the mounted working strands (including
    the handle center strands from step 4) into twenty- eight groups.

  8. 8

    There will be three strands in each group. Use the three strands from one group to tie seven half knots to form a spiral (figures 5–7).

  9. 9

    Repeat with the remaining groups.

  10. 10

    Take two spirals that are side by side. Use two strands from the left spiral and one strand from the right spiral to tie seven half knots (figures 8–9).

  11. 11

    Repeat with all the remaining strands until the row is complete. This alternates the spirals in the first row with those in the second row.

  12. 12

    Repeat steps 10-11 to form alternating rows of spirals. Tie nine to ten rows, until the bag is about 12" (30.5cm) long.

  13. 13

    To form the bottom of the bag, turn it inside out and press it flat with your hands. Pair off the cords, making sure each cord on the front of the bag has a partner opposite it on the back of the bag. S

  14. 14

    tarting at one side of the bag, tie the front and back cord pairs together using double twist square knots (figures 10–12).

  15. 15

    Repeat across the bottom of the bag until all pairs are tied together.

  16. 16

    Trim all cord ends to about 1/4" (0.5cm) long, and melt the tips with a grill lighter to prevent fraying. Turn the bag right side out.