Encyclopedia of Needlework Part 45

Both the double and single chain are generally used in macrame gimps and borders as a means of conducting threads of different colours, from one part of a pattern to another, which could be done in no other way; also, as a continuation to the Chinese knot, fig. 607, as described at the end of this chapter.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 545. SINGLE CHAIN.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 546. DOUBLE CHAIN.]

RIBBED BORDER (fig. 547).--Here, the same cord runs to and fro; the 4 threads that hang down, form little ribbed bars running right and left.

To distinguish from the knotting threads, the thread that runs to and fro it, is represented in a darker colour.

MACRAMe FRINGE (figs. 548, 549, 550).--Entire length of the threads for No. 8 of Coton a tricoter D.M.C: 80 c/m.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 547. RIBBED BORDER.]

1st row--knot on the threads, as in fig. 515, and in the following order: 1 double white thread, 2 double red, 1 double blue and so on.

2nd row--make a horizontal bar of knots, see figs. 519, 520 and 521, over a second cord.

3rd row--3 b.u.t.tonhole knots, fig. 524, each with 2 threads.

4th row--like the 2nd.

5th row--make slanting bars of double knots right and left, counting 6 threads for each bar, consequently 12 for 2. The 1st and 12th thread serving as the cords for the knots. In the 2nd series of knots which forms the double slanting bar, make another double knot over the cord with the thread that served as cord in the preceding row.

When the slanting bars are finished, bring them as close together as possible, tighten the last thread on the right and make another double knot with the left thread; the position of all the threads is clearly described in fig. 549. Then continue the bars in the opposite direction, so that the 2nd thread on the left is stretched over the right hand group of threads, and the 11th thread on the right over the left hand group.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 548. MACRAMe FRINGE. MATERIALS: Coton a tricoter D.M.C Nos. 6 to 16, Cordonnet 6 fils D.M.C Nos. 5 to 25, or Fil a dentelle D.M.C Nos. 25 to 70. COLOURS: Bleu-Indigo 311, Rouge-Turc 321 and white, or Bleu tendre 710, Rouge-Maroquin 3327 and Vert-Fauve 691.]

Make 3 rows of double bars and then take always 3 threads of a left hand group and 3 of a right hand one, tie them loosely together in a plain knot, put in, above the knot, a bunch of 8 threads, 15 c/m. long, fig.

550 detail _a_, draw up the knot close to the bars and wind thread of a different colour several times round it, detail _b_, to form the ta.s.sel.

The other bunches of threads which are hung on between two bars of knots must be tied on the same level with the first, but do not, nevertheless, come into close contact with the bars.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 549. WORKING DETAIL OF FIG. 548.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 550. WORKING DETAIL OF FIG. 548.]

INSERTION OR FRINGE (figs. 551 and 552).--Entire length of the threads for No. 8 of Coton a tricoter D.M.C: 50 c/m., including the fringe.

1st row--knot on the threads as in fig. 515.

2nd row--1 double horizontal bar of knots, as in figs. 519 or 520, over double cords.

3rd row--Take 8 threads for a group of bars; 2 light and 2 dark ones on each side; the two sets of threads are numbered in fig. 552, a working detail of fig. 551, from 1 to 4.

Begin by making all the knots over threads 1 and 2 of the left set, so that threads 3 and 4 on the left will be outside and threads 1 and 2 inside the group. Make the same knots over the 3rd and 4th thread on the right, then repeat the left group again and so on.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 551. INSERTION OR FRINGE. MATERIALS: Coton a tricoter D.M.C Nos. 6 to 13, Cordonnet 6 fils D.M.C Nos. 1 to 20, Fil a pointer D.M.C Nos. 10 to 30, or Fil a dentelle D.M.C Nos. 25 to 50.

COLOURS: Bleu-indigo 311 and Brun-Chamois 418, or Brun-Rouille 3312 and Bleu-Gris 3303.]

Repeat from the beginning, and make 2 double knots over thread 3 on the right, fig. 552, with threads 1 and 2 on the left, then again 2 knots over thread 4 on the right. When this series of knots is finished, make: 3 double knots over thread 1 (dark-coloured in the engraving) with the left thread 2 and the right threads 1 and 2; make on the left: 3 knots over thread 4 with the right thread 3 and the left threads 2 and 1, and so on.

When this pattern is worked for a gimp and not a fringe, the threads are made to end in knots, as explained in fig. 558.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 552. WORKING DETAIL OF FIG. 551]

GIMP MADE WITH MACRAMe SHUTTLES (figs. 553, 554, 555).--Cut 8 double threads of the length the gimp is to be.

In order not to have to add on threads in the middle of the work, or have long ends hanging down, which are very much in the way, we recommend the employment of a new macrame shuttle, a kind of spool, such as are used in the making of pillow lace. These shuttles simplify the work enormously and are made hollow so that they can be mounted and filled on the spindle of any sewing machine.

Knot on the threads, as in fig. 515, and make a single bar of knots.

Then leaving 2 threads on the right and 2 on the left disengaged, make 3 flat double knots with every set of 4 threads between. Make a slanting bar of double knots over the 16th right thread, with the 15th, 14th, 13th, 12th, 11th, 10th and 9th thread; then make knots with the same threads and with the 16th over the 15th thread. Make a similar bar on the left, over the 1st thread, with the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th thread.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 553. GIMP MADE WITH MACRAMe SHUTTLES.

MATERIALS: Coton a tricoter D.M.C Nos. 6 to 16, Cordonnet 6 fils D.M.C Nos. 1 to 10, Fil a pointer D.M.C Nos. 10 to 30, or Fil a dentelle D.M.C Nos. 25 to 50.[A]

COLOURS: Bleu-Indigo 311 and Brun-Marron 406.[A]]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 554. MACRAMe SHUTTLE.]

On both sides, and with the 4 outer threads: 4 flat double knots, fig.

516, detail _d_; 2 more bars on the right and left, but in the opposite direction, and knotting all the threads even to the last one, fig. 555.

Take the 4 middle threads and make 6 flat double knots and then turn the bars of knots inwards; the return of the cord is indicated as before in fig. 555.

MACRAMe BORDERS (figs. 556, 557, 558, 559).--Length of the single threads for No. 6 of Coton a tricoter D.M.C: 50 c/m.

Knot the threads on for both these borders in the ordinary way, followed by a single horizontal bar of knots. For fig. 556, make a triple slanting bar of knots, with 4 threads, slanting one from right to left and one from left to right; then make a single horizontal bar and add another series of triple bars slanting the opposite way; complete the pattern by a vertical bar, lay another cord and make a horizontal bar upon it on the wrong side of the work and finish by tying the threads together, two and two, as shown in fig. 558, detail _a_, cut them, detail _b_, and push the knot upwards, detail _c_.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 555. SLANTING BAR AND THE RETURN OF THE CORD.

WORKING DETAIL OF FIG. 553.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 556. MACRAMe BORDER.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 557. MACRAMe BORDER.

MATERIALS: Coton a tricoter D.M.C Nos. 6 to 10, Fil a pointer D.M.C Nos.

10 to 30, or Fil a dentelle D.M.C Nos. 25 to 70.[A]

COLOURS--For fig. 556: Bleu-Lapis 342 or Bleu-Gentiane 480--For fig.

557: Rouge-Turc 321 or Rouge-Cerise 3318.[A]]

For fig. 557 take 8 threads for a group of knots. Make all the bars slanting from right to left first, fig. 559, then take the 5th thread, counting from left to right, for the cord, fig. 559 again, and begin the second series of bars of knots, slanting from left to right. Fasten off the threads as already explained in fig. 558.

The same pattern can also be used as an insertion: bags for instance, look very well made of alternate stripes of this insertion and stripes made of flat knots. The openwork stripes must be wider than the close ones.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 558. WORKING DETAIL OF FIGS. 556 AND 557.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 559. WORKING DETAIL OF FIG. 557.]