Four crafty tips to keep gift costs down
UNLEASH your inner creativity by taking up a new craft as the evenings turn darker.
Macrame is the art of creating knots out of cord, that then form the basis of patterns.
It’s easy and cheap to get started and you can use your creations as gifts.
This is what you need to know . . .
KNOT HARD: All you need is rope or cord and scissors.
You can get good value cotton cord from Amazon with 100m of string for around £10.
Then you will need to master a few of the knots.
Hobbycraft has a step-by-step guide to four different ones including the lark’s head, square, double half-hitch and gathering knot.
You can find it online under hobbycraft. co.uk/ideas.
When you have your head around the basics, you are ready to start on simple projects.
KEY TO SUCCESS: A macrame keyring is a quick item to make and you can experiment with styles as your confidence starts to build.
You will also need a pack of brass buckles and key rings, which you can pick up from craft stores or Amazon.
There is an easy-to-follow guide which can be found at hobbycraft.co.uk/ideas and only uses the four basic knots mentioned earlier.
GREEN FINGERS: Impress your friends and give plants a new look by creating a boho-style macrame hanger.
These projects look complicated but are straightforward enough for beginners to take on.
Try the tutorial and step-by-step guide for a spiral macrame plant hanger at marchingnorth.com.
CREATING GIFTS: Once you have got the hang of some of the basic knots, you can expand your repertoire.
There is a wider list of knots, with guidance on each one, to be found at sarahmaker.com/how-to-macrame.
And you can then become more adventurous with your creations.
Macrame-made items are also a lovely homemade gift that can help you keep your spending down over the festive season.
Try recreating a Christmas tree wall-hanging using the tutorial at marchingnorth.com to delight loved ones.
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