Make a Macramé Christmas Angel and Feather Keychain

Make this Macramé Christmas Angel for your Holiday décor!
Start easy with the feather keychain,
which you can gift someone in a greeting card.

 

So I’ve been wanting to revive my macramé skills since all these cute knotting ideas have been hitting Pinterest the last couple of years. I finally ordered some cotton cord and so here goes…

Back in the day (the late 1960s and early 1970s) I made a lot of plant hangers and purses. Even a 3 tiered hanger with glass shelves that hung in our living room as a side table for a long time. Then it was relegated to our bedroom after it went out of style, because I couldn’t bear to throw it away.

I haven’t seen anything like that lately, and I don’t have my patterns anymore, so we’ll make something simple to start with.

 

 

Macramé Feather Keychain

What you need:

• cotton macramé cord*
• key ring*
• measuring tape, scissors, crochet hook

 

Directions:

1. Cut a 12″ piece of cord.
2. Fold in half and tie a lark’s head knot around the key ring.
3. Attach (tape) the key ring to a hard surface, and bring the two halves of the cord straight down below the lark’s head.
4. Cut 14 pieces of cord 8″ long.
5. Fold one piece of cord in half, and slide under the cord below the lark’s head on the key ring, with the loop on the right hand side.
6. Fold another piece of cord in half, and poke the ends through the loop on the table, up over the downward cord, then bring the ends of the bottom cord through the loop on the top cord. Pull tight.
7. Fold two more pieces of cord, this time place the bottom loop on the left side of the downward cord, then loop the top cord through the bottom cord in the opposite direction of number 6.
8. Continue with all the cut pieces, pulling knots tight around the downward cord.
9. Leave about 2″ of the downward cord below the row of knots.
10. Unwind the cords and comb smooth.
11. Cut the strings into a feather (leaf) shape.

 

 

Make a Macramé Christmas Angel

What you need:

• cotton macramé cord*
• 2″ wooden ring*
• 1″ wooden bead*
• Liquid spray starch
• measuring tape, scissors, tacky glue

 

Directions:

The Angel Head and Hanging Loop

1. Cut a 24″ piece of cord. Fold in half. Tie to the wooden ring with a half hitch knot.
2. Glue the ends of the cords and roll into a point. Let dry, then poke through the wooden bead.
3. Bring the cords and bead down toward the center of the ring.
4. Tie the cords around the wooden ring below the bead with a double lark’s head knots with each string. This can be knotted as a hanging cord for the angel.

   

   The Angel Skirt

5. Cut 6 pieces of cord each 16″ long. Unravel the cords and lay three cords on two piles. Comb smooth.
6. Wind one combed bunch through the wooden ring beside the initial lark’s head knot. Pull through until the ends meet, folding it in half. Repeat with the other combed bunch on the other side of the lark’s head knot. Pull through and fold in half again. Smooth the tassel, and comb again.
7. Cut a 6″ piece of cord. Place a loop downward from the wooden ring, then wind the cord around and above the loop. Start winding toward the top, wind around 3 or 4 times, then place the end through the exposed loop. Pull the top cord, bringing the loop and end of the wrapped cord up into and under the wound part. Cut the ends, so the loop is hidden under the “belt” of the angel.

   

   The Angel Wings

8. Cut 12 pieces of cord each 12″ long. Fold in half and bring the loop up through the ring beside the bead, and tie to the wooden ring with a reverse lark’s head. Tie six cords to each side of the wooden ring.
9. Lay on the table with the cords tied to the wooden ring straight out to the sides.

   

   The Angel Halo and Finishing Touches

10. Cut 2 pieces of cord each 14″ long. Place a single cord with the end up along the left top cords coming from the wooden ring. Pin onto your work surface right up against the ring, then bring the rest of the cord down around the left side of the wooden ring on top of the lark’s head knots.
11. Take one single cord at a time, and tie along the downward single cord in double half hitch knots. Pull tight and snug up against the wooden ring.
12. Repeat with the other 14″ cord on the right side of the wooden ring.
13. Unravel the cords and comb smooth.
14. Cut the side cords into angel wing shapes.
15. Comb and trim until the shape is satisfactory. Spray with starch if desired.

 

 

What do you think?
Amazing result for a little bit of effort.

Macramé is more fun than I even remembered!

Pin for later reference!