How to Make a Macrame Bracelet

A few weeks ago Jewelry Making Professor introduced a new video from Darlene Mansue showing how to make a Macrame Bracelet. One of our members had posted a request on our forums and so we thought it was a great suggestion. Doing a little research on this type of bracelet we found that “Shamballa  Shambhala or Sambhala represents many things stemming from Buddhist culture & tradition, one of which is inspiring meditation. Generally it is said to promote well-being because the Shambhala is the dharma Chakra which is located in the heart of all living beings”.

This type of macrame bracelet has become very popular with celebrities. Rap and hip hop artists like Little Wayne and Jay Z have made them very popular as a statement of spirituality as well as a fashion accessory.  The “disco” balls that Darlene used in her video add the “bling factor” which is supposed to symbolize clarity and bringing light into your heart. Other bracelets have used semi-precious stones for healing purposes, hematite for strength and grounding or other metal beads.

In our jewelry making video, Darlene used Chinese knotting cord. I love the look and feel of Chinese knotting cord because it comes in so many colors and it feels good when you are making the macramé’ knots. It flows nicely and it is sturdy which will withstand wear and tear. You could also use leather or other cord as well. It would be fun to experiment with different materials. My favorite part of the design is the sliding knot or “manual toggle” that makes it easy to adjust the size as well as secure it on your own.

Whether you like it for a fashion statement or for other higher meanings the Macrame bracelet design can be worn as a bracelet or a necklace. It is fun to play with the design using the square knot which is a basic macramé technique.  The project works up very quickly and makes a wonderful gift to give. You do need to find large hole beads for the project but there are many options right now that you can really have fun playing with this design concept just using these simple instructions.