Macrame Knots – Square Knot
One of the most important macrame knots is the square knot. I don’t think any other knot is used as often as this one. This may be because it is so versatile. You can use it to knot strands or even entire surfaces.
Table of Contents
Square Knots Basics
Sennits
Square Knot Basics
The simple square knot can be tied either to the left or to the right. Which direction you choose is entirely up to you. You will probably develop a preference at some point and only use one of these variants. It is important that once you have started with one version of a strand, you stick with it.
You need four strands for this knot. The two outer ones are the working cords (light-coloured cords), the two inner ones are the filler cords (dark-coloured cords). The filler cords are usually just lying around passively.
Left-Facing
1
Start with the left working cord. First place it over the two filler cords and then under the right working cord.
2
Now take the right working cord and pass it under the two guiding threads. Then pass it over the left working cord from behind.
3
Now take the left working cord again and this time pass it under the two filler cords. Then place it over the right working cord.
4
Then take the right working cord, place it over the two filler cords and guide it backwards through the loop of the left working cord.
5
Now pull the working cords tight. This is easier if you pull the two filler cords down tightly.
6
Repeat these steps over and over again, to have a strand of square knots.
Right-Facing
1
Here you start with the right working cord. First place it over the two filler cords and then under the left working cord.
2
Now take the left working cord and pass it under the two filler cords. Then pass it over the right working cord from behind.
3
Now take the right working cord again and this time pass it under the two filler cords. Then place it over the left working cord.
4
Then take the left working cord, place it over the two filler cords and pass it backwards through the loop of the right working cord. Pull the working cords tight. This will be easier if you pull the two filler cords tightly downwards. (In the picture, the knot is not yet fully tightened)
5
Repeat these steps over and over again, to have a strand of square knots.
Sennits
You can also use different variations of the square knot instead of a normal strand so that it looks a little more varied and exciting.
Square Knot with Picots
Just as with the Lark’s Head Knot, it is also possible to decorate the strand with picots for the square knot.
1
First, tie a normal square knot as described above. You can decide for yourself whether you want to tie it to the right or left. Here we have opted for the left-facing square knot.
2
Now place the left working cord over the two filler cords and under the right working cord at some distance (twice as much as the width of your picots) from the previous knot.
3
Then take the right working cord and pass it behind the two filler cords and then pass it from the back to the front through the loop of the left working cord.
4
The left working cord now comes behind the two filler cords and over the right working cord.
5
The right working cord comes over the filler cords and then backwards through the left working cord. Now pull the working cords tight. It helps to pull the two filler cords tightly downwards.
6
Then simply push the bottom knot upwards. Here, too, it helps to hold the filler cords in place. And now you have picots.
7
If you repeat steps 2 to 6, you will have a beautiful square knot strand with picots.
Square Knot Variation
Here, the working cords are repeatedly swapped with the filler cords and vice versa. There should be enough space between the individual knots so that the pattern can be easily recognised.
1
You tie another normal square knot. You can decide whether to tie it to the right or to the left.
2
In the second step, place the two outer strands so that they are now the two inner strands.
3
Now tie a normal square knot again. And the knot is finished.
Alternating Square Knot
The alternating square knots work particularly well on larger areas. Basically, they are nothing more than several square knots that are tied next to each other and offset below each other.
Depending on how many square knots you want to have next to each other, you will need a corresponding number of strands. In this example, we are tying two knots next to each other and therefore we need 8 strands.
1
The first step is to tie a square knot with the four strands on the left as normal. It’s up to you whether this is to the left or right.
2
Then take the four right-hand strands and tie a normal square knot with them. Preferably in the same direction as the first knot.
3
Now tie another square knot with the two right strands of the left knot and the two left strands of the right knot.
4
For the next row, take the four outermost strands again and tie normal square knots.
That’s it! Now you know the common variations of the square knot. If you don’t understand a step or have further questions, feel free to write in the comments.
Have fun knotting!
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