How-to: Knotted Metallic Belt

A couple weeks ago, I shared how to make a bronze laurel headband inspired by the Olympics, and then I showed you how to make an Olympic medals necklace. In the spirit of more Olympian accessories, I’ve got a macrame (hand-knotted) belt project for you today. Macrame can be a little challenging at first, I’ll admit it! It’s also got a very retro reputation – my mom definitely did a lot of macrame crafting growing up in the 60s & 70s. This metallic belt is a more modern take on a vintage crafting trend. To make your lives as crafters easier, I used some animated photos to help you see how each step of the project works. Let me know what you think and what you create with this idea!

Supplies

2 yards each of two kinds of cord

liquid stitch (liquid seam sealant)

small scrap of waxed paper

clear tape

scissors

Directions

Trim any frayed ends of either piece of cord. Use some clear tape to keep the cords from fraying as you make this belt.

Fold each cord in half and begin to create the first knot. Check out this animation to see how to tie the first knot, which is a common sailor’s knot.

When you finish weaving the knot, you’ll need to spend a couple minutes adjusting the knot until it’s as tight as you want it to be.

The next two knots will be the same as the knot you just made, but they’re tied a little differently. These other two knots will be on either side of the first knot, evenly spaced from the center. Check it out:

There is another knot detail that will go on each end of the belt, again evenly spaced from the middle of the belt. This detail was inspired by a common friendship bracelet pattern.

Didn’t quite catch that? Download more detailed directions here.

When you’re satisfied with all of your knots, remove the clear tape from the end of each cord. Then cover all of the ends with a layer of liquid stitch and set the cords on a scrap of waxed paper to dry.

To wear the belt, just tie it in a square knot. Here’s how I wore it with one of my favorite retro dresses. Macrame belt + vintage 70s dress, what could be better?