Macramé had been one of those crafts that I had wanted to learn for years and yet never seemed to get around to doing it. It was just another item on my bucket list that I had never checked off. I’d even booked in to a macramé workshop once…but then it got cancelled by the organiser! Especially after have my two children, it was just another of my dreams that got pushed to the side while I was busy raising them to the best of my ability. After a series of events all pushed me into delving into the world of macramé, I came to realise that it was not just about craft; it was some time just to myself, a period of being mindful, a way to project my creativity, and also a way to contribute to the family income.
I want to help other mums realise that learning macramé can be a mindful experience that allows you to be a better mother. I want to help older women discover that it’s relatively easy to create beautiful macramé pieces that you are proud of. I want to help budding macramé-lovers learn the art of macramé with step-by-step PDF patterns that don’t waste a tonne of cord! I want to help homeschooling families gain knowledge of the art of macrame through in-depth video tuturials. And finally, I want to provide readers with inspiration and ideas for projects.
The purpose of my blog will be to:
1. Help you discover that macramé can allow you to reap the benefits of mindful practice
Raising a family is one of the most beautiful, rewarding, and loving things you can do; but it is also time-consuming and stressful. Taking time out from your day to quieten your mind and re-energise can help to decrease depression, reduce anxiety and stress, increase patience, and help strengthen relationships. So taking up macramé and spending some time on something for yourself can actually give you the mind space to be a better mother, sister, or friend.
2. Teach you the techniques needed to create beautiful macramé pieces that you are proud of
With only a few basic knots you can create an endless number of macramé pieces. Even if you aren’t the “artsy” type, it’s relatively easy to learn how to knot the cord to form useful household items or artworks that you can display on your wall. I love the thought of giving women the knowledge to weave macramé pieces that you can stand back and admire and be proud that you had the ability to create something so intricate and beautiful.
3. Provide step-by-step PDF patterns that don’t waste a tonne of cord
When I first started my journey into macramé, I noticed that a lot of the patterns and tutorials I followed ended up wasting a heap of cord. It’s important to me to use resources wisely and minimise the amount of waste I create, so this large amount of excess cord frustrated me immensely. I did put aside a box of random bits of macramé cord, but then I found that I wasted time searching through and measuring each piece in my attempt to find a piece of cord long enough for what I needed. My aim is to provide patterns with clear instructions and measurements for cord that only mean having a small amount of excess to cut off at the end of the project. (And I also have suggestions for projects that use up those small pieces of cord that you do cut off!)
4. Offer in-depth video tutorials to help you master macramé, regardless of what level you are starting at
Eventually I would like to create a series of video tutorials to walk you through each level of macramé creation, from beginner to advanced, to get you creating the pieces you desire (no matter the difficulty). In my previous life (before children), I was a trainer and assessor…so I have the skills to hold your hand as you gradually work through the levels to gain the skills and knowledge to become a master-macramé-er (or an adequate macramé-er if that is your end goal).
5. Provide readers with inspiration and ideas for projects
I’m a firm believer in the idea that you never stop learning, so through my own journey to continue learning and mastering different macramé techniques I hope to inspire you. The beauty of macramé is that you can use the same techniques to create such different pieces, so it’s easy to draw inspiration from a few different pieces and then weave your own creativity into it to make something truly unique.
I really hope that this blog enables you to be more mindful, to try something new you haven’t tried before, to build on your macramé skills, and possibly even to make some new friends. If you have any ideas or suggestions of how I can improve my blog to better assist you in your journey, please do not hesitate to contact me as I would love to help you use macramé to improve your life.