How to Macrame Two Beautiful Belts - Buckle Belt and a Tie Belt

A macrame belt looks smart with any tailored dress, particularly if it is of a fairly heavy or textured fabric such as linen. The photograph shows you two very decorative designs, one in red and natural color with tie ends and trimmed with wooden beads. The buckle belt in plain color has an attractive central motif panel which can be worn facing the front or shown off in the back.

The exact width of the belts will depend on the thickness of twine used to make them. The buckle belt in the picture is about 1 1/4" wide and the tie belt is about 2" wide. The waist measurement is adjustable. If you have not done macrame before and need to find out how to make the knots, be sure to check out my other article on Macrame - How to Tie a Lark's Head, Half Hitch & Square Knot - All About Cording.

You will need:

• A Buckle With 1 1/2" Bar
• 51 Yards Seine Twine
• Office Clip Board
• Scissors
• Tapestry Needle
• Clear Adhesive

Cut six lengths of twine, 8 1/2 Yards long. This is the right length for waist sizes 28" and up. Cut the cords 1/2 Yard shorter if the belt is for someone with smaller measurements.

Mount the twine on the bar of the buckle with lark's head knots. This will give you twelve knotting cords. Attach your work to an office clip board, it is a good way to hold the buckle firmly.

Using the left-hand cord as knot-bearer, work a row of double half-hitch cording close to the buckle bar. Work a single flat knot with the four center cords.

Using the third cord from the left as knot-bearer, work diagonal double half hitches to the left with the two outside left cords. Repeat on the right side.

Using the fourth cord from the left, work diagonal double half hitches to the left with the three left cords. Repeat on the right side.

Using the fourth cord from the left, work diagonal double half hitches to the left with the three left cords. Repeat on the right side.

Using the first cord from the square knot as knot-bearer work diagonal double half hitches to the left . Repeat on the right side.

Using the second cord from the square knot, work to the left. Repeat on the right side.

You now start the 2-row cording pattern that is used to make the bulk of the belt.

1st Row: use the seventh cord from the left as knot-bearer and work diagonal double half hitch cording to the left.

2nd Row: use the seventh cord from the left as knot-bearer and work the cording to the right.

Work in this pattern until the belt measures 13" (or 1" less than half the waist measurement)

This brings the knotting up to the decorative panel in the center back.

Work three diagonal half hitch diamonds (Figure 1)

Inside each diamond there is a 2-cord square knot, followed by and 8-cord square knot then another 2-cord square knot.

Work half hitch chains with the outside cords between the diamonds to strengthen the edges.

After these three diamonds carry on cording as before, only now use the outside cords as knot-bearers and cord into the center. Work this cording pattern for 10".

How to Make Prong Holes

In the next cording row do not knot one bearer cord over the other, take them down as knotting cords to the next row and then knot the bearers over each other again. This leaves a hole in the previous row.

Repeat this every four rows of cording. Continue the pattern until the belt measures 5" more than the waist size.

Thread the ends of the work carefully into the back of the belt with a large tapestry needle to and touch the ends with adhesive to fix.

Cut eight lengths of red jute 6 yards long and cut four lengths of natural jute 4 yards long. (These are shorter as they act as knot-bearers and are therefore not used up so quickly)

You will be working from the middle of the belt to each end so the cords are mounted in the middle of your working surface.

Simply pin them in position, arrange in this order: Four red, four natural, four red. Now start working away from the middle in one direction.

Use the two right hand natural cords in turn as knot-bearers and work to the left in diagonal double half hitch cording with the two left hand natural cord and the four left hand red ones. Work one extra half hitch on the outside cord to help it curve around the bead.

Use the two right hand natural cords as knot-bearers and work diagonal double half hitch cording over them to the right with the four right hand red cords, again adding one extra half hitch on the outside cord. You have now made half the motif. String one of the beads through the center cords.

Use the two right-hand natural cords as bearers, bring them round the bead and work diagonal double half hitch cording to the left, i.e. to the center of the belt. But first work one extra half hitch with the outside cord to complete the curve.

Use the two left-hand natural cords as bearers, bring them round the bead and work diagonal double half hitch cording to the right with the four red cords and the two right-hand natural ones. Remember once more to tie the one extra half hitch on the outside cord. This has now completed one motif. (see Figure 2).

Continue the pattern, working three more motifs with beads in the center and follow with five more motifs without beads. The centers of these will be filled with floating cords.

Finish the belt end by tying each set of two cords into half hitch chains to make a fringe. They can be as long as you like. Finish each chain with an overhand knot (Figure 3).

Now turn the belt round and work the other end in exactly the same way.

You now have two beautiful belts to wear.

Thanks for stopping by & Happy Crafting!