How to Make a Macrame Playhouse
There is no better way to make your children's playtime more exciting than by creating a macramé playhouse. Your children will be delighted to have their own little den to enjoy their playtime in.
There are various designs that you can incorporate into your macramé playhouse to make it not only great for children to play in, but also wonderful for your home décor.
Project and instructions by Isabella Strambio.
You will need
How to make
Preparation:
Build the wooden den playhouse
Cut:
Large side x2
1 x 1.7m
112 x 5m
1 x 2m
Small side x2
1 x 2.1m
10 x 5m
40 x 3.5m
48 x 2.5m
8 x 3m
Tie back x2
3 x 1.2m
Take the 1.7m string and secure at both end on the wooden den top dowel. Place all 112 strings on it using the Lark's Head Knot. Every 28 strings, use a 15cm piece of string to secure the 1.7m string on the dowel.
You will work in sets of 28 strings (56 strands). Take the first 28 strings and make a row of Square Knots.
Continue making decreasing rows of Square Knots till you have one knot and have created a triangle of Square Knots.
Repeat with the remaining strings to tie a total of 4 triangles.
Next tie a new triangle of square knots, in between the triangles in the first row.
Repeat with the remaining strings to tie a totol of 3 triangles.
Repeat STEPS 2-6 until you have 5 rows of triangles of Square Knots.
Take 2m string and secure at both end of the wooden den corner dowels, under the white plastic connector.
Tie all the strings on it using the Double Half Hitch Knot.
Divide the strands of strings in 76-72-76 sets. With the help of some spare string bundle together the two sets of 76 strands. You will start working with the 72 strands in the middle.
Tie a row of Square Knots with the 72 middle strands, just below the line of Double Half Hitches.
Add barrel knots at random on the strings.
This central panel can be used as a door to the den.
Take the first set of 76 strands.
Count 16 strands starting on the left and tie a Square Knot.
Then count 16 strands from the right to left and the make a Square Knot.
Starting from the first Square Knot on the left, tie a diagonal line of 8 Square Knot going towards the left.
Next tie a diagonal line of square knot going towards the right.
Repeat Step 12-13 with the second square knot.
Join in the middle with a new Square Knot.
Tie a sinnet of 2 square knots below the last knot on the left and right.
Tie a diagonal line of 18 Square Knots going towards the center.
Join with a sinnet of 2 Square Knots.
Next tie a sinnet of 3 Square Knots, 2 cm below, swapping the working and filler strings.
You have made one of the heart-shape windows.
About 5cm below, count 12 strands from the left, make a diamond of Square Knots. Repeat on the other side. Finally made one in the middle about 15cm below the heart-shape window.
Repeat STEPS 11-17 with the remaining strings.
Trim the strings at the bottom.
Take the 2.1m string and secure it below the white plastic connector at the top with 2 pieces of 15cm string.
Secure the ends using the white plastic corner connector.
Tie 10 x 5m string at the top using the Lark's Head Knot.
Tie 5 rows of alternating Square Knots. Then tie 4 rows of decrease Square Knots.
Next tie 20 x 3.5 strings on main string on the left, using the Lark's Head Knot.
Secure the main string on the dowel with 15cm pieces of string.
Add 24 x 2.5m of string using the Lark's Head Knot.
Secure the main string on the dowel with 15cm pieces of string.
Finally add 4 x 3m of string using the Lark's Head Knot.
Repeat on the right side.
Tie 2 rows of alternating Square Knots, parallel to the diagonal dowel, using the new strings.
Next you need to join the central part with the two sides. Take string #3 & #4 from the last Square Knot on the diagonal side and string #1 & #2 from the first square knot on the central part on row #5.
Tie a square knot.
Below this Square Knot, tie two diagonal lines of 4 Square Knot going the opposite way.
When you are going towards the left, use two strings from the previews knot and two from the knot on the left side, only use string #3 & #4, tuck the other two at the back.
Keep your knots horizontal.
Repeat on the opposite side.
Then close the heart-shape, with two diagonal lines of 11 Square Knots and a final Square Knot to close the two lines.
Keep your knots horizontal.
Add another line of diagonal Square Knots below.
Add a third row of alternating Square Knots, on the two sides parallel to the diagonal dowel.
Use the first 4 strings and make 4 sets of 3 sinnets of Square Knots, alternating the workings and filler strings every time. Repeat on the opposite side.
Take the middle 8 strings, split them in 2 groups and with each set make a 8 sets of 3 sinnets of Square Knots, alternating the workings and filler strings every time.
Add Barrel Knots at random on the other strings.
Trim the strings at the bottom.
Take 3 x 1.2m strings, tie a single knot at the top leaving a tail of about 5cm.
Tie a braid 60cm long.
Tie a single knot at the top leaving a tail of about 5cm.
Use it to tie the front or side door curtains.