Macramé

Tying knots dates back at least as far as ancient Greece, when ships that sailed the open seas depended on rightly woven knots, but the art of knotting is a more modern activity involving less adventure but no less skill, as noted in crafter Zedenius’s first book. For some readers, macramé may conjure images of the hippie movement or the folksy decor of the 1970s, with its seemingly ubiquitous hemp plant hangers dangling from tents at art festivals. This book signals an evolution—and perhaps a renaissance—in the craft of macramé that moves beyond the plant hanger to include table runners, lanterns, curtains, benches, and dream catchers. The book includes the standard elements, such as a list of needed tools, as well as tips for fraying and dip dyeing. But beyond that, it explores the wide variety of knots and patterns for both simple and sophisticated projects that, with skill and practice, can then be finessed individually. This book is an invaluable resource for igniting the imagination about an ancient craft that combines the earthy elements of rope, a few tools, and fingers. Color photos. (Sept.)