Modern Macrame

April 2, 2018
Interior designer Katz updates the art of macramé and provides artisans with specific guidance for knotting creatively. After briefly highlighting macramé’s uses over the millennia, from camel harnesses in Arabia to the knotted vestments of royalty and more recent hippie lamp shades, Katz focuses on innovative uses and provides directions for a wide range of projects including hoop chairs and knotted daybeds. Other accoutrements for the home include knotted cords to conceal electrical wires, shades for block lamps, and a lighting fixture that is called the “Dancing Shadows Lantern.” The book identifies basic supplies, such as rope, scissors, and a measuring device. From there, it’s simply a matter of learning the knots and how to combine them. The step-by-step guidance for plant hangers, rugs, wall hangings, and general knotted miscellany will help even novice crafters achieve results that are both lovely and useful. Readers looking for an updated take on macramé will want to pick up this stylish and practical book.

May 15, 2018
Many people will remember macram� as a craft craze of the 1970s, but this knotting technique has been used for centuries and has experienced numerous surges in popularity over the years. Its texture holds a visual appeal that, combined with its utility, has led to its use as a decorative element in boho-chic style. Katz, an artist and designer, provides a short history and an introduction to the materials and methods used to create macram� before outlining the types of knots used to form texture and pattern. The bulk of the book consists of charts and instructions for making a variety of home d�cor items, including plant hangers, wall hangings, lighting, rugs, and even furniture. Although the designs and settings pictured are styled with a modern look, these 33 macram� projects retain the rustic aesthetic the technique is known for. As the fashions of the 1970s are popular again, crafters interested in learning this technique will be well served by this contemporary introduction. Resources for obtaining macram� materials and a glossary are included.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)