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Activities / Jute Craft / Jute Macrame Bag

Jute Macrame Bag

Jute Macrame Bag: Knotted Net Bag from Natural Jute Cord

Level
Intermediate
Duration
5 - 8 hours (over a few evenings)
Budget
₹756 – ₹856
Age
14+
State
West Bengal

Materials

  • Natural jute cord, 4 mm thick
  • Wooden or metal ring, 15 cm wide
  • Soft tape measure, 150 cm
  • Scissors and masking tape
  • Comb
  • A hook or door handle to hang the work from

Steps

  1. Find a hanging spot and gather your cord and tools
    Choose a door handle, a hook or a sturdy chair back at chest height where you can hang the work and stand in front of it. Lay out the jute cord, a 15 cm ring, scissors, a measuring tape, masking tape and a comb. Put on a long-sleeved top if jute itches your skin. Expect this project to take several evenings, so choose a spot where it can stay hanging. Common mistake: working on your lap, where the cords tangle within minutes.
    Tip: Wind each cut cord into a loose bundle with a rubber band so it does not tangle while you work.
  2. Cut 16 cords of 3 m and one handle cord of 1.5 m
    Measure 3 m of the 4 mm jute (about 3 arm spans) and cut it. Use the first cord as a guide to cut 15 more. Then cut one more cord of 1.5 m for the handle. Wrap a 1 cm strip of masking tape around each cut end so the cord does not fray while you knot. In total you use about 50 m. Common mistake: cutting cords of different lengths, which leaves an uneven bottom.
    Tip: Cut them all on a long table in one go, so every cord matches the first one.
  3. Attach all 16 cords to the ring with lark's head knots
    Fold a cord in half. Push the folded loop up behind the ring, bring the two ends over the ring and through the loop, then pull the ends down tight. This is a lark's head knot. Slide it a little along the ring and repeat with the other 15 cords until all are on the ring, giving 32 hanging strands. Spread the knots evenly round the ring, about 3 cm apart. Common mistake: pulling the knot loose, which lets the cord slip.
    Tip: Practise the lark's head once on a scrap piece of cord before using the good cords.
  4. Hang the ring and spread the 32 strands evenly
    Hang the ring from the hook or door handle with a spare piece of cord. Let all strands fall straight down and comb through each group gently with your fingers so none cross. Divide the strands into 8 groups of 4, with the groups side by side round the ring. The ring should hang level. Common mistake: starting to knot while the cords are still twisted together, which makes every knot harder.
  5. Tie the first row: a square knot with each group of 4
    Take one group of 4 strands and hold the middle two still. Pass the left strand over the middle two and under the right strand, then pass the right strand under the middle two and up through the loop on the left, and pull snug. Repeat the same move in the opposite direction, starting from the right. These two moves make one flat square knot about 3 cm tall. Tie one in each of the 8 groups. Common mistake: switching direction by accident, so the knot twists instead of staying flat.
    Tip: Always start with the strand that finished on top last time, and the knot stays flat.
  6. Tie the second row with offset groups to form a mesh
    Leave about 2 cm of cord hanging below the first knots. Then make new groups of 4 by taking the right 2 strands of one knot and the left 2 strands of the next knot. Tie a square knot in each new group, round the whole ring. Because the knots are staggered, the cords make a diamond net. Check that every row hangs 2 cm below the one above it. Common mistake: uneven gaps, which make a wavy bag.
    Tip: Use your measuring tape: 2 cm gap, 3 cm knot. Check it on the first two rows and then repeat by eye.
  7. Keep alternating rows until the net is about 30 cm deep
    Continue alternating: row 1 style, row 2 style, with a 2 cm gap between rows. After 8 rows the net should hang about 30 cm below the ring. Every two rows, comb through the strands and straighten the hanging mesh. Take a rest every 30 minutes, because repeated knotting tires the fingers. Common mistake: pulling each knot as tight as you can, which makes the bag stiff and uneven. Pull until firm, not hard.
    Tip: Stop at the end of a row, never in the middle, so you always know where to restart.
  8. Gather the bottom with overhand knots in groups of 4
    Below the last row, bring each group of 4 strands together and tie them into a single overhand knot about 3 cm under the last row. You get 8 knots round the bottom of the bag. Then gather all 8 knots into the middle and tie the 32 strands together with one more overhand knot, as tight as you can. This closes the bottom. Common mistake: tying the gathering knot too low, which leaves the bag floppy and tall. Keep it 3 cm under the last row.
  9. Wrap the knot with a spare strand and trim the fringe
    Take one long strand, hold it against the gathered bundle and wrap it tightly round 8 to 10 times, about 3 cm tall. Tuck the end under the last wrap with the tip of a pencil and pull to hide it. Trim all the hanging strands to 10 cm so they make a tassel. Comb the tassel with a comb or your fingers until it looks fluffy. Common mistake: cutting the fringe before the wrap is tight.
  10. Add the handle and test the bag with a light load
    Tie the 1.5 m cord to the ring on one side with a firm double knot, loop it up and tie it to the opposite side of the ring. The cord forms a strap above the ring. Trim the tail ends to 2 cm and tuck them in. Put a light load such as a scarf in the bag and lift it by the strap to check it holds. The bag suits light items only, such as a scarf, a book or fruit.
    Tip: If the strap feels thin on your shoulder, wrap a strip of cloth round it.

Sustainability

High - jute cord is a plant fibre and biodegradable; knotting needs no glue

Safety

Jute fibres can irritate skin and cause rope burn; wear thin gloves if sensitive; hand fatigue from repeated knotting, so take breaks