How to Make a Shell Macrame Bag

You all know my love for fiber art and macrame.To me macrame is more than just tying knots — it’s about turning simple materials into something functional, textured, and beautiful. In this project, I’ll show you how to create a shell macrame bag - a statement piece that would elevate any outfit.

Let's get started!

1. Bag handles
2. Macrame cord - 3 mm twisted in any color you want
3. Scissors
4. A hamper
5. Pliers
6. Metal Hooks

Start out by cutting 40 pieces of cord,each strand measuring 2.5 metres long.You will be using 20 pieces of cord on each handle.

Set your first bag handle on a flat surface and begin making the bag by tying a Lark's Head Knot.

Take a strand of cord and fold it in half.Place the loop you have created under the bag handle.Reach under the loop and over the hadle and grab the two loose strands.Bring them down through the loop and pull and tighten the knot. Repeat this step with all 20 strands of cord.

Once all of your 20 strands of cord are on the bag handle start making your square knots.

You will need 4 strands of cord in total to make a single square knot and you will be working with the outer two cords while the two middle cords stay fixed.Take the outer left cord and create a small loop placing it over the two middle cords,creating a shape resembling the number 4.Then take the outer right cord and place it over the left cord.Start to create your knot by taking the right cord under the middle cords.Then take the right cord through the loop formed by the left blue cord.Pull the cords to tighten and you have the first half of the square knot.

To make up the second half of the square knot you will repeat the steps working in the opposite direction.

Start with the outer right cord and create a small loop placing it over the two middle cords,again creating a shape of a mirror number 4.Now take your outer left cord and place it over the right cord. Create your knot by taking the left cord and going under the middle cords and through the loop formed by the right cord. Pull to tighten.

Continue making these square knots until the whole row is complete.

Refer to the video for a clear demonstration.

Once you are done with the first row of square knots you can move on to make the shells of the bag.

To make the first shell you will be working with the first and second square knots or with 8 strands of cord in total.

The shell itself consist of 4 rows of double half hitch knots.

For the first row you will be working with the last strand of cord of the first square knot and the last strand of cord of the second square knot (5 cords in total).You will be using the last strand of cord of the first square knot as a carrier cord on which you will be tying the double half-hitch knots.

To make the double half-hitch knots from left to right, tie a half hitch knot - pass the next cord over and then under the carrier cord, followed by over itself to form a loop. Pull the knot tightly and push it up.Tie another half hitch knot to make it a double half hitch.

Finish the first row with four double half-hitch knots in total.

For the second row use the third strand of cord of the first square knot as a carrier cord and tie four double half-hitches.Continue doing the same until you have four rows in total.

To finish the shell tie a square knot on the right and left sides of the shell - essentially using the carrier cords on the right and the leftover cords on the left.

Your first shell is complete.

Repeat the same process until you have 5 shells in total for the first row.

Repeat the previous steps for the second bag handle.

Once you have two complete bag handles with the first row of shells complete it's time to connect them.

Place the two handles opposite each other and begin making the second row of shells - only this time it will be from right to left.

Again you will be working with two square knots or 8 strands of cord in total.This time your carrier cord will be the first cord of the second square knot.From right to left, tie a half hitch knot - pass the next cord over and then under the carrier cord, followed by over itself to form a loop. Pull the knot tightly and push it up.Tie another half hitch knot to make it a double half hitch. Make three more of this knot until your row is complete.

Use the second cord of the second square knot as a carrier cord for the second row.

Once you have four rows of double half-hitch knots complete the shell by tying square knots on the right and the left.

Refer to the video for detailed instructions.

That's all you need to do to complete this shell macrame bag - keep making the shells row by row.

After you make five rows of shells in total tie two rows of square knots at the bottom.

Refer to step number 2 to see how to make a square knot in detail.

Once you're done with the last two rows off square knots turn the bag inside out.

Separate the strands of cord to the left and to the right respectively.

Find each pair of cords and tie tight knots to seal the bottom of the bag.

After you are done tying everything in place trim the excess cord with scissors.

Turn the bag inside out again and wear it!

This bag is already a staple piece for my summer trip this year and I can't wait to wear it.

Thank you for reading this Instructable.

Happy knotting!