The Gathering Knot is a Macrame Knot that wraps all center strings into a single knot. It’s also sometimes referred to as the Wrapping Knot.
Tools Needed to Tie the Gathering Knot
To tie the Gathering Knot, you’ll need:
- Central strings. You can tie a Gathering Knot around two or more stings. In our example, we tie it around 4 red strings.
- Another string. It should be roughly 40 inches (1 meter) in length. You’ll be wrapping it around the central strings. In our example, it’s the white string.
- Scissors.
Quick Guide: Tying a Gathering Knot
Fold the outer string’s last 5 inches (13 cm) in half to create a bight. Then put it next to the central strings (step 2).
Start wrapping the longer end of the outer string around the central ones (step 3). Do as many turns as you want, but make sure to not leave any slack and place them right next to one another (step 4).
When you reach the desired length, pass the end of the outer thread through the bottom loop. Then pull the top strand until the bottom loop tightens and is hidden behind the wraps (step 5). Finally, cut off the excess ends (step 6) and hide them underneath the knot with the tip of your scissors (step 7).
Common Uses for the Gathering Knot
Usually, the Gathering Knot is used at the beginning or the end of various macrame projects. For example, you can use it at the bottom of a Macrame Plant Pot Hanger to hold the pot in place and add a nice finish.
If you want to use it at the beginning of a project, it usually makes sense to turn it into a ring, with which you’ll be able to hang the project. You do this by tying a 4-inch (10 cm) Square Knot section, folding it in half, and then tying a Gathering Knot to hold both of them together, forming a loop.
You can also tie many gathering knots next to each other in wall hangings to create parallel patterns.
Knots Like the Gathering Knot
(Chinese) Crown Knot: instead of a Gathering Knot, you can tie many Crown Knots in a row to combine many threads into one knot. The result looks like a braided rope. You can tie it using 3-8 strands. Tying it with more strands becomes too difficult unless you sort them into pairs.
Square Knot: You can tie Square Knots around however many central strands you prefer, just like with the Gathering Knot. It creates a zig-zag pattern that could look better on some macrame projects.
Half-Square Spiral Knot: When tying many Half-Square Knots in a row, a spiral-like pattern emerges. This can be used in the middle or the end of various macrame projects.
Step-By-Step Gide: How to Tie the Gathering Knot
A step-by-step guide on how to tie the Gathering Knot
Step 1:
Get a 40-inch (1-meter) long string. You’ll be wrapping it around the central strings to create the Gathering Knot.
Step 2:
Fold the last 5 inches (13 cm) of it in half and place it where you want to tie the knot.
Step 3:
Start wrapping the longer end of the outer string around the central strands.
Step 4:
With each turn, tighten the knot, and place all strands neatly next to each other.
Step 5:
When you reach the desired length, pass the end of the outer string through the bottom loop. Then pull the top string until the bottom loop disappears under the knot.
Step 6:
Cut off the excess ends. Don’t be afraid to cut them short.
Step 7:
With the tip of your scissors, hide the ends underneath the knot.
Step 8:
The Gathering (Wrapping) Knot is finished.
