Josephine Knot Earrings

by Joan Babcock

These Waxed Linen earrings reminiscent of Josephine Knots are one of my easiest designs to make. They are favorites of mine to wear and I've made them in several colors. Level - Advanced Beginner
Skills needed - Micro-Macrame Knots - Larks Head Knot chain, Overhand Knot, Square Knot, Flat Square Knot

Josephine Knot Earrings

Materials
4-ply Waxed Linen: 4 lengths @ 20 (Core cords) 2 length @ 80 (Knotting Cord) (2) 4 mm barrel beads (hole must be large enough to accomodate 4 strands of waxed linen) (2) Earring wires Fringe beads, if desired. Other Required Supplies Macram Board Quilting or Sturdy Sewing Pins Scissors

Making a Josephine Knot

1. Bundle together two core (20) cords so that the ends are even. Fold the bundle in half to locate the center point of the bundle. 2. Fold one of the long (80) Knotting Cords (KC) in half forming a horseshoe shaped loop at its center. Pass this loop over the center point of the bundled cords and pull the ends of the KC through the loop and tighten, making a Larks Head Knot (LHK) that ties the core cords together (see Fig. 1). 3. Pin and/or tape the bundle to the board vertically so that half of the bundled cords are above the LHK and half below. The two 40 tails of the LHK should come out to the right (see Fig.1). These 2 cords will serve as your Knotting Cords (KCs). 4. Working downwards from the center LHK, make a LHK chain 3.5 long (use the lower cord from the LHK as the KC for this half). Flip the chain upside down and Figure X continue the LHK chain in the opposite direction using the remaining LHK cord as the KC, adding another 3.5. When finished, you will have a continuous LHK chain 7 long (see Fig. 2). 2 Josephine Knot Earrings Joan Babcock

Figure 1

Figure 2
5. Remove the LHK chain from the board and shape it into a Josephine knot (see Figures 3 - 8). Note - Attaching a short length of spare cord to the center/bottom of the chain will help you to keep the knot balanced (see Fig. 3).

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6
Josephine Knot Earrings Joan Babcock

Figure 7

Figure 8
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6. Once you have achieved the correct shape, pin the knot to the board with the cord ends hanging downward. Bring the four core cords (2 from each end of the chain) over the top of the J. Knot (see Fig. 9 for the correct positioning) and the KCs (1 per side) under the J.Knot. 7. With both chain ends, take the KC and make a LHK around the 2 core cords (see Fig. 10). This locks the shape of the Josephine Knot into place. Adjust the shape if necessary. 8. Bring the 4 core cords together at the center into a joined bundle and make a very tight SQK around them with the 2 KCs (see Fig. 11). Cut off 2 of the core cords even with the bottom of the SQK leaving 2 core cords remaining. 9. Thread a barrel bead onto the 2 core cords (see Fig. 12). 10. Separate the core cords and thread the righthand cord through the loop of an earring wire in a right to left direction. Make sure that the tip of the earring wire is facing towards the back of the earring (see Fig. 13). 11. Thread the lefthand cord through the loop of the earring wire in a left to right direction. The 2 cords will pass each other going in opposite directions at the center of the wire loop (see Fig. 13).

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Josephine Knot Earrings Joan Babcock

12. Thread both ends of cord back downward through the barrel bead (see Fig. 14). Gradually pull down and tighten each cord until the wire loop is snug up against the top of the barrel bead (see Fig. 15). 13. Make another SQK around the 2 core cords that come downward out of the barrel bead. Tighten this knot super tight by pulling the 2 KCs of the SQK straight outward (see Fig. 15). 14. Cut off all of the excess cord lengths close to the knot. The tightness of the knot and the wax in the linen will keep it from working loose. Paint the knot with nail polish for extra security if using any cord other than waxed linen. 15. Add beads at the bottom center of the Josephine Knot if desired by tying on a spare piece of 6"cord and securing it with a couple of Half Hitches or a Flat SQK. Thread the fringe beads over the knots and tie off at the bottom with an Overhand Knot (see Fig. 16). Trim of excess cord.

Figure 14

Figure 15

Figure 16
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Josephine Knot Earrings Joan Babcock

Chapter One

Knot Diagrams

Joasephine Knot Earrings Joan Babcock

Materials Knot Diagrams

Joasephine Knot Earrings Joan Babcock