This video tutorial shows you how to set a gemstone cabochon with macramé wire. You can adapt this technique to other forms of cabochons. For example, it also works with square, round or triangular cabochons of various sizes. The Lapis Lazuli cabochon used in this DIY measures 8x13 mm. To use a smaller or larger cabochon, increase or decrease the length of the thread and the number of knots. If you decrease the size of the cabochon, use 0.5 mm thread instead.
The Linhasita branded thread is widely acclaimed among micro-macramé specialists. It is a waxed synthetic thread, slightly sticky, which makes it easy to make macramé knots that hold in place. The finishes are made by melting the remaining piece of wire with a wire burner or lighter if one is meticulous. This wire exists in 0.5 mm, 0.75 mm and 1 mm in hundreds of different colours! Gold and silver have just joined the already large range of colours presented on our site.
You can of course try with other yarns but it is imperative that this yarn is melted for the finish. Materials of natural origin (linen, cotton, leather, silk, hemp etc) do not melt but burn just like metallic threads. The difference with linhasita and other metallic threads is that this golden thread is mixed with the same material as their classic threads. By melting, this material will imprison the part of the thread which is metallized.
The first part of the tutorial consists of making one of the two sides that will be set with stone. Cut 2 x 1 m and 1 x 50 cm of gold wire. Fold the two 1 m threads in half and tie them together a little higher than in the middle. This knot will be used to pin the threads on the board and to find your way around. You will untie it at the end. Stitch the knot on the macramé tray.
Attach the 50 cm thread with a lark's knot to one of the 1 m threads. Pin the short piece of wire. Use the long end to go over and under the other 1m wire and pull the wire out in the direction of the knot in step 1. Then go over your loop, under the same 1m thread, over the 1m thread and into the created loop and tighten. The distance between the lark's knots that you have just created on each of the two 1 m threads must be greater than the thickness of your cabochon. This one will be imprisoned by these knots on each side.
With the long end, pass over and then under the first 1 m wire and pull the wire end out towards the knot in step 1. Then go over your loop, under the same 1 m thread, over the 1 m thread and into the created loop and tighten again. Repeat this technique, alternating the wires. You should get a total of 5 lark's knots on the first 1m line and 4 lark's knots on the second 1m line.
Remove your work from the board and untie the first knot from step 1. Cut off the ends of the thread you used to tie the larks knots on the other two and melt it down, making sure that the melted material has adhered to the rest of the threads in the knot, otherwise the knot will come undone.
Repeat steps 1 to 4 to create a similar second part. Then tie them together on one side, taking care to be in the same direction and tie the 5 lark's knots side with the 4 lark's knots side. Pass the right hand thread over the left hand thread and then underneath and tighten. Do this twice. Place your cabochon in the "basket" created by the threads and tie the back first and finish by tying the top. The two parts are now assembled and the cabochon is stuck.
You get 4 wires on each side of the cabochon. Tie them two by two: those below with those above to put them together in pairs. For the following we will use a technique that has already been presented in a previous video: Macramé bracelet starting with shiny thread and Linhasita thread.
Cut 70 cm of thread of another colour. To add the new thread, make the following knot on one of the golden threads: pass the end of the new blue thread under the golden thread, then over it, form a loop on the right, pass the new thread over the golden thread and then through the loop and tighten.
Tie the next group of 2 yarns with this new yarn using the vertical stick knot technique. Tie the blue thread around the rightmost group of 2 threads. To do this, pass the thread under the 2 threads forming a loop on the right, pass the end of the thread through the loop, pass it again under the 2 threads and tighten by pulling on the top left and holding the 2 threads. For the second knot, pass over the 2 threads forming a loop on the left, pass under the 2 threads and then in the loop and tighten by pulling up and down on the left.
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Credits
Perles & Co, Internet & E-Commerce company [16/12/2020] Any reproduction, representation, adaptation, in any form whatsoever, even partial, is prohibited, except for reproduction for private use not intended for collective use, representation in the family circle (art. L 122-5 CPI) and online publishing on condition that the source is mentioned and a link is included to the corresponding page of our site www.perlesandco.com.
