Both jewellery and macrame use simple, everyday knots to start and finish designs. Learning how to tie basic jewellery making knots will help you create secure designs. Some of them might seem incredibly basic, but knowing the difference between them is really important and can give your jewellery and macrame to a more professional finish.

Many of these basic jewellery and macrame knots are used in my tutorials, craft kits and patterns, so it seemed a good idea to put them all in one post to refer back to.

We are going to learn how to tie the overhand knot, the half knot, the granny knot and the reef knot.

How to tie an Overhand Knot

Possibly the simplest knot of all is the overhand knot. It is made with one end of cord, and is often used as a stopper knot at the end of cord. But it can also be tied around existing threads to finish off ends in bead-weaving,

  1. Bring the short end of cord back on itself,

2. Then cross over the long end to create a loop.

3. Bring the short end up through the loop

4. Pull the two ends apart to tighten

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  • How to tie basic jewellery making knots - Overhand Knot
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How to tie a Half Knot

Most people recognise the half knot as how they start to tie their shoelaces! It is useful for joining two ends together and is the starting point for many other knots. Fun fact: If made with two ends of the same cord, and pulled tight, it becomes identical to the overhand knot!

1. Hold the two ends of cords in each hand.

3. Bring the left-hand cord over the right

3. Take the left end over and behind the right

4. Bring it up across the front and pull.

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  • How to tie basic jewellery making knots - Half Knot
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How to tie a Granny Knot

A granny knot is just two half knots on top of each other, It's not the prettiest or strongest of knots, but it is easy to tie.

1. Make a half knot, then repeat the process by bringing the left end over the right

2. Bring the end down behind and then up through the front.

3. Pull the two ends tight to complete the granny knot.

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How to tie a Reef Knot

A reef knot can seem superficially very similar to the granny knot. But it is much stronger and produces a neater, prettier knot. The subtle, but important difference, is that you switch the side of the working cord after making the first half knot.

The Reef Knot is ideal for finishing off clear elastic cord like Stretch Magic and Elasticity and for securing the ends of decorative knotting in macrame.

1. Start by making a half knot, then make a second half knot but bring the right-hand end over the left

2. Bring the right end down behind and then up through the front.

3. Pull the two ends tight to complete the reef knot. You can see it creates a much cleaner looking knot.

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  • How to tie basic jewellery making knots - Reef Knot
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I hope you have found learning how to tie basic jewellery making knots useful. If you would like to learn more decorative macrame techniques, take a look at my macrame craft kits and patterns. You can also sign up for my monthly email The Loop, where you will also get a copy of my Getting Started in Jewellery Making eBook!