Design Resource
Macrame Art - Bardez, Goa
Vintage Knotting Technique
by
Prof. Bibhudutta Baraland Srikanth B.
Introduction
Macrame, a Spanish word which is derived from the Arabic migramah, believed to mean “striped towel”, “ornamental fringe” or “embroidered veil.” It is believed to have originated with 13th-century Arab weavers. The weavers knotted the excess thread and yarn along the edges of hand-loomed fabrics into decorative fringes on shawls, coverings, and bath towels. Macrame was most popular in the Victorian era. Most Victorian homes were adorned by this craft. The art was taken to Spain, then to Italy, and then spread through Europe after the Moorish conquest. During the late 17th century it was introduced into England at the court of Mary II. Queen Mary taught this art to her court ladies. Sailors were responsible for spreading this art to the New World. They made macramé artifacts in off-hours while at sea and sold them when they were landed. Nineteenth-century British and American sailors made hammocks, bell fringes, and belts from macrame. During the 1970s, it was used to make household items such as wall hangings, articles of clothing, bedspreads, tablecloths, plant hangers, and other furnishings. Meanwhile, this art faded as a decoration trend, but by the early 1980s, it has become popular in the form of jewelry, such as necklaces, anklets, and bracelets. These jewelleries are often made with a combination of knots and various beads such as stone, wood or glass, pendants, and shells.
Macrame is a form of textile-making using knotting rather than weaving or knitting. The square knot and forms of "hitching": various combinations of half hitches are the primary knots. For geometric and free form patterns like weaving, Cavandoli macrame is used. Accessories like fabric belts, leather, and friendship bracelets are created using macrame techniques. Apart from artifacts, home decoration and interior design became the new field for this unique craft. It is being used to decorate businesses and private homes, boutique hotels, and display apparel, used for modeling clothing and stage wear performance. For macrame work, a knotting board is often used to mount the cords. Sometimes a C-clamp, straight pins, T-pins, U-pins, or upholstery pins used for holding cords in place. Beginners' kits, work boards, beads, and materials are available in craft stores for the hobbyist. One such hobbyist who became a professional artist is named Mrs. Sujal Vinod Parab from Bardez. She makes a variety of artifacts. Bardez is a region situated in the northern portion of the state of Goa, India. Goa is a state on the southwestern coast of India. It is visited by large numbers of international and domestic tourists each year. The place is known for its white-sand beaches, nightlife, places of worship, World Heritage-listed architecture, and handicrafts.
