Hot knots Fresh macramé ideas for jewelry, home, and fashion

The history of macramé may stretch back to the 13th century, but the craft is as closely associated with the 1970s as disco and polyester leisure suits. Hartmann's instructional guide attempts to update macramé's dated image by presenting a variety of crafts, including delicate accessories, rustic home decor items, and summer-camp classics such as dreamcatchers and knotted keychains. The approach is to learn by doing, and different styles of knots are presented in line with the projects with references throughout the book. Though there are a few missteps with the styling, such as the chunky dip-dyed cord bracelet that disturbingly looks like it was dipped in blood, most of the projects are in line with today's trends and will appeal to crafters with a bohemian/modern hippie style. VERDICT Up-to-date titles about macramé are difficult to find, and while Hartmann includes nods to 1970s-era classics such as owls and plant hangers, contemporary crafters will find that macramé is both simple and versatile. © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.