Macrame Goat Collars

For those of you who are crafty and want to give your goats that personal touch, below are instructions for making a macrame goat collar via Hannah Larson. Hannah is a 4-H member from Windsor, Colorado and was the 2009-2010 ADGA Youth Representative at the Convention in Buffalo, New York October 10-17, 2009. Macrame Goat Collars 16” Collar – typical yearling size Supplies: 1 - 64” length of 2mm or 4mm macrame cord 1- 200” length of macrame cord A plastic buckle clip or 2 small metal rings usually found at a hardware store with a quick link to join. Macrame cord can be found at http://www.macramesuperstore.com/ and the buckles from http://www.strapworks.com/. Step 1: Separate the buckle. Fold the short cord (64”) in half and push the fold through the slot of female half of the buckle (or ring). Then bring the raw ends of the cord through the cord loop to fasten it to the buckle with an overhand knot. Step 2: Thread the raw ends of the fastened cord through the slot closest to the flat side on the other half of the buckle (the Male half) (or the 2nd ring). A little scotch tape wrapped around the ends may help with threading them. Pull these ends through the buckle slot until they are doubled up and match up with the other end attached to the opposite buckle, Tie a square knot with these cords near the buckle and around the other side of the cord. Tape the raw ends to the other cord to hold in place. This tape is temporary it should be removed when your knots get down close to it when you are almost done. Step 3: Fold the long piece (200”) of cord in half and push the fold through the 2nd slot in the male side of the buckle. Then reach through that loop and pull through all six strands of cord through the loop (this will be 4 short strands and then the 2-100” lengths that should settle as your outside strands). This will be the second overhand knot. Step 4: Bundle the long cords up to about 18” on each side and wrap with rubber bands to make them easier to work with. With these bundled long cords tie a square knot around the four strands of inner cords up close to the buckle. Step 5: Now it is time for the macrame knot – on the left side make a “4” with the cord. Then with the other cord go over the tail of the “4” under the stem of the ”4” and then from underneath come up through the nose of the “4”. Some describe this knot action as over, under, under, over – but remember the first under is the whole “stem” which is 4 cords together treated as one. For the next knot start by making the “4” on the RIGHT side. It is important that you alternate the 4 from left to right to left again to keep the collar going flat. If it starts to twist it is because the sides have not been alternated. If you lose track of which side you should be doing the “4” on, it is the side that has the bump on the edge of the previous knot. Also be careful that the inner cords (the 4 strand stem) stays smooth while you are tightening knots lest a strand pulls up and “bubbles” out the back. Step 6: When the macrame knots have completely covered the inner 16” four strands make a final square knot on the end. Then cut off the excess cord leaving about ¾”, melt these raw ends to prevent further fraying and with the end of the torch lighter. Press and make the melted cord adhere them flat to the collar for neatness. *The square knot: Right hand cord over left cord with the right one going under, then it is now the left hand cord and it needs to cross back over the right one and go under it to complete the knot. Right over left and under, new left over right and under. Have fun and good luck.