Macrame Bag Marrakesh in Hoooked Spesso Eco Barbante Chunky Cotton - Downloadable PDF

Macrame Bag Marrakesh – Crochet & Macramé Bag Pattern by Elma Pluim in Hoooked Spesso Eco Barbante Chunky Cotton

The Macrame Bag Marrakesh is a stunning handcrafted bag pattern designed by Elma Pluim and published by Hoooked. Despite its name referencing macramé, this project beautifully blends the knotting artistry of macramé with the accessible world of chunky yarn craft, resulting in a finished bag measuring approximately 22 cm × 21 cm — a compact, stylish everyday carry inspired by the rich textures and patterns of Marrakesh. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, making it instantly accessible for crafters eager to get started.

What Is Being Made

This pattern guides you through creating a structured macramé-style bag with a beautifully textured knotted body. The finished piece is a small-to-medium sized bag with a distinctive geometric surface created entirely through a series of traditional macramé knots worked in chunky cotton yarn. The Marrakesh design evokes the intricate lattice patterns and artisan craftsmanship associated with Moroccan textile traditions, making it as decorative as it is functional.

Techniques Used

This pattern introduces and utilises a rich variety of classic macramé knotting techniques. These methods are worked in sequence to build up the bag's textured surface, and the pattern provides clear step-by-step photographic guidance for each stage. The techniques used include:

• Square Knot (Weitasknoop / Weberknoten / Nœud plat / Nudo Plano) – the foundational knot of macramé, created by crossing cords in a specific alternating pattern to form a flat, symmetrical knot
• Alternating Square Knot (Verspringende weitasknoop / Versetzter Weberknoten / Nœud carré alterné / Nudos cuadrados alternados) – square knots worked in an offset, staggered formation to create an open lattice or net-like texture across the bag body
• Twisting Half Square Knot (Gedraaide weitasknoop / Gedrehter Weberknoten / Nœud plat torsadé / Medio nudo invertido) – a half square knot repeated consistently in one direction, causing the cords to naturally spiral and twist, adding dimensional texture
• Lark's Head Knot (Opzetknoop / Anfangsschlaufen legen / Nœud en tête d'alouette / Nudo alondra) – the standard mounting knot used to attach working cords to a dowel, ring, or foundation cord at the start of a macramé project
• Wrap Knot (Takeling / Wickelknoten / Nœud d'amarrage / Nudo de horca) – a finishing or gathering knot used to bundle multiple cords together neatly, commonly used at handles or at the base of a bag to secure and tidy cord ends

The pattern walks through the alternating square knot section in precise detail, specifying exactly how many cords to skip and how many knots to work in each row — for example, skipping 6 cords and working 17 square knots side by side, then skipping 6 cords again, before progressing to skip 8 cords and work 16 square knots in the following step. This level of detail ensures even beginner crafters can follow along confidently.

Stitches and Knots at a Glance

• Square Knot – core structural knot
• Alternating Square Knot – creates the open lattice body of the bag
• Twisting Half Square Knot – adds spiral texture and visual interest
• Lark's Head Knot – used for mounting cords at the start
• Wrap Knot – used for finishing and gathering cord bundles

Materials and Yarn

The pattern is designed specifically for Hoooked Spesso chunky cotton yarn, with the materials list referencing Hoooked Spesso Spring (1 ×