Chinese Macrame Project: Coins, Tassels & Jade Thread

Chinese macrame project — likely a coin purse, pendant, or decorative ornament incorporating 72号玉线 (size 72 jade thread), 雀头结 (lark’s head knots), 斜卷结 (diagonal clove hitches), 反斜卷结 (reverse diagonal clove hitches), 大钱 (large Chinese coins), and a 流苏 (tassel). The steps range from step 1 to step 99, making this an advanced, multi-session project.

Below is a complete guide that explains the full meaning of the Chinese terms, the structure of the project, a condensed how-to organized by phase, and a glossary for future reference.

Complete Guide to a 99-Step Chinese Macrame Project: Coins, Tassels & Jade Thread

Overview of the Project

Feature	Detail
Material	72号玉线 (size 72 jade thread) — 8 strands, each 2 meters long
Main knots	雀头结 (lark’s head / sparrow head knot), 斜卷结 (diagonal clove hitch), 反斜卷结 (reverse diagonal clove hitch)
Special elements	大钱 (large Chinese coins), 挂绳 (hanging cord), 流苏 (tassel)
Difficulty	Advanced (complex axis changes, multiple splits, front/back layers)
Finished item	Likely a decorative coin purse, a wall hanging, or a structured ornament with front and back panels

Note: Because there are 99 photographed steps, this guide provides a condensed, phase-based explanation. To recreate the exact project, you would need the original photo tutorial. This guide focuses on understanding the techniques and the sequence logic.

Part 1: Materials & Setup (Steps 01–06)

Step 01–03: Initial Setup

Step	Chinese	English Meaning
01	如图先取两根根互搭	As shown, first take two strands and cross them over each other
02	另一根挂上	Attach another strand (using a lark’s head knot)
03	72号玉线8根每根两米	8 strands of size 72 jade thread, each 2 meters long

What is 72号玉线 (size 72 jade thread)?

Property	Detail
Thickness	Approximately 0.8mm
Material	Nylon or polyester, waxed or unwaxed
Use	Chinese macrame, jewelry, knotting
Compared to paracord	Much thinner, smoother, more drapable

Setup Summary:

You have 8 strands, each 2m long.
You start by crossing two strands as a base.
Additional strands are added using lark’s head knots.

Step 04: 向两侧打雀头结 (Make lark’s head knots to both sides)

Term	Meaning
雀头结 (què tóu jié)	Lark’s head knot / sparrow head knot (same as cow hitch)

This step creates a symmetric V-shape of lark’s head knots spreading left and right.

Step 05–06: Intermediate setup

Step	Meaning
05	因为要多次并轴分轴 — Because you will combine and separate axes many times, the cord paths become complex
06	如图挂线 — Attach cords as shown in the diagram

Key insight: This project involves constantly changing which strands are working cords and which are core axes (轴). This is why it is advanced.

Part 2: Building the Structure (Steps 07–27)

Step 07: 每侧挂三根 (Attach three strands on each side)

By now, you have:

Center cords (axes)
3 working cords on the left, 3 on the right

Steps 19–27 (from file `b75bdd8a...`)

Step	Chinese	English
19–21	(no text visible)	Positioning and knotting
22–24	两侧都做好打左右半斜卷9次	Complete both sides. Tie left and right half diagonal clove hitches 9 times.
25–27	放出一根轴线	Release / free one axis strand.

斜卷结 (diagonal clove hitch) — a fundamental Chinese macrame knot:

It creates a diagonal line of knots.
One strand is the working cord, the other is the core (轴) .
Tying many in a row (here: 9 times) creates a textured diagonal ridge.

Part 3: Mid-Project Complexity (Steps 28–60)

Steps 28–36 (from file `1c679046...`)

Step	Meaning
28–30	Continuing the diagonal clove hitches
31–33	钩出一个线套 — Hook out a loop of thread
34–36	Shaping and tightening

Steps 46–54 (from file `043435d6...`)

Step	Chinese	English
46–48	(no text)	Position and knot
49–51	打8个雀头结	Tie 8 lark’s head knots
52–54	放轴	Release the axis

Steps 55–63 (from file `26c7c123...`)

Step	Chinese	English
55–57	以这两线为轴打斜卷结	Use these two strands as axes. Tie diagonal clove hitches.
58–60	开始会主轴线	Begin to merge / organize the main axes.
61–63	打一个右斜卷结留两根不合并两侧都做好	Tie a right diagonal clove hitch. Leave two strands unmerged. Complete on both sides.

Right斜卷结 vs Left斜卷结: The direction changes which side the working cord comes from.

Part 4: Front & Back Panels + Coins (Steps 82–95)

Steps 82–90 (from file `6985c87a...`)

Step	Chinese	English
82–84	正面背面都做四线小菱形	Make a small diamond shape (4 threads) on both front and back.
85	夹上大钱	Insert a large Chinese coin.
86–87	互换绕线继续打小菱形	Swap the working cords. Continue making small diamonds.
88–90	绕线互换加入第二个大钱	Swap working cords again. Add the second large coin.

大钱 (dà qián) — large Chinese coins:

Typically have a square hole in the center.
Represent wealth, prosperity, and good fortune.
The macrame wraps around or through the coin.

四线小菱形 (4-thread small diamond):

A diamond-shaped motif made with 4 strands.
Created by tying diagonal clove hitches that slope inward to a point, then outward.

Steps 91–95 (from file `8d4b94bc...`)

Step	Chinese	English
91–93	往前面的绕线后面的绕线上加	Add to the front and back working cords.
94–95	加上挂绳对接流苏	Add the hanging cord. Attach/join the tassel.

流苏 (liú sū) — tassel:

A decorative fringe attached to the bottom.
Often made from the same jade thread or a contrasting color.

Part 5: Completion (Steps 96–99)

Step	Chinese	English
96	实在是没有线了	Truly, there is no thread left (humorous note from the maker)
97	对接流苏	Join / attach the tassel
98	完工	Finished / complete
99	手工客 shougongke.com	Handmade guest (watermark / source credit)

Core Techniques Explained (Full Meaning)

1. 雀头结 (Lark’s Head / Sparrow Head Knot)

How to tie:

Fold a cord in half.
Pass the loop over/through the ring or axis cord.
Pass the two ends through the loop.
Pull tight.

2. 斜卷结 (Diagonal Clove Hitch)

How to tie (right version):

Take working cord (right side). Hold axis cord diagonally across the work.
Wrap working cord over and around the axis cord, then up through the loop.
Repeat for as many hitches as needed.

3. 反斜卷结 (Reverse Diagonal Clove Hitch)

Difference: The working cord comes from the opposite side and wraps in the reverse direction.

4. 轴 (Axis / Core Cord)

5. 大钱 (Large Coin)

How to Approach a 99-Step Photo Tutorial

Step	Action
1	Read all the way through once without doing anything.
2	Gather all materials (8 strands of 2m 72号玉线, 2+ coins, tassel cord).
3	Work in phases (setup → body → coins → finishing).
4	Use a cork board and pins to hold axes in place.
5	Mark each photo with a sticky note when completed.
6	If lost, look for axes (轴) — the stationary strands — to reorient yourself.

Common Mistakes & Fixes (for advanced Chinese macrame)

Mistake	Cause	Fix
Losing track of which strand is axis	Axes change frequently	Pin the axis strand to the board; mark it with a colored pin
Diamond shapes uneven	Diagonal clove hitch tension inconsistent	Practice on a scrap piece first; keep the same pull force each time
Coins wobble	Not enough knots around the coin hole	Add 2–3 extra lark’s head knots through the center
Front and back panels misaligned	Did not mirror the knots on the back	Always complete each step on both sides before moving on
Running out of thread	2m per strand is minimum	Add extra 50cm per strand for practice
Confusing left vs. right斜卷结	Working direction reversed	Left斜卷结 = working cord comes from left; right斜卷结 = from right

Vocabulary Cheat Sheet (for this project)

Chinese	Pinyin	English
72号玉线	72 hào yù xiàn	Size 72 jade thread (0.8mm nylon cord)
雀头结	què tóu jié	Lark’s head / sparrow head knot
斜卷结	xié juǎn jié	Diagonal clove hitch
反斜卷结	fǎn xié juǎn jié	Reverse diagonal clove hitch
轴	zhóu	Axis / core cord
并轴	bìng zhóu	Combine axes
分轴	fēn zhóu	Separate axes
大钱	dà qián	Large Chinese coin
流苏	liú sū	Tassel
挂绳	guà shéng	Hanging cord
小菱形	xiǎo líng xíng	Small diamond shape
绕线	rào xiàn	Working cord (the one that wraps)
正面	zhèng miàn	Front side
背面	bèi miàn	Back side
完工	wán gōng	Finished

What to Make with This Technique

Project	Adaptations
Coin purse	Follow the steps as shown, adding a zipper or button closure
Wall hanging	Use larger coins, longer tassel, hang from a dowel
Necklace pendant	Reduce scale, use thinner thread (72号 is already thin)
Bookmark	Omit the coins, extend the diamond pattern
Keychain	Use one coin, shorter tassel, add a key ring at the top

SEO Blog Post Optimization

Meta Tag	Suggested Content
Title	99-Step Chinese Macrame Project: Coins, Tassels & Jade Thread (72号玉线)
Meta Description	Complete guide to an advanced Chinese macrame project with 8 strands of 72号玉线, lark’s head knots, diagonal clove hitches, coins, and tassel.
URL slug	/chinese-macrame-coins-tassels-guide
Keywords	72号玉线, 雀头结, 斜卷结, Chinese macrame, Chinese coin knot, 大钱, 流苏, shougongke
Alt text for images	Step-by-step Chinese macrame tutorial showing lark’s head knots, diagonal clove hitches, small diamond shapes, large Chinese coins, front and back panels, and tassel attachment

Final Pro Tip: Working with 72号玉线

Property	Tip
Slipperiness	72号玉线 can be slippery. Use a drop of fray check or clear nail polish on cut ends.
Tension	Unlike paracord, jade thread has no stretch. Keep consistent, medium tension.
Frogging (undoing knots)	Difficult because the wax coating locks knots. Be deliberate before tightening.
Color	The number 72 refers to thickness, not color. Choose any color you like. For an artisanal purple theme, use purple 72号玉线.

Summary: You Can Now Understand This 99-Step Project

Phase	Steps	Main Techniques
Setup	01–06	8 strands, 2m each, lark’s head attachments
Body & diamonds	07–60	Diagonal clove hitches, axis changes, small diamonds
Coins & front/back	82–95	Insert coins, swap working cords, mirror front and back
Finishing	91–99	Add hanging cord, attach tassel, complete

This is an advanced project that assumes you already know how to tie lark’s head knots, diagonal clove hitches, and how to manage multiple axes. If you are a beginner, practice those individual knots first.