EXPLORATION OF HANDCRAFTED MACRAMÉ FOR INTERIOR DECORATION

Abstract

Textile craft is an important art that adds value to the economic growth and development of a country. Handcrafted macramé is one of such textile craft that adds social and economic values in Nigeria. This study focused on the sourcing for suitable yarns, generating the designs, assessing the generated designs and the production of interior decoration items. The specific objectives of the study are to: source for yarns suitable for construction of handcrafted macramé; construct samples of macramé using different knotting styles for the production of interior decoration items, carry out a pre-evaluation of the generated macramé pattern using user’s assessment; and produce a collection of interior decoration items (curtain room divider, wall hanging, lampshade, and chair) using handcrafted macramé technique. Mixed method research design was adopted using a combination of survey research design and practice-based research design. Objectives one, two, and four were practice-based while objective three was survey research design. Objective three was carried out with an online questionnaire which was administered to the users of interior decoration items. The result was analysed using the rank order scale. The top-ranked three were adopted for the production of interior decoration items using the macramé technique. The result of the survey showed positive results regarding the acceptability and marketability of the designs and the technique. Also, the result showed the suitability of the macramé technique to make variety of interior decoration items, medical purposes and aesthetic value. The result revealed that the suitability of yarns determines the outcome of a macramé project, and a plan design or pattern design produces creative and unique macramé projects. From the outcome of the study, it is recommended that a design catalogue on innovative designs on macramé techniques for interior decoration items by using computer aided design for documentation should be encouraged. It can be given to entrepreneurs for mass production to assist them to establish a micro-enterprise for developing a wide range of macramé products. Also, concluded that, art of macramé using synthetic-polyester yarn could serve as a natural therapy purpose, tying of knots can strengthen hands and arms and could be a strong entrepreneur skill that can lead to economic empowerment and growth of individual and communities by creating job opportunities and self-reliance.