Handknotted Macramé Cushion Cover- 16 x 16, Ombre - Ocean Blue. This lovely macrame cushion cover is indeed a beautiful home accessory. A beautiful piece of handcrafted elegance, painstakingly hand-knotted by '108 Knots', a social enterprise that aims to empower women artisans by helping them utilise craft-based skills and create handmade products. The craft form has been quickly adopted by women in various parts of the country as a means of sustenance and earning their livelihoods. Macrame as an art form was brought to the west from Arabic countries where weavers used several knotting techniques to finish the edges of woven tapestries, rugs and shawls with fringes. By the 17th century, the technique had reached as far as England. Sailors would knot for practical purposes, but on long voyages, the act of knotting served as a way to stay engaged and ward off boredom. These sailors ultimately helped this art form spread throughout Europe and distant shores. They became merchants when they entered new ports and would trade the macrame items they made on the ship.