Handknotted Macramé Tote Bag - Round, White & Yellow crafted from cotton yarn with with brown nappa leather slings. A lovely handcrafted accessory with a bohemian charm of its own - perfect for casual outings to hold all your daily essentials. 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.