Hand knotted Macramé Small sling bag - off white with fringes crafted from jute/cotton yarn and accentuated with a pretty yellow fabric pompom made from textile waste. A lovely handcrafted personal accessory with a bohemian charm of its own - perfect to hold some basic 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.