Macrame Artist on the Art of Knotting and Launching MISS KNOT 

‘’I get inspired, I visualize and I can’t even sleep until I turn my ideas into tangible, completed pieces,’’-says the founder of Miss Knot. Nini Kalmakhelidze uses popular macrame techniques to create boho decor and accessories. 

Her first completed project was a simple dream catcher made out of feathers and laces. Nini was so excited that she showed it to her friends, who suggested she start selling her creations and start a business. 

Of course, creating a brand Miss Knot did not happen in one day and with one item. It took Nini another year of inspiration, completing many new projects, and practicing skills.

‘’I had tried myself in many different fields before but I never really felt happy about what I did until finding my passion for boho home décor and accessories. I felt so happy that I had finally found something that I enjoyed doing this much that the rest kind of happened naturally. Doing what you love for a living is a dream come true for me,’’-says Nini. We wanted to learn about how she found the technique and  launched her brand.

How did you Learn Knotting? 

I was pregnant with my first child, I had just left the job due to health reasons and I spent a lot of time at home. I understood the need to rest but I had to keep myself occupied. I would cook, read and spend some time online searching for home décor. In this search, I came across macramé wall hangings. I had no idea what this technique was called by then but I knew I needed one! I started to ask around where I could buy something like that locally. I could not find any place but someone did mention it was called macramé. Right away I found some video tutorials on YouTube to learn basic knots, started my first project and that was it! I fell in love with the process and cannot stop knotting since then. 

What was one of the challenges of starting your brand?

As also a mother of two kids under 5, for me the biggest challenge from the very beginning has been to find a balance between these two “jobs”. I sometimes feel guilty for taking my attention off of my children as I love spending time with them but I also have this need to express myself through my creations. It’s almost like an instinct for me. I get inspired, I visualize and I cannot even sleep until I turn my ideas into tangible, completed pieces. On the other hand, I want to be with my kids all the time because they grow so fast, I don’t want to miss any little thing. So, for me finding a healthy balance between being a mother and an artist is the biggest challenge to this day. 

How did the creative process evolve since starting your brand? 

The evolution of the creative process is the most amazing part of being a hand maker, I think. I create with love and passion and I fall in love with every single piece I make because I spend hours, days, and weeks sometimes staring at the cords, trying different knots and combinations. I never stop until I love what I see. Only then do I say it’s done. In the beginning, I used to create simpler pieces. Now, with the experience and confidence in my skills, I work on much bigger, more complicated, and time-consuming projects. I recently included crochet in my art as well. And I remember when I first started, I used to think that I would not be able to make anything else just as beautiful as the previous project but it turned out that Maya Angelou was right! - You can’t use up creativity, the more you use it, the more you have! 

What are some of your own favorite Miss Knot designs? 

Each and every piece I create is very special to me. But as I create new designs, my favorite pieces keep changing. For now, it’s the cream macramé wall hanging which I call miss Summer because I think it radiates warm, bright, free, and peaceful vibes, just like the summertime. 

What do you see for the future of Miss Knot? 

As I already mentioned above, I am blessed that I found a job that makes me happy and connected to myself and the rest of the world. I think that was the hardest part. As for the nearest future, I plan to hire a group of awesome people who will help me grow as a brand. This will include starting my own website (because right now I sell on Etsy only: missknotart.etsy.com), starting a YouTube channel, etc. Also, due to the number of orders, I am often busy recreating old designs and unable to start new projects that I have in mind. This is why I am already looking for talented people to welcome me to my workshop and work for me.