Welcome back!
I just have to say it’s crazy the amount of creations you can make with a piece of cord! This week I chose to tackle the creation of glass coasters. I used Tiktok as my go to resource! Come along with me and see how this journey went 🙂
I got lost in this virtual world as I was seeking out a macramé coaster tutorial.
Swipe…Swipe….Swipe…. OOOO FOUND ONE!
What I learned
Before beginning my creation, I had to measure out my cord. I cut out 5 feet of holding cord (the cord I will be working with the most) and 5 pieces of working cord at 30 inches, plus additional working cord as I went along. The TikTok I used did an excellent job showing me this step and how long I needed the cord. Some resources may have just skipped over the measurement and showing a visual picture/video of all the required steps.
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As I followed along, TikTok continued to show me detailed step-by-step instructions on how to make a coaster.
I was able to pause and play the video, but one downside compared to a YouTube video I used last week, is that TikTok doesn’t allow you to slow down the playback speed. I found that feature on YouTube very helpful for following along at a slower pace, rather than having to constantly pause, play, and rewind the TikTok video.
Please follow this link and watch the tutorial and learn how to make a glass coaster.
After completing my first coaster, I realized something was wrong. I had been tightening my cord too tight and this caused my coaster to not lay as flat as it should. So what did I do? I made another coaster! This time I made sure to slack off and this helped my issue. My coaster was able to lay flat without me pushing down on it.
Resource Reflection
Strengths:
- Clear visuals: detailed step-by-step instruction, which made it easy to follow along.
- Measurement instructions: not all resources provide this step
- Pause and Play option: I like being able to pause and play portions of the video allowing me to move at my own pace.
Limitations:
- No play back speed option: unlike YouTube, TikTok doesn’t allow you to slow down the video, which makes it harder to follow along at your own pace without replay the video numerous times.
- Time consuming: To find a video that best suits your learning can sometime take time.
Even though I mention a couple limitations, I still highly recommend TikTok as a resource to learn from. I rate TikTok a solid 9/10 with no playback speed being its drawback.
Future Plans
Come back next as I learn how to make some kind of wall hanging! This could get difficult but hey, that is part of the fun!
Bye for now.
3 Comments
Harli
Hi Mackenzie,
Thanks for sharing once again! I have always LOVED the look of macramé but in stores it can be a bit pricy for a student but understandable considering the time and skill it takes to create just one piece.
Your coasters are so cute! Perhaps I might give it a try sometime this summer as a fun project! I’ll be sure to check in and see if you have tips or tricks.
Mackenzie Evans
Hi Harli,
I agree, macramé is beautiful! Yes it is a bit pricey in stores. You’ll just have to learn how to make your own 😉 Feel free to visit my blog in the summer if you decide to learn how to macramé. I have some great resources I learned from that would be excellent for you to learn from as well. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Mackenzie
Grace
Hey Mackenzie,
I feel the same way when it comes to TikTok, I think it’s a great resource but I sometimes need that slower speed to really solidify my understanding. I think your coaster looks great, I can tell you really enjoyed making this project. Thanks for the tip on not pulling the string too tight, if I ever try it I’ll remember your advice!
Can’t wait to see more!
Grace