Buggy Bag Charms: Critter-Inspired Chunky Knots with Sitoë Thiam
First we’re making nature inspired knots! Choose your favorite: a butterfly, dragonfly, or flower. Then we get to personalize them with pops of colorful cord, beads, and hardware. All materials are provided for this beginner friendly macrame workshop.
About the Instructor: Sitoë Thiam (b. 1997) is a Brooklyn-born, San Diego-based fiber artist and designer exploring how modern tools and traditional techniques can transform waste materials into functional works of art. She worked as a Mechanical Engineer for 5 years before starting Unknot, her art studio and brand in 2024. Now Sitoë knots colorful compositions, designs accessories, and experiments with unexpected materials.
Sitoë’s love of intuitive design, sustainability, fashion, and local foraging (of the natural and trash variety) drives her work. Weaving these interests together has led to three paths of research and art practice: 1) weaving and knotting whimsical, wearable art, and designing tools that make it possible, 2) testing traditional fiber art techniques and technologies on secondhand and discarded materials, and 3) exploring education strategies for these traditional arts in ways that feel accessible and approachable!
Artist and engineer Sitoë Thiam will teach you the knotting fundamentals and a few basic knots to create colorful, personalized, Bug Bag Charms! First, you’ll be guided through knotting one of three shapes: the Butterfly, the Dragonfly, and the Flower! All three teach you the holy grail of macrame knots: the Square. Once you have your bug, you’ll have tons of colorful hemp cord, beads, and hardware to add to your charm and give it some personality and flair! This workshop is designed to be playful, low stakes, and a little nostalgic! All crafting levels are welcome. This workshop is beginner friendly. You’ll leave with a new buggy charm, some new knotting skills, and a jumping off point if you want to explore the art of macrame further!
What to Bring:
Just bring yourself :)
What’s Provided:
Chunky braided cord
Hemp cord
Cutting tools and work surfaces
Beads, charms, ribbons, etc
Keychain hardware
What You’ll Walk Away With
A one-of-one knotted and adorned bag charm
A few fun knots
Skills Used:
Fundamentals of macrame
Some decorative macrame knots
Fiber art composition techniques
About Kiki and Bouba Craft Lab: Kiki and Bouba is an experimental craft lab run out of our private studio in East Williamsburg. Artists ourselves, we spend our days tinkering so we can bring you exciting, new crafts you won't find anywhere else. Classes are kept intentionally very small so that you'll have your instructor's attention throughout. Questions are welcome at every step.
What to Expect at Our Workshops: This is not a paint-and-sip. We specialize in 2–4 hour workshops that teach you the fundamentals of skills that have taken us years to hone. Classes are skill-intensive and hands-on, with a small seat capacity so everyone gets the attention they need. Come ready to embrace the learning curve. The skills and satisfaction you walk away with are always worth it.
Refund Policy: Kiki & Bouba Craft Lab is a small, artist-run studio led by just the two of us, Adrianna and Zolzaya. Every ticket directly supports the materials, space, fees, and care that go into each workshop. Because of this, all ticket purchases are final and non-refundable, so we encourage you to book thoughtfully. If you’re unable to attend, you’re welcome to pass your spot along to a friend. Just email us at [email protected] so we can update the registration. If you’d prefer to switch into another workshop of the same price, we’re happy to help with that as long as you reach out at least 72 hours before your scheduled class.
Photography & Video Notice: We take photos and videos at our workshops for promotional use. By purchasing a ticket, you consent to being recorded and potentially featured in future marketing materials. If you prefer to not be included, please let us know in writing prior to your class. Thank you so much!
Please Note: Workshop materials, templates, handouts, and instructional content are provided for personal use only and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used to teach commercial workshops without written permission.
Please Note: Participants will receive a liability waiver by email before the class begins, required to be completed prior to class. Please arrive on time to maximize your making time.