Learn the Art of Macramé

Resurgence of Macramé

Macramé, the art of knotting cords made of jute, hemp, cotton, or leather, has made a huge comeback from the 70s.

Read on to learn more about this knotting craft and find knot tying instructions, macramé books, and directions to make your own cording.

You'll find links to instructions for the knots necessary to create beautiful, natural works of art.

As you age, you tend to notice that the clothing that was once popular in your much younger days becomes the hottest new styles decades later.

The same is true in the crafting world. 

Just like the art of quilting, which I did with my grandmother during my teens, embroidery which I used to decorate pillowcases when I was young, and cross stitch, which I used to make a beautiful, almost painted-like picture as a gift for my parents, macrame is back in vogue.

What is Macramé?

Macramé is a very unique fiber art. It is made by knotting cords, which come in various gauges, into a beautiful work of art. 

Macramé is very different from the needlework arts I mentioned above that use thread, yarn or embroidery floss, although it too uses a string material.

As mentioned above, macramé uses cords made most often of jute, hemp, cotton twine, linen or leather.  No needles are used; instead, the crafter ties a series of square and half knots, among others, to create a piece of textile art.

Oftentimes, shells, wooden or glass beads, or dyed cord is used to embellish the masterpieces.

Macramé projects range from very simple to very complex, all of them beautiful.  Crafters new to macramé usually find that they can quickly advance to the more complex patterns since only a handful of knots are used in all macramé projects.

Macramé’s History

In the 13th-century, Arab weavers were the first to use macramé.  They used knots along the extra thread of the objects that they had hand-loomed, such as shawls, bath towels, veils and rugs, to form a decorative fringe. 

After the conquest by the Moors, this method of art was taken to Spain, eventually making its way to Europe.  Most historians believe that macramé was introduced to England in the late 17th century by Mary II who taught it to her ladies-in-waiting. 

It's important to note that sailors spent their spare hours creating objects using a knotting technique which they called "McNamara's Lace". 

They made such things as hammocks, belts, knife covers, and bottle holders.  Some of these items, like the bottle holders and knife covers, were used by the sailors themselves; however, many of the knotted creations like hammocks and belts were sold or traded when the sailors made land.

Attribution: Auckland Museum. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.

This spread the art of macramé to many other countries such as China and America.

Macramé was most popular during the Victorian era, where you could find many macramé items used decoratively in the beautiful Victorian homes, such as tablecloths, curtains, and bed coverings.

In the 1970s, long after artisans lost interest in the art of macramé, it once again became hugely popular. 

Crafters used macramé to create a wide range of items, such as jewelry, wall hangings, plant hangers, purses, tablecloths, bedspreads, and much much more.

By the early 1980s, macramé again lost its popularity and was no longer trendy.

Welcome Back, Macrame!

Today, macramé has risen from the ashes to once again become a popular art of knot tying. 

We have listed many links below to Macramé books, knot instructions, and patterns for various macramé projects. Click here to learn more about knotting.

Now, what type of cord to use to make my daughter one of those lovely plant hangers that she has admired in the stores?