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Cord Preparation

 
Frayed Ends of Macrame Cord
 
Cord preparation is a vital topic you need to know, since you will use these techniques often. Before I learned how to treat the strands so they didn’t unravel, messy frayed ends frustrated me. Twisted cord, in particular, came apart every time I used it. Then I learned a few simple techniques that taught me how to prevent the problem. After you cut all your cords to the proper length, use any of the following techniques.
 

Wax Preparation

 
 
  Preparing Macrame Cord with Wax   My personal favorite is using wax to coat the ends of the cords. Obtain a jar candle, preferably white or the same color as the cords. Light the candle and let the wax melt for a while. Blow the candle out. Dip the ends of the Macrame cords in the liquid wax.  
 
 
Tip: I usually bundle a group of cords, then dip them all together. Hold them above the jar to let the excess wax drip off. Allow the cords to cool. If they stick together, pull them apart gently.
 
 

Glue Preparation

 
 
  Preparing Macrame Cord with Glue   Another way to prepare cords is to apply glue to the ends. You can use liquid puzzle glue, or household glue diluted with water. Put some in a bowl, and dip the ends. Glue doesn’t dry as fast as wax, so you need to hang the cords over something while they dry.  
 
 
Someone told me they prefer to use nail polish for cord preparation. I’ve never tried this myself, but I bet it works just as well as glue. You can dip the ends, or lay the cords on a work surface and paint the nail polish on them.
 
 

Tape Preparation

 
 
  Preparing Macrame Cord with Tape   You can apply cellophane or masking tape to the ends as a temporary measure to prevent unraveling. This technique is especially useful if using twisted cord rather than braided. When you are at the end of the project and tying the finishing knots, just cut off the portion with the tape.  
 
 

Knot Preparation

 
  Barrel Knot  

Another easy method to prepare cords is to tie a knot at the end. I do this often, since I can simply cut off the knot in the final steps. The best knots to use are the Overhand knot, or the Barrel knot, which are easy to tie.

But you can use other knots, like the Figure 8, the Chinese Step knot, or the Matthew Walker knot.

 
 
 
 
Macrame Cord Divider
 

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Macrame Cord Divider

Have any comments or suggestions about Cord Preparation? Contact Me.

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