Cord Preparation
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| 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. |
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Wax Preparation |
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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. |
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| Tip: I usually bundle a
group of them, 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. |
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Glue Preparation |
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Another way to prepare cords is
to apply glue to the ends. There are specific
types available for this process. You can also 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. |
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| 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. |
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Tape Preparation |
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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. |
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Knot Preparation |
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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. |
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Other Methods (Not Recommended) |
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| There are other, riskier, methods used for cord
preparation. For example, burning or melting the ends has
been suggested in some books I’ve read. Fire and cords
don’t mix, in my mind, since most are made of flammable
materials. I’m very safety conscious, so I don’t
use these risky methods myself. |
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