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Macrame Cord

Macrame cord materials have specific qualities you need to become familiar with. It is vitally important that you choose the right type for your project. For example, making a hammock requires strong, sturdy materials. Clothing, on the other hand, needs a softer type of cord. Nowadays, there are many kinds of materials available, including yarn, ribbon, and lace.

Click on the images, and larger images will come up in a new window, so you can see details better.

General Concepts to Consider when Choosing Cord

The Stiffness refers to how flexible the material is. Leather, for example, can be very stiff, depending on the thickness. I like to use thin strands (0.5mm) of round leather to make bracelets, since it is flexible.

As you can see in this Celtic Circle Earring, leather maintains the shape of the knots very well. If it's over 3mm thick, it's hard to tie the knots, though.

On the other hand, Cotton cord is usually very soft and flexible. It's great for Macrame projects, especially clothing. It’s also inexpensive and easy to obtain. You can often find it sold as Crochet Cord. This Flower Bracelet was made with 2mm Cotton material.

The term Composition tells you what fibers the cord materials are made from. Certain plants, for example, result in such materials as Hemp, Jute, and Flax Linen. They are what is called "Natural Fibers". Leather is made from animal hide, and nylon is a very popular synthetic fiber (man-made).

Further down on this page is more information about specific types of cord that can be used in Macrame.

Strength is especially important if making furniture or something that will hold weight. This is Jute, a very rough textured cord, and is particularly good for outdoor furniture because of how strong it is.

Leather, Flax, and Polypropylene cord are also very strong materials.

The Twist, or style, refers to whether the individual strands that make up the cord were twisted or braided in the manufacturing process.

Braided Macrame cord will unravel less easily than twisted cord. The image shows a close-up of both types.

Note: You should ALWAYS treat the ends of the cords, prior to beginning a Macrame project, so they don't unravel easily. For more information for this important issue, see Cord Preparation.

The Texture is a description of how the material feels. Obviously, you would not want to use rough Macrame cord for a necklace or clothing. Gone are the days when everything was made with Hemp, a slightly rough textured fiber. This image show a Leather Bracelet, which is soft against the skin.

Nylon Macrame cord is soft and flexible and comes in a variety of colors, so has become quite popular. Silk and Satin cord materials are also great for Jewelry items that rest close to the skin. Further down is specific information about the types of cord materials used in Macrame.

The Diameter (Width) is the thickness of the Macrame cord; usually indicated in millimeters. Silk, Nylon, and even round Leather can be found less than 2mm thick. Keep in mind that the wider materials (>4mm) require larger beads, buttons, or other decorations.

This image shows a Constrictor knot made with 6mm diameter Polypropylene cord.

Trivia: The term Micro-Macrame is used when a handcrafted item is made using cord material less than 2mm diameter.

The Amount refers to how much Macrame cord you need for the entire project. Some materials come in large rolls of 100 yards or more. This Opelon Floss comes on cards, which usually contain less than 10 yards of material.

Total Amount = Length x Number of Strands.

If you were making furniture with Macrame cord, you would need a whole lot more than if you were creating a necklace. The following information will help you determine the amount of cord needed:

Step 1: Determining the Length to Cut the Cords

Most Macrame patterns will tell you the exact lengths you need to cut each of the cords. But it's always a good idea to check the math to make sure the pattern is accurate. If you are creating your own designs without a written pattern, the following information will help you.

Here is a simple way to determine how long each Macrame cord should be:

Step 1: If the pattern is loosely knotted, with more than 1-inch of space between the rows of knots, multiply the finished length of the item by four (4).

If there is very little space between the rows, you should mulitiply the finished length by Five (5) instead, since you will be tying more knots.

Step 2: You also need to consider the initial mounting knots, which often require you to fold the Macrame cords in half.

For example: You’re using Lark’s Head knots like this one to mount the cords, so you will need to double the length of each one, when you cut them. If no folding is necessary, you won’t need this additional step.

For example: A 12-inch bracelet using Figure 8 knots, which are loosely tied, will require at least 48 inches for each cord. If the cords were folded in any manner, you would need to double the length to 120 inches.

Step 3: Before you cut the cords, make sure you are aware of whether there are button knots or picots present. These decorations requre more Macrame cord.

I usually cut the cords 6 times the finished length if I am making Picots or Buttons, just to be safe.

It's far better to cut too much Macrame cord, than to run out, as you are making your project!

Step 2: Determining the Number of Cords to Cut

Most Macrame patterns will tell you how many cords you need. If you are creating your own designs, here's a formula you can used to figure out how many cords to cut.

Use this formula if the design is flat, as in this Tree Ornament:

First figure out the size, in inches, of the widest point. For the ornament shown above, that would be the area at the bottom.

Next, determine the size cord you are using. Now decide if the cords are to be folded during any point in the pattern. Use this formula:

6mm Material = Cut 2 cords/inch (Folded) or 4 cords/inch (Unfolded)
4mm Material = Cut 3 cords/inch (Folded) or 6 cords/inch (Unfolded)
2mm Material = Cut 6 cords/inch (Folded) or 12 cords/inch (Unfolded)

Designs that ask you to cover a ring will usually require the cords to be folded, and the width is based on the size of the ring. So use this formula instead:

Diameter of Ring (from edge to edge) x 3.14 = Area to be covered (in inches)

6mm Material: Area x 2 = number of cords
4mm Material: Area x 3 = number of cords
2mm Material: Area x 6 = number of cords

Step 3: Determining Total Amount Needed

To figure out what you need for the entire project, follow this formula:

Length of cords (in inches)

multiplied by number of cords cut

divided by 36 = Total yards

Make sure you do this for each of the different sizes you cut. Add them all up, and you will have the total necessary for the entire project.

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Types of Cord Material for Macrame

Below is a list of the different types of materials that can be used in Macrame projects. Most of them are not sold specifically for this craft, however, and won't be labeled as Macrame Cord.

Craft supply stores will often carry some types of materials, but not others. Yarn, Cotton, and Hemp are easily obtained, if you know where to look. Try searching for cord material in Thrift Stores and Yard Sales, as well as Hardware and Garden Stores. You never know where you might find the perfect material for your next Macrame project!

Satin Cord (Rattail): This luxurious material is made from Rayon or Nylon, and is soft and shiny. It can be found in many different colors, and is often dyed by hand. Rattail usually comes in 2 sizes: 1mm, often referred to as Petite Rattail or Bugtail, and 2mm diameter. So it's perfect for Jewelry!

You can use Satin Cord to make just about any type of Macrame project, since it can be obtained in small or large quantities. Another plus is that this material does not unravel as much as other types of Macrame cord. It holds tight knots very well, but is flexible enough for the loosely formed knots, too. On the down side, Satin Cord is hard to find in quantities over 100 yards. Despite that fact, I still highly recommend you try this luxurious cord.

Polypropylene: This is the type of cord most often sold specifically for Macrame, and it comes in both braided and twisted forms. This material can be found in many different colors and patterns. It comes in a wide range of widths, from 2mm to 8mm thickness. It is soft and flexible, and holds the knots very well.

Nylon: Similar to Polypropylene, Nylon Macrame Cord is often used for Jewelry. It usually comes in 2mm size or less, and has a huge range of colors.

Note: Sometimes the manufacturers will apply a light wax coating to make it a little easier to handle. For Macrame, I recommend that you obtain Nylon that is not waxed, so that it is less stiff.

Hemp: This is the most popular material for Macrame, and was very commonly used in the 1960’s. This type of cord material is strong, so is great for plant hangers, belts, and furniture. Most stores that carry craft supplies will have rolls of thin Hemp at reasonable prices, but the 3mm to 6mm size is hard to obtain nowadays.

Cotton Cable Cord: This material comes in only the natural white color or black, but is inexpensive and easily obtained. It is a good choice if your project calls for strong Macrame cord, such as in furniture and plant hangers.

It's usually found in widths of 2mm to 4mm only.

This type of Cotton Cord is twisted style, and is commonly found in Garden and Harware stores. You can purchase it in very large rolls, so it's very economical. Large projects using 500 yards or more can get costly, so cord like this is suitable.

Note: This Macrame Cord unravels easily, so must be carefully prepared before knotting begins.

Jute: This type of cord material is exceptionally strong, and used to be the fiber of choice for Macrame. It’s also biodegradable, since it is made from plants. It’s best suited to outdoor furniture and items like rugs, but needs to be protected from rain and sun. Also called Burlap or Hessian, it comes in diameters of 2mm to 6mm. You can find it in huge rolls, if needed.

Jute is good material for Macrame, but is not comfortable on the skin, so is not suitable for jewelry or clothing. Primitive craft designs would look great if made from this "all natural" cord. You can find dyed Jute cord in several colors, but most places that carry it have only the brown or golden color shown in the images.

Yarn: Believe it or not, yarn is a good choice to use as Macrame Cord. It comes in a huge amount of colors and sizes and holds knots exceptionally well. It's always a great choice for children's projects since it is inexpensive. Yarn is extremely flexible, so keep that in mind if you use it.

Leather: The best type is the round leather, but the flat type works fairly well, too. It’s strong, doesn’t fray or unravel, and can be found in many colors. It’s great for jewelry, particularly if you are using a single knot. The image shows a pair of Celtic Triangle Earrings, made with leather.

The best sizes of Leather to use are 0.5 to 2mm, since anything thicker than that will be too stiff to knot. The down side to using leather is that pins easily damage it, and the knots will make permanent creases. The Cross-Pin technique, described in Knotting Tips, is important to use when working with any type of leather cord.

Flax Linen Cord: This material is a good choice, particularly for Micro-Macrame. It's usually made in Europe, and is soft with a beautiful sheen. People in Ireland still spin this wonderful material by hand, and it lasts a long time. It's also biodegradable.

Trivia Fact: Flax Linen has been around for over 5000 years. The ancient Egyptians used the Flax plant fibers to make cloth. They wrapped their mummies with the material.

Flax Linen is stronger than Cotton, and is used to make Lace and other fine fabrics. This Macrame cord usually has a light Beeswax coating, which softens as it is used. I highly recommend you try it!

Opelon Floss: This unique type of cord looks very similar to dental floss, and is sometimes called "Gossamer Floss". Unfortunately it's usually around 0.5mm in size, so is more suited to Micro-Macrame. This type of material is strong and slightly stretchy, so is perfect for handcrafted jewelry.

Silk: This type of cord is sold in most places that carry beads and supplies to make handcrafted jewelry. It comes in either short lengths on cards, or hanks that contain multiple strands.

It’s soft,and flexible and has a subtle texture. You can find silk cord in 1mm diameter or less, as well as widths up to 8mm or more, but very few places carry the thick cord. It's also very expensive, so it's best used for jewelry.

Metallic Cord: This type of Macrame cord is great for Holiday projects, but not for jewelry, since it is a bit coarse. It can be made from a variety of materials that shine. Sometimes this cord has a cotton core, which is surrounded by the metallic fiber. Be sure to treat the ends before working with any type of metallic cord. It unravels easily once it's cut.

Sisal Cord: This interesting material is made from plant fibers, like Hemp, Jute, and Flax. But it's very coarse and "picky". It is suitable for furniture, primitive designs, bird nests, and wall hangings. You can get it in large quantities, often in Hardware and Garden stores.

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

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