Updated
9/6/08
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 available, including yarn and ribbon. The
following concepts need to be considered before you make
your choice.
Stiffness refers to how flexible the cord
is. Leather, for example, can be very inflexible, depending
on the thickness. I like to use thin strands of rolled leather
to make bracelets, since it holds the shape of the knots
very well. Cotton embroidery cord is soft, flexible, and
great for Macrame projects, especially clothing. It’s
also inexpensive and easy to obtain.
Strength is especially important if making
furniture. Jute, a very rough textured cord, is particularly
good for outdoor furniture because of how strong it is.
But I have never seen it in any color other than brown.
Leather, ribbon, and nylon cord are also quite strong. |
| Texture is a description of
how the material feels. Obviously, you would not want to use
rough cord for a necklace or clothing. Gone are the days when
everything was made with hemp, a moderately rough fiber. Nylon
is much softer and comes in more colors, so has become quite
popular, as have silk and rolled leather.
You also need to consider the amount of cord you need.
Some materials come in huge rolls of 100 yards or more.
Others come in much shorter lengths. If you were making
Macrame furniture, for example, you would need a whole lot
more than if you were creating a necklace.
Determining Length/Amounts
Figuring out the length of each Macrame cord used in a
project can be frustrating. But since it is always best
to have too much than not enough, here is a simple way to
determine how much to cut:
Step 1: If the pattern is loosely knotted,
with more than ½ inch of space between the rows of
knots, multiply the finished length by 5.
Step 2: You also need to consider the
initial mounting knots, which often require you to fold
the Macrame cords in half. If this is the case, say you’re
using Lark’s Heads to mount the cords to a purse handle,
you will need to double the length of each cord. If no folding
is necessary, which is often the case in jewelry, you won’t
need this additional step. This should give you plenty of
cord to work with, so you don’t run out.
For patterns where the rows of knots are close together,
you can multiply the finished length by 4. You still need
to double that length if the mounting process calls for
folding the Macrame cords in half.
To figure out yards: Length of cords X Number of cords
cut, divided by 36 = Total yards needed for project.
Bracelet: 12 inch length X 5 (open space,
not doubled)= 60 inches
60 inches X 4 strands = 240 inches
240 inches divided by 36 = 6.7 yards total for project
Pet Collar: 13 inch length X 4 (closely
knotted) = 52 inches
Folded Mount (double) = 104 inches
2 strands X 104 inches = 208
208 divided by 36 = 5.8 yards total for project |
| Below is a list of types of Macrame cord materials,
even though most are not sold specifically for this craft.
Type: Rayon/Satin
Also called Rattail cord, is soft, shiny, and great for
Macrame. It can be found in many different colors, including
hand-dyed. This type of material comes in 3 sizes: 1mm,
often referred to as Petite Rattail, or Bugtail, 1.5 –
2 mm (Lightweight), and 2mm (Heavy weight). You can use
it to make just about any type of Macrame project, since
it can be obtained in small or large quantities; >100yards.
Another plus is that this material does not unravel as much
as other types of Macrame cord.
Type: Nylon (Polypropylene)
This is the Macrame cord most often used, and comes in
both braided and twisted forms. It’s often sold specifically
for Macrame, and can be found in many different colors and
patterns. Craft stores that carry Macrame supplies often
carry nylon cord, but it is harder to find in general stores
that sell only a few craft supplies. It comes in a wide
range of widths, from 0.5mm to 8mm thickness. Nylon has
a nice sheen, is soft and flexible, and holds the knots
well.
Type: 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, sandals,
belts, and anything that needs extra strength. Most store
that carry craft supplies will have rolls of hemp at reasonable
prices. You can find it in several colors, but the natural
tan color is most often sold in craft stores.
Type: Cotton
Also called Embroidery Cord, this type of material comes
in many colors, and is inexpensive and easily obtained.
It’s soft, flexible, and comfortable on the skin,
so is great for jewelry. Cotton cord is readily available
in widths of less than 2mm diameter, but you’ll need
to search to find wider diameters. This type of cord unravels
easily due to the fact that it is usually twisted rather
than braided. One definite advantage is that you can get
it in rolls of over 200 yards, so is a good choice if your
project calls for large amounts of Macrame cord, such as
hammocks, clothing, large plant hangers, etc.
Type: Jute
This type of cord material is exceptionally strong, and
is heat and fire resistant. 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 or more, and you can find it in huge
rolls, if needed. Jute is similar to hemp, but not as comfortable
on the skin, so is not suitable for jewelry.
Type: Leather
A bit more difficult to obtain, particularly in large quantities,
leather is still a great choice for Macrame cord. The best
type is the rolled leather, but the flat type works fairly
well too. It’s strong, doesn’t fray or unravel,
and can be found in many colors. The best widths to use
are 1mm – 2mm, since anything wider than that will
be too stiff to knot. The only negative to using leather
is that pins easily damage it, and the knots will make permanent
creases. The Cross-Pin technique, describe in Knotting
Tips, works great when working with leather. It’s
great for jewelry, particularly if you are using a single
knot, such as the Celtic
Triangle or Josephine
knot, since it holds the shape extremely well.
Type: Silk
This type of cord is sold in most places that carry beads
and supplies to make handcrafted jewelry, and comes in either
short lengths on cards, or spools, usually over 50 yards.
It’s soft, flexible, and well suited to Macrame. You
can find silk cord in 1mm diameter or less (threads), as
well as widths up to 8mm or more, but few places carry the
wider diameters.
Type: Blends
There are many types of cords made from blending different
materials, such as Rayon and Cotton, or Nylon and Silk combinations.
Sometimes the cord will have a core made of one material,
surrounded by a different one. Since Macrame is growing
in popularity again, more and more of these blends are being
sold. Many are listed as “Japanese” or “Chinese”
cord, since knot tying and Macrame are still very popular
crafts in those countries.
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