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Macrame Cord

 
Assorted Macrame Cord
 

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.

 
Cotton Embroidery Cord Composition relates to what the Macrame cord materials are made of. There are many different fibers available. Certain plants, for example, result in such materials as hemp, jute, and cotton. Leather is made from animal hide, and nylon is a very popular man-made fiber.
 
Diameter is the thickness of the cord; usually indicated in millimeters.
Silk, thread, nylon, and even round leather can be found less than 3mm thick. In my opinion, anything less than 2 mm is harder to work with. But if your project calls for very fine cord, give it a try. Also, keep in mind that the wider materials (>4mm) require larger beads and other embellishments.
 
Braided Cord Twist refers to whether the individual strands that make up the cord were twisted or braided in the manufacturing process. Braided Macrame cord, for example, will unravel less easily than twisted cord. I recommend you use some method of preparing the cord ends no matter which type you choose.
 
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

 
 
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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.

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

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