Learn How To Macrame

By Diane Kelly

Macrame is an ancient craft. This is a textile-making craft which uses knots on thread or twine or hemp instead of weaving or knitting. In the 13th century Arab weavers of hand-loomed fabrics used macrame to knot the excess yarn along the edges of the fabric and make them into fringes on bath towels, shawls and veils to give decorative effect.

Along with the weavers products the macrame craft also traveled to Europe. Sailors picked up the craft and started using macrame to decorate the handles of knives and other objects; they used to sell or barter these articles at the ports where the ship would call.

This gave a greater circulation to this craft. It spread all over the world and in the course of time it became fashionable. Fashion circles of Victorian England and America started using macrame widely to provide fancy trimmings for colored and black costumes. Many other articles such as belts and hammocks also were commonly made in macrame.

In the course of time mass produced goods became cheap and were easily available. The craft of macrame fell out of fashion. It has become fashionable once again and it is gaining popularity. Macrame lends itself easily to a variety of different products. Items ranging from plant hangers to furniture and from jewelry to Christmas decorations are now made in macrame.

Jewelry items such as earrings, bracelets, chokers and ankle bracelets, etc in macrame are popular as gift items. Many furnishing articles such as draperies, tablecloths, bedspreads and wall hangings in macrame are very popular and in great demand. Small jean shorts, plant hangers and flower pots are some of the other items that are very much in vogue

In sewing and knitting you use needles to achieve the result and make a design; by contrast in macrame you have to rely on a wide variety of macrame knots. There are some simple knots, and some more complicated ones. It is the macrame knot that decides the pattern that will emerge when you make macrame.

There is a wide range of different types of macrame knots such as larkshead knot, square knot and granny knot, etc. Sliding knot and figure-of-8 climbing knot are some other commonly used macrame knots. Tying the macrame knots is a skill which you can develop with practice.

After learning the knots you need to select suitable macrame patterns; you must select a design that will be right for what you are trying to make. There are many macrame patterns that are available. Only certain types of knots can be used successfully with a particular pattern.

Now even a novice can learn such arts and crafts as macrame easily. It is easy to give and receive macrame instructions on internet. There are many websites specializing in macrame, telling you how to macrame. They specialize in imparting macrame instructions with detailed illustrations or photographs, there are many websites that provide tutorials telling how to macrame. Macrame is a craft that can be learnt only by practicing it. More and more people, especially women, now want to learn macrame. Some want to learn it as a hobby and some even think of making a career out of this ancient craft.

About the Author:

To learn out exactly how I learned to macrame jewelry please visit my site about macrame cord for more tips and secrets.