It’s certainly possible to get started in macramé quite easily, but there are a few important pieces of information that will help you on your way. When I first started learning macramé it was a bit of a steep learning curve! I jumped straight into creating projects that I’d found in books or video tutorials…but there were a few things I discovered along the way that weren’t mentioned in these information sources. I hope my 8 top tips when first learning macramé help you make your journey into macramé a smooth one!
What are the things no one tells you when first learning macramé?
Macramé is a fibre art where knots are used to create anything from earrings to large wall-hangings. Obviously the keyword here is knots…you need to know how to tie knots to be able to create anything macramé-related. But often there is so much focus on how to tie the basic macramé knots that other important pieces of information are missed.
The pieces of information I’m talking about are those things that are handy to know to make your journey into macramé a smooth one. The concepts that perhaps aren’t mentioned in beginner patterns or tutorials, but you need to figure out along the way. As you’re completing your first few projects you will hit roadblocks or have issues and need this information to get through. These tips will help you to not waste macramé cord, help prevent you from having to undo your entire project and start again, help you to be more organised for future projects, and just stop you from creating a hot mess!
Why does no one tell you these things?
There are a million tutorials, videos, diagrams, books, pictures and posts out there about how to tie the basic macramé knots. I have no doubt that in 5 minutes of searching online you’ll have been able to find 5 sets of instructions on how to tie the basic macramé knots from 5 different crafters. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that learning how to tie macramé knots isn’t important (it definitely is!), but there is so much focus on that part of macramé that often the other parts are missed.
My first few macramé projects I was really just figuring it out as I went along. I had borrowed a few books from the library and found a few videos of projects I wanted to make and just jumped straight in. Along the way I definitely had some frustrations, as well as moments that really tested my patience. There was more than one occasion where I got close to finishing a project, only to realise that I had to undo almost the entire project to rectify an issue and then make it all over again. I’ve watched as the scissors have snipped away so much excess cord at the end of projects that it’s almost laughable. I’ve also wasted precious time flicking back and forth through books to remind myself how to tie each knot mid-project.
If you’re looking for a tutorial on how to tie the basic macramé knots you’ve come to the wrong place. Try checking out my free Beginner Macramé Knots Glance Sheet instead. If you’re looking for supplementary information to help save you from unnecessary frustration and basically just make your journey through creating your first few macramé projects run a whole lot smoother then please read on.
8 Top Tips When First Learning Macramé (That aren’t about learning how to tie knots!)
Tip 1: Wrap tape around the ends of the macrame cord
It doesn’t take long working with macramé cord before you realise that it can be prone to unravelling when cutting or working with it. The type of cord you’re using and the project you’re using it in will determine whether it unravels uncontrollably or stays almost completely intact. I’ve found that the metallic blends cords are the ones that seem to unravel uncontrollably as soon as you cut them, and the deluxe 3 ply unravels somewhat while working – especially when creating pieces that require some space left in between knots.
To remedy this issue, have a tape dispenser on hand to wrap tape around each end of the macramé cord as you cut it. For most types of cords it will be sufficient to wrap the tape around the ends immediately after you cut the cord. For metallic blends cords and other cords that are prone to unravelling uncontrollably, it’s better to measure your cord and wrap tape around the areas either side of where you need to make the cut. Then when you cut in between the two sections of tape, the cord is already taped up and won’t unravel at all.
Another option is to tie knots in the ends of the cord. I prefer tape simply because it doesn’t get caught when tying knots and if the end of the cord needs to be threaded through a small hole it is already neatly wrapped up, but many people do prefer tying knots. Try both and make up your own mind!
Tip 2: Re-twist the cord as you’re tying knots
Depending on what type of macramé cord you’re using and the type of piece you’re creating the cord may stay relatively intact or start unwinding in your hands. This can be helped somewhat by my previous tip of taping up the ends, but the cord can still start to unwind in the area you’re working on. The recycled cords seem to keep their shape with a lot less input than the deluxe 3 ply. I’ve found the main projects I notice the cords starting to unwind mid-project are the ones that require some space between square knots (such as the fruit hanger pictured below).
Therefore, it’s great to get into the habit of gently re-twisting the cord a little as you’re working with it to prevent any further unwinding. Twist the cord in the direction you can already see the twist going so it winds up tighter. If you twist the cord and notice that the individual strands are unwinding then it’s a good sign that you’re twisting it the wrong way! When tying square knots with space between them, gently re-twist both the holding cords and the working cords as you’re tying the square knot; this may mean twisting the cords different ways depending on how the cords are hung.
Tip 3: The distance between square knots matters!
The first time I played around with the distance between square knots was definitely a learning experience! I had finished creating the fruit hanger above and decided that perhaps the square knots needed a little extra space between them – the tutorial I had followed was a little vague with measurements. So the next one I made I left just a small amount more cord between the knots (maybe 5 or 10mm) and the finished piece turned out sooo much longer! (Not a good look when you are selling pieces based on the photos and measurements of the first one!)
It was after this experience and another dilemma creating a pot plant holder (tying and un-tying the section that held the pot 3 times before I got the right distance) that I discovered the value in measuring the distance between the knots as you’re tying them, rather than just eyeballing it. So my third tip is to always measure the distance between the square knots as you’re going (at least when you’re first starting out) to avoid having to re-do the piece later on.
I have a small 15cm metal ruler than I use for this purpose. If the tutorial you’re following doesn’t have an exact measurement for the amount of cord to leave between the knots just decide on a measurement that looks similar to the amount of space left in the tutorial and record that measurement. Then when you finish your piece, review if you’re happy with that measurement and adjust what you have recorded for the next time you make a similar piece.
Tip 4: Record the actual amount of cord you use for each project
I just hate the thought of wasting valuable macramé cord. There are projects that you can make that do use up the offcuts of cord, but I much prefer to avoid having too many offcuts to begin with. Many of the tutorials and patterns that I follow result in either massive lengths of cord needing to be cut off the end of all the pieces, or some cords being the perfect length for the piece while others have a metre or more to cut off. Whether you are mindful of waste or you are attempting to run a profitable business; having loads of cord left to cut off the end of your project is never a good thing.
I quickly learned that it was well-worth the time to scribble down just how much I cut off the cords at the end of a project and note which cords were longer or shorter if the lengths were dramatically different. Especially if you are intending on creating multiples of the same project, this will help save you a tonne of cord in the future. Just make sure you leave a little extra length of cord in your calculations “just in case” because you never want to get towards the end of a project and discover that some of your cords are too short to complete it.
Tip 5: Find an amazing macramé cord seller locally
Imagine you are measuring out and cutting your macramé cord for a project and realise you don’t quite have enough, or you are selling your pieces and get an order to fill, but don’t have the supplies in stock to complete that order. If you order your macramé cord online you may have to wait days or weeks to get more cord delivered. If you drive to the nearest craft and sewing store you might be able to get what you need, but the cord is often only sold in shorter lengths on smaller reels, and you often don’t get discounts for buying in bulk.
A great, local macramé cord seller is worth their weight in gold. If you buy your macramé cord locally from a trustworthy seller, you know that extra stocks of cord are only a short drive away. You will be supporting someone’s small business, which means you are likely to be helping them put food on the table for their family and pay for their children’s soccer lessons. Local sellers of macramé supplies often have better quality cord and a much bigger range of items specific to macramé than what you would find in a big craft and sewing store, and the prices are generally equal-to or less-than those you will find in the bigger stores. The best local macramé sellers will also offer discounts if you buy in bulk and may even offer same or next-day delivery for free or a small fee depending on the size of your order.
Tip 6: Tie wrap knots from the back of your piece
A good wrap knot is a brilliant way to neatly gather all the cords together and can be used both at the top and bottom of your macramé projects (or even in the middle). However, while wrap knots are quite neat, if you inspect them closely you can still see where the cord has been cut just above and below the wrap.
To keep your macramé pieces looking super-neat and professional, always turn the pieces so you tie the wrap knot from the back. This way any visible cut cord or glue will be hidden at the back of the piece when you complete it.
Tip 7: Don’t get too carried away with trimming!
Sometimes trying to achieve a perfectly-trimmed fringe on your macramé piece seems like the most difficult task in the world. You make a cut, but it’s not quite right, so you cut again, but that’s not quite right, so you cut again…and so on. Then you brush out the strands of the cords to make the fringe fuller, and you notice that the cut is no longer even, so you trim it again, and again… Before you know it, you’ve cut away most of what was the fringe, and you’ve ended up with the macramé-equivalent of a shave!
One of the most important things to remember when cutting is to have scissors that are good for the job. You don’t have to rush out and buy the most expensive scissors on the market, but trial around with the different types of scissors you already have in your home. When I first started macramé I assumed that the good-quality fabric scissors already in the house would be the best scissors for the job, but they didn’t cut the cord smoothly and I ended up hacking away at it and making a mess. They were great for cutting fabric, not-so-great for cutting macramé cord. Eventually I settled on some large, generic, plastic-handled scissors for cutting the cord when it was still intact (twisted), and I found my partner’s scissors for trimming bonzai trees were perfect for trimming the brushed-out fringe. So test a few different pairs – even if you don’t expect them to work well – because you might be surprised.
Secondly, take your time when cutting. Trim a small amount, take a step back and assess whether the length is correct and the shape is right. Trim a little more and then repeat the process. Keep in mind that macramé pieces are handmade items, so sometimes a little variation in the shape actually gives the piece character. If you are really struggling to get the fringe just right, try spraying it with fabric stiffener or alcohol-free hairspray and then trim the final edge.
Tip 8: Have the basic macramé knots instructions handy
One of the first macramé pieces I ever made was a pot plant hanger; I found the pattern in a macramé book. I remember flicking back and forth between the pot plant hanger pattern and the instructions on how to tie each of the knots. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth! And even when I moved on to other macramé patterns not in the book, I still found myself re-opening the book to the knot section to remind myself how to tie each type. I’ve also heard of people continually going back to YouTube video tutorials on how to tie macramé knots and having to watch and re-watch them intermittently during their first few projects.
Instead of wasting time flicking through books or taking time out of a project to watch YouTube videos on how to tie knots, it’s super-handy to have some basic instructions within eyesight to remind you how to tie each knot. To help with this, I’ve created a free one-page glance sheet with photos and instructions to remind you how to tie the four basic macramé knots. Keep in mind they aren’t in-depth instructions with every step photographed, but they’re enough to jog your memory when you’re stuck in the middle of a pattern and don’t want to interrupt your flow.
Conclusion
I hope that I’ve helped you avoid some mistakes or saved you some time with these 8 tips. You should now have the knowledge of how to keep the macramé cord twisted and intact while working with it, keep your projects looking neat, uniform and professional, minimise your wastage of cord, access more macramé supplies easily, and trim fringes like a pro. Remember to be kind to yourself when first starting out as you will undoubtedly make some mistakes. Macramé is a beautiful, mindful activity that can bring much joy and calmness into your life, and with a little patience and persistence you can most definitely produce some stunning pieces.
Leave a comment below if any of these tips helped you. I’d love to hear how your first few projects went!
xx Michelle