I want you to have the best start to your macrame journey, and finding a brilliant supplier of all things macrame is pivotal to this. As many of my customers live in the UK, I’ve compiled a list of the suppliers who I know stock the same cord and accessories as I use in my digital PDF patterns, as well as other reputable suppliers.
I’m recommending these suppliers in the United Kingdom because I’ve found they stock a good range of macrame cord and accessories, or my UK customers have had good experiences with them. For those of you who live on other continents, check my list of macrame suppliers to see if I’ve covered your area.
*Affiliate links are used to monetise this content. I may receive a small commission on products you purchase through clicking on links within this blog. This commission helps support my family and there is no extra cost to you.
Why is it important to find a good supplier?
The quality of macrame cord you use can effect your entire macrame experience. If you find yourself unfortunate enough to have bought cord from a not-so-great supplier, you could find yourself breathing in chemical smells wafting from the cord, working with not-so-soft macrame cord, or producing finished pieces that don’t stand the test of time.
And then there’s the ethical considerations of supporting fair work practices and businesses that see sustainability as an important aspect of their daily activities.
If you run a small macrame-related business it’s also important to find a supplier that is dependable, quick to ship products, and offers competitive pricing. Your source of macrame cord and accessories can really make or break your business.
Things to consider when looking for a macrame supplier
- Type and diameter of macrame cord available
- Range of cord colours on offer
- Lengths of cord available
- Quality and range of accessories
- Whether they offer bulk buy/wholesale discounts
- Shipping locations, timeframes & cost
- Whether sustainability and fair work practices are promoted
My top 6 suppliers of macrame cord and accessories in the UK
As I’m located in Australia, I’ve relied on recommendations from my UK customers and some good old fashioned internet research to compile this list of UK macrame suppliers.
Without further ado, read on to uncover my top 6 UK macrame suppliers (listed in no particular order).
I found ReTwisst at the last minute before I published this post and I feel like I discovered a hidden gem!
As the name suggests, they sell recycled craft yarns that are created by sorting unused fabric wastes by quality and assembling the yarns in their factory. This eliminates the need for chemical dyeing and promotes protection of the environment and world resources.
Retwisst stocks macrame cords from 2mm to 8mm thickness that include string, rope, and braided varieties. They also have a fairly extensive selection of macrame accessories, including wooden beads, wooden rings, metal rings, keychain clips, and dowel rods.
They offer free shipping on orders £40 and over within the United Kingdom. Retwisst also ship to over 40 countries with different minimum order amounts to access the free shipping option in each country.
BEST FOR: Small businesses and dedicated makers who are mindful of sustainability and want a one-stop shop for macrame cords and accessories. Also an option for those who live internationally.
The Thread Shop has a beautiful range of yarns along with a strong focus on their environmental impact. One of the first things that caught my eye when looking at their website was they plant a tree for every order placed.
The Dream Collection is The Thread Shop’s lux range and includes stunning pastel shades and hand painted string. This collection is 100% recycled. Also available is bamboo macrame string, single twist macrame string, metallic t-shirt yarn, and the Bobbiny range, as well as ribbons and fibres for weaving. Cords come in lengths ranging from 10 to 170 metres.
The Thread Shop offers yarn packs; most consist of a range of colours that complement each other, and you receive 20 metres of each colour. These packs would be brilliant for crafters wanting to complete a project incorporating multiple colours, or for those wanting to test out new colours.
Accessories on offer include wooden rings, beads, and D ring swivel lobster keyring clasps. Keep in mind these lobster keyring clasps are smaller than those required for my mermaid keychain pattern.
For craft business owners there is an option to apply for a professional account. If approved, this unlocks free shipping and 20% discount off the entire Thread Shop and Bobbiny ranges for orders over £150.
Shipping (without a professional account) starts at £2.99 and increases depending on weight and method of shipping selected. Tracking and express shipping are available.
BEST FOR: Craft business owners who want to minimise their environmental impact. Those wanting to make a one-off project or purchase smaller lengths of colours.
Woolly What Knot is a one-stop shop for almost anything you would want to create using the fibre art of macrame.
Their range of macrame accessories is impressive, and they have oh-so-many beads! Amongst the extensive range of accessories you can find retractable tape measures, dowels with holes already drilled, swivel clasps, metal rings, wooden rings, larger metal hoops and other shapes, and did I mention the beads? So many beads!
Macrame cords range from 1.5mm to 12mm with both shorter 25m lengths and longer 300m lengths. Woolly What Knot also supply braided cords, ribbons, t-shirt yarns, and Bobbinys’ cotton candy product (for weaving). Brands on offer include Woolly What Knot’s own brand (WWK) which is made in the UK, Bobbiny, Lovely Cottons, Hoooked, Diva, Welcome Yarn, Tek-Tek, and ReTwisst.
Woolly What Knot is an eco-conscious business. They focus on providing the best recycled yarns for their community in the UK. For shipping orders, Woolly What Knot use paper packing tape that is fully recyclable, cardboard boxes made from 80% recycled materials, and they also reuse boxes and packing materials donated by friends and local businesses.
The professional crafter account is designed to give back to people who order from Woolly What Knot in large quantities. Once your application has been accepted, orders over £100 will access 10% off the entire range, plus larger discounts on Woolly What Knot branded products, and free next-day shipping.
Even without a professional account, hobby crafters can access free shipping on orders over £35.
BEST FOR: The eco-conscious small businesses and dedicated makers who want a one-stop shop for macrame cords and accessories. This is also a good option for hobby makers who want to purchase enough supplies for one macrame project.
Lovely Cottons UK is run by Izabela, who also owns Cheerful Crickets Craft where she sells her own knitted and crocheted creations, DIY crochet kits, and runs chunky crochet workshops.
Izabela is part of the Lovely Cottons team and stocks the Lovely Cottons range, which is produced in a small, family run factory in Poland.
Most of the braided and twisted cotton cords stocked in Lovely Cottons UK are recycled (regenerated) cotton. However, some of the thicker braided cords use other fibres for the inner section. The twisted cords range from 1.5mm to 5mm with lengths from 20m to 100m. For those wanting braided cords, they’re available in widths from 2mm to 9mm with lengths from 100m to 400m.
Also available in the shop are merino combed wool tops made from 100% natural Polish merino wool. There are so many colour options in this range! You can be sure to find a colour that suits for any weaving or unique touches, such as angel wings, hair, or owls feathers, you may want to create.
In the accessories section you can find plywood bases, plywood macrame frames, and the largest collection of plywood angel/fairy wings I’ve seen. There are some wooden beads, but the holes are smaller than those I use in most of my projects, so you would need to check these are suitable for the project you have in mind. Finally, there are a range of metal swivel clasps on offer in different colours and sizes, including those I use in my macrame mermaid keychain pattern.
Orders of £100 and over unlock a free shipping option. Care is taken to choose courier companies who are eco-friendly and carbon neutral. A portion of revenue is donated to reforestation projects around the world.
BEST FOR: Those wanting to purchase unique plywood macrame frames and angel/fairy wings, as well as beautifully-coloured merino combed wool tops. Makers wanting to make my macrame mermaid keychains can purchase both the cord and keychain here.
*August 2024: Lovely Cottons will be taking a break during August. Their online shop will still be open for browsing during this time, but the checkout will be disabled. The shop will reopen for new orders on August 30.
Bobbiny UK is one of the larger stockists of macrame cords in the UK. Since their cords aren’t as common in Australia, I haven’t personally used Bobbiny cords, but after doing some research I’m intrigued enough to have found a supplier to try them!
One of the things that surprised me was that Bobbiny make their cords out of recycled cotton thread. I assumed because they were a larger stockist that Bobbiny wouldn’t be as eco-conscious, but you know what they say about people who assume…they make an “ass” out of “u” and “me.” (Ass-u-me…get it?)
The yarn is made by shredding used clothes and other cotton textiles, then mixing colours in specific proportions to create the desired shades. The yarn made from recycled materials is imported from a European producer and Bobbiny uses the yarn to make their strings in a small factory in Poland. This means no dyes, water, or toxic chemicals are used in the creation of their cords.
Bobbiny UK have an extensive range of cords, including braided cords, single ply, and 3-ply from 1.5mm to 9mm, as well as their cotton candy product. You can be sure to find a colour that sings to you as Bobbiny have so many. The colours on offer range from naturals and pastels, “shakes” incorporating multiple coloured threads, metallics, right through to darker, moodier cords, and everything in between! Lengths on offer generally run from 30m to 200m.
They have a small selection of accessories available, including wooden beads, wooden rings, wooden dowels, metal shapes and S-hooks.
Bobbiny offer standard tracked shipping for free on orders £45 and over. You can also choose to get your order express shipped for only an extra £2 (or slightly more if the order is under 45).
BEST FOR: Makers looking for an extensive range of eco-friendly cords in every colour under the sun.
United Knots is owned by Robin Gough, author of The Macrame Bible. Robin has a strong desire to share her love of macrame and help others find their creative potential and experience the benefits of macrame.
United Knots offers a range of macrame cords from 3mm to 6mm thickness. The cords come in both 1-ply and 3-ply and there are super soft, high definition, and lux options.
Robin’s main selection of colours seems to be in the 3.5mm thickness, which I haven’t come across before. If you choose to use this cord in a pattern that calls for 3mm, you would need to add some extra length to ensure you don’t come up short in your project.
United Knots also stock the more generic 3mm and 5mm options if you’re looking for cords that exactly match the thickness called for in my PDF patterns. They offer a small selection of macrame accessories, including wooden beads, wooden rings, metal rings, metal frames, and wooden angel wings.
There is a loyalty club where you can sign up and earn points on your purchases and redeem discounts off future orders.
Delivery fees are dependent on your location and there doesn’t seem to be any information on this other than during the checkout process. Customers ordering from outside of the UK need to be mindful there may be customs fees and taxes not included in the purchase price.
BEST FOR: Individuals looking for super soft cord in bright and pastel colours.
The last thing you need to know about buying macrame supplies
It was actually quite eye-opening researching macrame suppliers in a different country. Whether you’re a dedicated maker or an occasional hobbyist, I really hope this information helps you source the products needed to make your next macrame project.
Leave a comment below if you’ve tried any of these suppliers or if you’ve found any great ones that I’ve missed.