The trendiest technique is macramé

One of the trendiest techniques at the moment is macramé, as it has become a very useful accessory for our home as mats or mats. But not only that, we can use our macramé creations to make fashion complements. Even though it's very trendy nowadays, we're talking about a technique that has been used for centuries. It's believed that it was born in Babylon around 2300 B.C to decorate their clothes. Later, it was a very popular technique among Arab weavers in the 13th century, as they used to finish their creations with knots. Moreover, they used to include some tassels to add a decorative element to their towels or veils. Macramé was then, spread to Spain and Italy and from there, it was spread to Europe, where it became very popular, especially during the Victorian era. At this time, it was the favourite hobby for sailors to do to spend their time at the sea and to ward off boredom. If you're not sure what macramé is (we doubt it, but just in case!), let's tell you :) Macramé is a crafty technique that consists on creating weaving using decorative knots with our hands.

What do I need to make macramé?

Thread

Thread is the most important material and it must be hard and resistant. We can choose from different types: cotton, jute, wool, leather, linen, or silk, although we can use other materials. One of the things we should keep in mind is the thickness of the thread, because it will have a big part on the final design. The thinner the thread is, the smaller the knots. That's the reason why you should know the exact type of project you want to make before choosing the thread, so you can choose the best option for your creation. Another important point to keep in mind when choosing a thread, is the colour. You'll need to know how many colours we want to use in our project y how much you'll need for each colour. Many artists choose to work with threats without colour and once they finish their artistic creation, they dye it.

Hanging

Another important element is the support where you'll make the knot of your designs. It is also known as a dowel and can be a wooden, metal, or plastic bar. If your design is circular, you will need a hoop or stretcher.

Scissors

It's the kind of element we always forgot about, but you'll need good scissors to cut all the fabrics we are working with neatly.

Other accessories

It is very common in macramé to combine fabric designs with beads. We can find them in different materials (wood and plastic are the most common), colours and shapes.

Macramé threads

As we said before, it's important to have in mind the kind of project we want to make and then choose, the perfect thread for it.

Cotton

Undoubtedly, cotton thread is the most used in the world of macramé as it is very versatile. We can use it to make decorative elements such as mats and tapestries, as well as for blankets or bedspreads. In addition, the finest cotton thread is used to make pieces of jewellery such as bracelets or necklaces.

Leather

Leather is used for leather goods and can be decorated with bags, wallets, or sandals, as well as jewellery such as necklaces or bracelets.

@oliviamoray   /  @larsson_carter_homewares

Hemp

Another very common thread in macramé is hemp, especially among of you that just have started, as it's very easy to work with. The main characteristic of this thread is that the knots are strongly shaped. It's usually used to make bracelets and necklaces.

Jute

If you want a project with a rustic touch, jute is your choice. Used to decorate jars, rush, mirrors, or basket-making.

@macaramehobby   /   @annas_passions

Rayon

Contrary to all the previous materials, rayon is a synthetic material, and it's very common in the macramé world because of its versatility. Very soft to the touch, the reason why it is used a lot for fashion like blouses, skirts, ponchos, shawls and other accessories.

Nylon

The fabric of choice when it comes to making micro-macramé jewellery. Although it is a little more complicated to work with, nylon gives a much more refined and elegant look than other types of fabrics. As you can see, you can make a lot of items with macramé and never get bored. You can change the type of fabric, and you will get a different design. You just have to experiment a lot and enjoy the process. What do you think about this technique? We're sure you already know it, but, you've tried it yet? Tell us in the comments and let's chat a little! :)