Macramé needs no needles, no hook and no machine. You need cord, something to hang it from, and your two hands, and by the end of an afternoon you can have a plant hanger on the balcony.
It is also the most forgiving fibre craft there is. A knot that looks wrong can be untied and tied again, as many times as you like, without wasting a centimetre of cord.
Start here
Video: DMC
3 mm or 5 mm cord?
This is the first question everyone asks, and the answer depends on what you are making. Thinner cord gives finer detail; thicker cord fills space quickly and makes bold, chunky knots.
| Cord | Best for |
|---|---|
| 3 mm | Small wall hangings, plant hangers, keyrings, coasters, bag details |
| 4 mm | An all-rounder for medium wall hangings and bags |
| 5 mm | Large wall hangings, table runners, curtains, statement pieces |
Best for your first project
YarnArt Macrame Rope 3 mm
KES 1,400 a cone
The easiest cord to learn on. It is light in the hand, the knots are simple to tighten and to undo, and one cone is enough for a plant hanger or a small wall hanging with cord left over for practice.
63 metres · 250 g cone
See the 3 mm rope
Best for big, bold pieces
YarnArt Macrame Rope 5 mm
KES 2,800 a cone
When you want a wall hanging that fills the space above a sofa, this is the cord. Thick knots build up fast, so a large piece takes far fewer hours than it looks.
85 metres · 500 g cone
See the 5 mm ropeFor something softer, DMC Eco Vita 12 is a 4 mm tubular cord at KES 1,450. And you will need something to hang your work from: our wooden dowels start at KES 150.
How much cord to cut
Macramé eats cord. A safe rule is to cut each length about four times as long as you want the finished piece, then double that if you are folding it over the dowel. Too long is an easy trim at the end; too short means starting again.
The two knots that make most projects
Learn these two and you can follow the majority of beginner patterns. The lark's head attaches your cord to the dowel, and the square knot does nearly everything after that.
Video: DMC, the lark's head knot
Video: DMC, the square knot
Feel the cord before you choose
See both thicknesses side by side at our shop on the 1st floor of Sarit Centre, and tell us what you want to make.
Shop macramé cordOr call us on +254 798 316860
In Stitches is the authorised YarnArt and DMC distributor in Kenya.
Prices correct at the time of writing.
