How do you calculate the length of macramé wire?

Macramé is an art form that's accessible to everyone! But how many of us dare to venture into uncharted territory? We're afraid of choosing the wrong thread, of getting the length wrong, of hesitating... And then, as time goes by, we realize that, in the end, we'll never be able to make that superb bohemian DIY suspension that we'd spotted and that would have been such a hit in our living room decor.

Well, that's all over now! Here are a few tips for calculating the length of macramé rope you'll need!

How many ropes for macramé?

To calculate the number of ropes you'll need to complete your project, the most common rule is to divide the width of the rope by the diameter x3.

For example: I've chosen a macramé rope with a diameter of 3 mm to make a project with a final width of 45 cm. Let's do the math: 45 / (0.3 x 3) = 50. So I'll need 50 doubled ropes (folded in half) or 25 single ropes to make my macramé suspension.

Please note: Rope spacing also depends on the pattern. If it's wide or close together, the number of ropes will be different.
You also need to take into account the diameter of the rope. The larger it is, the wider the spacing should be.

Once I know the size of my work and the number of cords I need, I can calculate the length of cord required.

What length of cord for macramé?

Before calculating the length of macramé cord you need, there are a few basic logical criteria to keep in mind:

• The larger the diameter of the rope, the greater its length.
• The more knots you tie, the more rope you'll need.
• The more tight knots you tie, the more length you'll need.
• If you're new to macramé, be generous - it's better to have too much thread than too little. You can use the extra rope to make a macramé feather or to customize a flowerpot.
• If you've miscalculated, don't worry! You can add more rope by tying overhand knots or by joining two pieces of rope with sewing thread.

However, a simple rule of thumb applies:

• If my work has loose knots or openwork patterns, I'll multiply the final length of my project (the longest place) and multiply it by 4.
• If my work is made up of tight knots, its length will be multiplied by 5.
• If I use complex knots, the length of the creation will be multiplied by 6.

For example: for my 60 cm-long work, which I want to make with 3 mm diameter ropes, I'll need 60 x 4 = 240 cm or 2.40 m for each rope. So 2.40 x 50 = 120 m of rope in total. If your ropes are folded in half: 60 x 8 = 480 cm or 4.80 m for each rope. So 4.80 x 50 = 240 m of rope in total.

To this you need to add a few centimetres for the lark's head knotswhich will be used to attach your macramé to a support.

That's a lot of length! But that's what it takes to make the macramé of your dreams!

And since it's not an exact science, and every macrameuse has his or her own way of knotting (the tension in the knots is not the same from one person to the next), the ideal is to make a sample, as in knitting. As you work through the patterns, you'll be able to adapt your lengths and imagine the final result!
A tip: practice tying a perfect macramé knot to be as regular as possible.

Now that you know the length of your thread, you won't be able to give up on your macramé wall hanging project. Now you can get started on your own macramé creations, each more original than the last!