Which thread or rope to choose for making decorative macramé?

Before starting your macramé decorating project, you've probably asked yourself the question: which rope to use for macramé? There are several criteria to consider, such as the material of your macramé rope, its size and length.

WHICH WIRE FOR MACRAMÉ?

The material of your wires in itself doesn't have much influence on the technique, because unlike micro-macramé jewelry, it's very rare to melt the wire to stop it. We generally finish a macramé decoration with a knot and hide the end of the wire behind the creation.

However, this can affect the final result. Some materials will be shinier or softer than others. Most macramé ropes are made of cotton, sometimes recycled cotton. In this case, the thread is matte.

Synthetic materials usually give a shiny finish. Imitation cotton synthetics are also available. You can also use local wool instead of thread, provided it's thick and dense enough to see the knots.

Twisted, braided or combed ropes

Strings are not all composed in the same way, they are twisted in more or less complex ways. There are :

• Twisted (or cabled) ropes: as their name suggests, these are ropes made up of several strands twisted together. These are the cords most commonly used for macramé, like this cotton macramé rope or this macramé cord.
• Braided cords: These are several strands that have been knitted together to form meshes around a rigid central cord, such as DMC's Nova Vita. This yarn is not suitable for making bangs, because when you unravel it, it's just a single strand wrapped around a cord. You'll need to finish it off with a knot, as in the following macramé cushion tutorial.
• Combed rope: this is a single strand whose threads have been twisted together. It's a strong, supple yarn, perfect for making macramé bangs. This is the case with Cotton Suprême 3XL, which makes beautiful bangs and is often used to make macramé feathers.

What size rope for macramé?

We're not talking here about the length of your wires (which is determined by the size of your project), but about the diameter of your macramé rope.

The most common size for a hanging, a wall decoration such as a mirror, or a macramé bag is 3 mm rope, which will produce pretty knots and allow you to finish your creation in a reasonable time. This is the size most often used in our tutorials.

But if you want more detail, and more knots, use 2 mm.

A 1.5 mm diameter wire would be ideal for a keyring or purse.

Conversely, if you're interested in creating something quickly, and the knots don't need to be very complex, then use 4 mm.

Size 5 mm is ideal for XXL projects or other creations such as a rope trivet with piton knot or a rope basket.

Just remember that the larger the diameter of your macramé wire, the fewer knots you'll need to tie. And vice versa: the smaller the diameter of your cord, the more knots you'll need to make.

Macramé cord length

To find out the length of cord you need, you need to determine the size of the project you're planning. Do you want to make: a wall hanging? A plant hanging? A trivet? Atrendy net bag?

Do you need to use a single cord or several strands? Will your creation have different types of macramé knots? Do you tend to tighten or loosen your knots?

Do you want to make a macramé decoration with bangs or without bangs?

Once you've answered these questions, it will be easier to choose the right thread for your project. You can also base your choice on the materials used in ourmacramé accessories and decorative objects tutorials.

And there's one other important criterion we'd almost forgotten: the color of your macramé threads. Natural, flashy or pastel... The choice may be difficult. But have fun!