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Macramé is a king of cloth- making that uses knotting instead of the traditional weaving or knitting. It is made by forming a combination of square knots and hitches, full and half ones. The most commonly used materials for macrame are cotton twine, hemp, leather and yarn.

Macramé is used to form ornamental knotting to decorate anything from the sailors’ knife handles and ship parts to the present day jewelry and friendship bracelets. Jewelries are often made by a combining various types of knots and beads (glass, wooden or plastic), pendants or shells and sometimes gemstones are used. Leather or fabric belts are another accessory often created via macrame techniques.

Large pieces like decorative hangings and window covers are made out from a frame or metal dowel for easy manipulation of the knots. Smaller pieces can be worked on small boards. Many craft stores offer beginners’ kits, work boards, beads and materials ranging in price for the casual hobbyist or ambitious craftsperson.

Referred sometimes as Chinese knotting, macramé goes way back in Arabia during the 13th century. When the Moors conquered Spain in 711 AD, they brought this artform with them and from them, it spread to other countries. Sailors then learned the trick and made macrame to while out the time on-board as well as income generation because the pieces that they made were sold or traded.

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