Macrame in its modern form is made with a variety of different materials. But which rope to choose, you ask? What is the difference between them all?

Ok so there’s basically all sorts to choose from. I mean, you can pretty much knot any length of cord, twine or rope. Off the top of my head here is a list of materials that can be used for Macrame, with varying results and effects.

Bamboo (available in String, Rope & Braided)

Cotton String

Cotton 3 ply Rope

Sash cord/ Braided Cord

Luxe Cotton String

Cotton String

Jute rope/ twine

Hemp rope/ twine

Sisal

Linen

Waxed Cord

Leather/ Vegan Leather Cord

Suede Cord

T Shirt yarn

Wool

Roving

Nylon Cord

For the purpose of this post I’ll just talk about cotton and bamboo as it’s my favourite for its aethestic look as well as it’s ease of use.  If anyone has any questions about other materials I’ll try and answer them as best as I can.

3 ply Cotton Rope

This is a great cord for beginners. 3 ply basically has 3 individual single twist groups of cotton that all twist together to form a more traditional looking rope. Like what you see on a lot of ships and sailing boats.

This cord is softer to work with than the braided cord but strong enough to hold structure when required. It’s a good alrounder macrame cord that’s suitable for all sorts of projects. Great for plant hangers due to the structure it has. Beautiful for wall hangings too.

When you finish a piece, the three strands can be unravelled to give a wavy fringe effect. This can be further combed out or left in wavy sections depending on the style preferred.

Cotton String (Luxe)

So with cotton string, instead of three sections of string like the 3-ply rope, it’s just one single twist that makes the whole cord.  One of the main benefits with this material is that it easily unravels at the end to produce a wonderful fringe. It is also softer to work with than the braided and three ply cords.  With any single twist string it’s important to give the string a little twist every now and again which stops the individual threads bunching up and ensures a smoother more consistent look.

This luxurious string has the ability to create beautiful soft fine fringe. It was designed to be the best by industry experts using only the finest quality cotton.

Once you feel how wonderfully soft it is to work with you won’t believe it. No rope burn here!

The twist is super gentle which makes fringe much easier to comb out. When working with this gorgeous medium, it’s essential to retwist the stands every now and again to ensure the individual strands don’t get bunched up.  The finish is so high quality and smooth, it really makes work stand out and is worth spending the time to master this one. The knot lines appear to blend together and the overall appearance given to the piece is one of pure luxury. This makes it perfect for wall art. The ability that this Luxe Cotton has to fringe and the softness of the strands after fringing make this such a stunning medium to work with.

Bamboo

Soft as silk, my Bamboo range is made from 100% pure bamboo! An eco conscious choice that is light and luxuriously soft. It is obtained from the pulp of the bamboo plant and then spun into this gorgeous string.

Once you see and feel this string you will be amazed. It has such a soft satin feel that is unmatched to anything I have used before. It is a joy to knot with and will be perfect for macramé and weaving projects alike. The bamboo’s light reflective properties are so beautiful and will be a wonderful addition to your fibre creations.

I stock the bamboo range in this super soft single twist string, 3-ply rope & braided cord.

Sash Cord or Braided Cord

This is what one of my first wall hangings was made out of. Literally I bought a load of washing line from Ebay, strung them up on a stick and started knotting. I highly recommend this for beginners.

Braided Cord is strong and stiff. It holds well and gives a more structured look if you want to go for a clean, modern feel. The cheap stuff I got from EBay had a polyester middle so if you love the look braided cord gives but want better quality cord there are ones with a cotton core or flat braided like my bamboo range. This also means that if you want to fray the ends, it is possible to do. This takes LOTS of patience but it can give a really nice fringe.