7 Ways to Choose the Right Macrame Cords for Macrame Beginners
Like most people, we will regularly find ourselves researching a lot about macrame cord when new at it. It can be hard to differentiate between all the various types of macrame cord out in the market and which one to use.
As beginners, we need to know how to choose the correct macrame code. Read on to check the seven qualities we need to consider when choosing.
1. Composition
The material from which the macrame cord is manufactured is of great significance. Macrame codes are made of different materials such as fibers, satin rayon, and nylon. In the past, several macrame artists preferred fibers such as jute and hemp. However, with time, there was a rise in satin rayon and nylon macrame codes, which are artificial fibers.
As beginners, we prefer using nylon because it's easy to use. We're bound to make a few mistakes when we start to knot. With nylon, we will have an easy time unraveling if we make a mistake.
2. Strength
To have an easy time in knotting, we need a strong macrame cord. For beginners, it can be tough to know which kind of macrame code is solid to use for the design we want since not all of them are strong. If we are looking for a strong cord, we should consider going for the ones made from:
- ribbon
- jute
- leather
- nylon
The cord's strength usually depends on whether the individual thread used to create the material was braided or twisted when manufactured.
3. Twist
Many macrame beginners buy macrame rope as it is the most affordable and easy to find. However, after finishing some macrame projects, they discover macrame rope is not the most suitable type of cord. The braided cord is best in tying things together and giving them a firm grip, but it isn't easy to untie.
A fact we need to know is that a twisted cord unravels much more quickly than a braided macrame cord. Before starting a macrame project, ensure to treat the ends of the cord to prevent the strands from unraveling. Wondering how to treat the ends? No worries, melt clear wax and dip the ends.
 
If our goal is creating fringe, we must ensure the strands don't separate further than the fringe's length. This is possible when we knot the top of the fringe.
4. Stiffness
When we get a stiff cord, it will be hard to bend or curve it to suit the requirements of our pattern. To have the best result, use a flexible cord. Check the width of the cord to ensure it is the best, depending on what we are making.
If we want to make a necklace, we should go for a thinner macrame rope. The cord made from cotton is soft and very flexible. If it's hard to find a macrame cord made from cotton, we can use leather but ensure the width is less than 2mm.
5. Texture
No one would want to wear a bracelet made from a rough cord. Some macrame ropes can irritate the skin, which can cause rashes or even much bigger problems. Avoid using hemp and metallic cords, especially when making bracelets and necklaces, as they are not skin-friendly. I suggest using macrame cords made from silk, cotton, satin rayon, and nylon as they are not rough. Besides, we can opt to use leather as it softens over some time.
6. Width
When shopping for macrame cords, always keep in mind the kind of project we have. We should consider whether we can insert them into buttons, beads, or any other decorations of our choice. To know the thickness of the macrame cord we are buying, we should check its millimeters (mm).
For small macrame projects like bracelets and necklaces, buy the cord with not more than 2mm width. However, if we purchase cords over 4 mm in width, we will need more oversized decorations.
By VUDECO Manual Course - Macrame Dream Catcher
7. Quantity
When talking of quantity or amount, we refer to the cord required for the entire project. The cords we find in the market are of different sizes as some come in short lengths while others come in larger rolls.
We can approximate the quantity of cord we need for our project. This will make it easier to buy once and finish our project within the time frame.
We will find many people using nylon and leather cords because they are of the best qualities required by macrame artists. I would suggest we use these threads because they are readily available in the market. With the help of the tips above, it can be easier for us as a beginner to know where to start when we want to choose the right macrame cords.