Discover the craft of macramé

If you grew up in the ’60s or ’70s, your home probably featured a macramé wall decoration or maybe a plant hanger, and now these are back in fashion.

Part of the appeal of macramé is that it requires no equipment other than a mounting ring and some cord, and projects tend to work up fast. While it’s not suitable for garments, this technique is perfect for robust home accessories such as wall art, rugs, bags and plant hangers.

For a piece to be considered true macramé, it has to incorporate at least one macramé knot, and there are a few different knots to learn. However, crochet fans may have noticed designers producing macramé-inspired open-textured pieces that mimic this technique.

To have a go, try Claire Montgomerie’s Cotton Plant Hangers from issue 145 or her Boho Hanging from issue 116. Lucy Djevdet is often inspired by macramé – take a look at her Hanging Herb Planters from issue 125, the Granny Mac Wall Hanging from issue 115, or the Hanging Fruit Baskets from issue 133.

For yarns perfect for macraméstyle crochet projects, try Rico Design Creative Cotton Cord Skinny, DMC Nova Vita 12 and Hoooked Spesso, plus Bobbiny’s 100% recycled cotton cords that come in some beautiful pastel shades (www.jollygoodyarn.com).

For more inspiration, look at @knot_alot_macrame, @macrameforbeginners, or @wemacramebeautiful.