Which yarn for macrame? My tips and experiences
Which yarn for macrame? My tips and experiences
Macrame is a huge trend and incredibly popular. The knotting technique originally comes from the Orient and has been practiced there for a very long time. In the 1970s, the first macrame wave rolled over Germany. At that time you could find at least one hanging basket or macrame owl in almost every living room. After that it got a little quieter, but the art of knotting never really disappeared. At the latest since the boho trend has been back in fashion, macrame has also been making a big comeback.
Which yarn should I take?
Jewellery, dream catchers, wall hangings, coasters or key rings, you can let off steam creatively with the macrame knot art. But beginners in particular often find it difficult, especially with the question "When should I use which yarn?" Macrame yarns are available in different strengths and made of different materials. In this blog, I will give you advice on when to use which yarn and of course I will also share my own experiences with you.
In principle, any yarn or cord is suitable for knotting macrame. There is no one perfect yarn. It's best to just see which one suits you best.
Popular macrame yarns consist of:
- Cotton
- jute
- hemp
- sisal
If you want to knot a macrame for outdoors, then of course you should also use threads that are suitable for this. These are made of nylon, for example.
Cotton yarns - the macrame evergreen
Cotton threads are most commonly used for macramés. These are available in different versions and are therefore also suitable for different projects.
Cotton yarn is available in
- braided
- twisted (single twisted)
- or 3ply (triple twisted)
Braided Yarn
During production, this yarn is usually braided around a white cotton core. As a result, this yarn is more difficult to unravel than, for example, twisted cotton yarn. I find that the braided yarn is the easiest to knot and the knots come out the neatest too. This yarn is also the quickest to work with, since you don't have to worry about it untwisting at the end like twisted yarn can.
The disadvantage of this yarn, however, is that it cannot be combed out, which is often what makes the boho look of a macrame perfect. For example, the braided yarn from Bobbiny, which you can get in my shop, cannot be combed out.
But, as always, there are exceptions to the rule.
Not every manufacturer has braided yarn that cannot be combed out. My tip here are the yarns from the "SOFT" collection - of course you can also get them in my shop. These are also super easy to tie. It is best to use a thin comb to comb out the ends. However, combing out is much more tedious here than with twisted yarn.
My personal favorite is - you may have noticed while reading this - exactly this yarn.
The thread is available from Bobbiny in thicknesses of 1.5mm, 3mm, 5mm and 9mm.
From the "SOFT" yarn collection you get the yarn in 2mm, 3mm and 4mm.
I use it to tie knots, among other things
- Hanging baskets (Bobbiny yarn 3 mm - braided)
- Vases and lanterns ("SOFT" yarn 2 mm braided)
- Wall hangings (“SOFT” yarn braided 4 mm)
Twisted Yarn
During processing, several strands of fabric are twisted into one another. The twisted yarn is very soft and easy to comb out. So if you want to knot a macrame with lots of fringes, then you should use this yarn.
However, if you do not have that much experience with macrame knots, it can happen that the knots unravel and they are not as clean as with the braided version.
You can knot the following things with it. In brackets you will find the manufacturer and the thread size
- Key fob small (bobbiny twisted 1.5mm)
- Key ring large (Bobbiny 3mm twisted)
- Bookmark (bobbiny twisted 1.5mm)
- Earrings (bobbiny twisted 1.5mm)
- Pacifier chains (bobbiny twisted 1.5mm)
- Teethers (bobbiny twisted 1.5mm)
3ply yarn
The 3ply yarn is divided into three parts that are twisted into each other. The three parts in turn consist of many individual threads, which is why it is also very easy to comb out. What distinguishes 3ply yarn from braided yarn is that it is much more robust. That's why the knots are cleaner, but not as detailed as with the twisted yarn.
In my shop you can get the 3ply yarn from Bobbiny in the sizes 3mm and 5mm.
You can tie the following things with this yarn. Personally, I don't use it that often though.
- Swing (Bobbiny 5mm 3ply)
- Tapestry (Bobbiny 3mm-5mm 3ply)
Note: This blog is based on my own experiences. Of course, what applies to me does not necessarily apply to you.
I recommend trying out different yarn weights and types to find out what works best for you.
All yarns from this article can of course also be found in different colors in my shop. If you have any questions or need tips, I'm happy to help.
Now I wish you a lot of fun with the knot
xx Nina
