How to Start with Macrame in 2021 – A Complete Guide + Must-Have Macrame Supplies for Beginners

There isn’t a better time to start with Macrame than in 2021! Take your pick from gorgeous cords, handy tools, the best teachers, and countless amazing free patterns. This complete guide provides everything you need to get started with Macrame!

Affiliate links may be sprinkled throughout the awesome, free content below. I’ll receive a small commission when you purchase from my (Amazon) links (at no extra cost to you), which I’ll happily spend on more colorful macrame cords!

Hi knotties! My name is Marloes and I’ve been running macrameforbeginners.com for almost 1 year now. It’s been so amazing to see how popular this fiber craft has become in 2020 and I’m super excited you’ve decided to join us in 2021!

Macrame supplies per project

Some projects require you to purchase additional supplies:

Macrame wall hanging

For Macrame wall hangings, you can use dowels or sticks to attach your work. You can find my favorite shops for these items in my guide How to make a Macrame wall hanging.

Macrame plant hangers

For Macrame plant hangers, you can use wooden rings. There are also plant hanger patterns available for which you don’t need any rings. You can find my favorite plant hanger supplies in my guide How to make a Macrame plant hanger.

Macrame earrings

For Macrame earrings, you can use simple hoops or pretty wooden findings. You find my favorite supplies in my guide How to make Macrame earrings.

Macrame shapes

For modern Macrame pieces, you can use shapes like stars, circles, and triangles. You can check my Macrame Shopping Guide for all my favorite finds!

3 steps you can take right now to get started

Now that you know what it takes to get started with Macrame, here are 3 steps you can take right now to get creative with your very first project:

Step 1 – Pick an easy beginner project on Youtube

Lots of people think they need a Macrame kit or an expensive book full of techniques and patterns to get started. Although kits and books can be helpful, they’re usually also quite pricy and often come with complicated instructions. I recommend using my free guides and youtube tutorials to get started with Macrame.

Here are 3 projects for beginners by talented Macrame teacher Soulful Notions, including the supplies and cords you need to make it.

Project: Plant Hanger

Supplies needed: Small wooden ring, 5mm 3-Ply Macrame Cords

Project 2: Macrame Wall Hanging

Supplies needed: 8in/20cm woorden dowel, 5mm Single Twist Macrame Cords

Project 3: Macrame Bag

Supplies needed: 4mm Braided Macrame Cords

Step 2 – Order your supplies

Check my handy list with the best local online cord suppliers and Bobbiny cord stockists. This way your new cords will arrive super fast and you can save BIG on shipping.

What cords to use for Macrame

I love working with Bobbiny Macrame cords. They’re perfect for beginners, eco-friendly, silky soft, and available in tons of gorgeous colors like Mustard Yellow, Metallic Gold, and Wild Rose. But even more important, these high-quality cords make your projects look instantly amazing, even when you’re just a beginner!

If you want to learn more about Bobbiny, which is run by a lovely couple from their cozy factory in Poland, make sure to read my full Bobbiny review of this amazing and sustainable brand.

If you want to find out more about the amazing trendy colors they offer, check out my Top 15 Favorite Colorful Bobbiny Cords and get inspired for your next Macrame project!

Types of Macrame cord

Most shops offer 3 types of Macrame cords: 3-Ply, Single Twist and Braided. These cords are available from 1.5mm up to 9 mm in thickness.

Single Twist Cords: For the Single Twist Cords the soft cotton fibers are all twisted together. Easy to brush out into a gorgeous fringe. Available in 1.5 mm, 3mm, and 5mm.

Triple Twist Ropes (3-ply): The Triple Twist Ropes are made by combining three separate single-twisted parts into a spiral. This firm but soft structure is a real joy to work with and creates a curly fringe. Available in 3mm and 5mm.

Braided Cords: Bobbiny’s Braided Cotton Cords are soft, flexible and the perfect alternative for t-shirt yarn.
Braided cords are not suitable to create a fringe. Available in 3mm, 5mm, and 9mm.

What cords you choose for your project depends on the pattern you’re following, personal preference, the size of your piece, and if you want to create a fringe.

What cord thickness to use?

When it comes to choosing the right cord thickness, the smaller your project the thinner your cords should be. If you want to know more about which cord type and thickness to use for each of your projects like earrings and plant hangers, you can check out my complete cord guide for more tips.