Wool

A protein-based fiber that comes from sheep.

Pros: Can be soft or scratchy depending on the animal it comes from, making it a great way to add texture to a piece.
Cons: In its roving form, wool breaks apart easily.
Best for: macraweave and felting projects

Types of Macrame cord

Macrame is one of the simplest crafts, not only because it’s reasonably easy to learn but also because you need very few materials or tools to do it. Many projects can be created with cord and perhaps a few beads, as well as a couple of basic tools like a pair of scissors and a lighter.

Let’s take a look at the different types of Macrame cords and the pros and cons of each.

Macrame rope

The most common type of Macrame cord, rope is a plied fiber that is available in a range of materials, plies, and thicknesses. The plies, or strands woven around one another, give rope extra strength.

The more plies the rope has, the stronger it will be. For most projects, 3-ply rope is ideal, as this is strong enough and easy to work with, though you can opt for a 6-ply rope if you need extra strength.

You can also comb out the multiple plies in rope to create a fringe, which can be a stunning effect in many different types of Macrame projects, from feather motifs to fringe edging on jewelry, bags, and decorations.

You’ll often find Macrame rope made from cotton, though it’s also available in other materials, such as hemp, jute, and synthetic fibers. Cotton and hemp are both good choices, as these materials are soft, malleable, and strong.

Yarn

A big advantage of yarn is that it comes in a diverse range of colors made from a variety of materials. You can also find both plied and unplied yarn, giving you more opportunities to create different effects depending on the desired characteristics for your project.

However, it can be trickier to work with, and virtually impossible to use to make small knots.

Macrame string

At first glance, Macrame string may look like rope, and they are very similar. However, there’s one key difference: string is not plied but rather is made of lots of thin fibers twisted into one strand.

Because it’s not plied, string is not nearly as strong as rope, and can also be uneven or inconsistent in its thickness. On the upside, being unplied, string is softer, so you can use it to make smaller, tighter knots.

Braided rope

Braided rope also comes in a variety of sizes. In general, it’s composed of a woven mesh that sometimes has an inner core, making it a sturdy material that works well for objects that require structure like baskets. But, with a smaller diameter, Emily also recommends braided rope for creating jewelry.

Emily considers knit rope an ideal choice for “fun, pliable, textured projects”. Made in a continuous chain, it usually comes in the form of a hollow tube and has a stretchy nature which works well for not only macramé but other crafts like knitting and crocheting.

Where to buy macrame cord

If you want to shop around a bit more, macrame cord can be purchased both online and at select retail stores. However, your best bet is buying online or at specialty shops. Not only will the cord often come out cheaper, but higher in quality too.

Plus, it gives you the option to buy from small businesses instead of huge multinational corporations.

Etsy

There are tons of great macrame supplies and patterns for sale on Etsy, and macrame cord is no different. No matter where you live in the world there’s a small business that ships cord of any size directly to your house.

Here’s a short list of my favorites and where they ship from:

• UnfetteredCo (Canada)
• Bobbiny (Poland)
• Ganxxet (USA)
• MBCordas (Lithuania)
• RockMountainCo (USA)

Amazon

Although the company has a dubious reputation, it’s still the world’s largest marketplace. There are tons of vendors selling macrame cord on Amazon (although many of the same products can be found on Etsy).

Here are just a few listings to give you an idea of what’s available:

• XKDOUS three-ply macrame cord
• Floravogue 5mm macrame rope (black)
• Tenn Well braided jute for outdoor macrame
• Cyrico three-ply 3mm macrame rope (yellow)

Retail stores

Although it’s generally more expensive and lower quality, macrame cord can also be purchased in the following large retail stores in the US:

• Blick Art Materials
• Hobby Lobby
• Home Depot
• Joann
• Lowe’s
• Michaels
• Walmart

Smaller specialty stores are more likely to have better cord, so check your local macrame, knitting, and crochet groups for more locations!

Online specialty stores

In addition to large retail stores, there are also many specialty shops that sell macrame supplies online.

These are almost always small businesses, so you’re supporting creators and entrepreneurs directly. It may take longer for products to ship and restock, but it’s more than worth the peace of mind.

Products may also be a bit more expensive than some of the other options listed, but the quality is always excellent. Plus, the care taken in packaging and shipping truly can’t be beaten.