1. Use hemp when first starting out. It is easy to unknot if you make a mistake.
2. A firm pillow or piece of foam makes a nice work area.
3. Coating the ends of your cord with clear nail polish can prevent fraying of cords such as hemp.
4. To add a simple toggle clasp, try adding a button on one end and an over-hand knot on the other end of your jewelry piece.
5. When working with extra long cords, use twist ties or rubber bands to wind up and secure the cords. Unroll them as needed. This helps to avoid tangling of cords.
6. Save left over cord scraps to practice new knots with.
7. When learning a new knot, use different colored cords.
9. If you can’t find T pins, use corsage pins for securing work.
10. Though regular yarn (used for knitting and crocheting) is okay to practice with, it will stretch. Therefore, it’s not recommend to use when creating a finished piece.
11. When creating your own designs, one way to determine cord length is to multiply the size of your finished piece by 8. So, if you want to make a 7 inch bracelet, you’ll need approximately 56 inches of cord.
12. When doing knots such as square and half knots, the center cords don’t need to be as long as the outer cords.
13. For a more dressy look, try using ribbon or rat-tail as cording.
14. Before starting a project that uses beads, double check that the cords (often 2 at a time) fit through the bead holes.
For more macrame information and some fun projects, take a look at the Fiber Articles/Projects area.
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