Macrame necklaces

by katrina wharton
(Denver, CO USA)

Always buy quality hemp to begin with. Use the right thickness for the right project. A simple design may work well with a very thick cord, but lacy designs will not look good with too big a cord.

You may want to run your hands along the cord before beginning to knot to check for excessive lumpy/knotty areas that will create problems later in the process. Some irregularities are part of the charm of course, but a big old lump never will tie off right.

If you are working with beads, do a trial run. Sometimes they look like a fit, but cords vary in thickness throughout their lengths so check the fattest part first.

For more involved designs, consider drawing a design on paper first. It's nice to have afterwards,too, to remind you of how you accomplished it. Hate to do something that worked well, sold, and then, darn it!, how did I do that again?

Avoid ceramic beads, that break easily and just don't hold up nearly as well as the macrame hemp cord itself. Stick with natural bone, shell or glass beads. Plastic is just too tacky, too.