The ancient art of braiding has become a popular hobby. Where does it come from, what is it used for and what is the phenomenon of macramé?
Macramé is an art of tying strings and braiding patterns and shapes without using needles, wires or crochet. Only hands are used for work. The word itself derives from Arabic and means a tied ornament. The macramé weaving technique came to Europe from ancient Assyria and Babylon. In medieval times macramé was used mainly to create royal robes. According to historians, macramé gained renewed popularity in the late 1970s.
Today, macramé has become a common pastime and a popular hobby. Bloggers who make macramé and teach classes for beginners have several thousand followers on their social media profiles and hundreds of people attend their workshops. Currently, most of the classes are held virtually and free of charge. Every week you can learn how to braid a new pattern such as a flowerbed, a handbag or a decorative pillow.
In the Middle Ages, macramé braiding techniques were used to make chair and bedspreads, napkins, lambrequins or wall decorations. Nowadays, the possibilities have greatly increased and almost anything can be made from macramé. The classic macramé product is a wall decoration. This type of decoration is very popular during weddings, where it serves as a decoration of the table of the bride and groom or the wall behind their seats. Fashion products and accessories are also very popular, especially braided dresses, handbags or sweaters.
Macramé is also an ideal decorative material used in designing rooms in boho or ecological style. Furniture such as chairs, hammocks, tents or swings for children, shelves for newspapers, curtains, lampshades, flowerbeds or mirrors are just some of the ideas for using macramé in creating a design of an apartment. Women interested in this ancient technique of braiding can also create original jewelry, including unique, atmospheric earrings in different patterns and colors.
Wall macramé as we know it is very popular among interior decorations. However, you may want to think about macramé, but this…
Published by macramé crafts Thursday, December 24, 2020
To braid basic macramé you only need to know 2-3 strands. Macramé is created by the proper way of tying, twisting and winding threads or strings which are prepared beforehand using a specific weave. Proper technique allows to make a durable product that will not fall apart when used. With a variety of weaves and braiding techniques you can create a variety of patterns and combinations.
The art of macramé is not only a skill of precise execution of the strands, but also creativity and inventiveness of the braider. According to experts leading macramé workshops the basis is systematic work, because just the same weaves and bindings can be mastered very quickly. With time comes precision, and this in creating macramé is extremely important. The more precise the shifting of threads, the more even the winding and tying of loops, the more effective the final product will be.
Macramé braiding is an art which can be mastered by everyone. It does not require any manual skills. All you need is commitment, regularity and patience. In addition, this hobby is one of the cheapest. Special strings for making macramé cost from a few to several zlotys, depending on the required thickness of the thread. Brackets, rods and all kinds of aids to maintain the braided macramé can be found at hand. One such aid may be a clothes hanger.
There are also ongoing free workshops where you can easily learn basic braiding and techniques. Due to pandemonium, all classes are held online, so there is no need to add any travel costs. The only requirement is free time, which you can freely devote to learning.
Featured photo: Pixabay
