Macrame bracelets are gaining popularity again, thanks to school children and teenagers who give it away as friendship bands. Aside from being affordable, these trinkets are trendy as well. And the best thing about them is that you can make tons over one lazy afternoon.

The Art that is Macrame

Macrame is a craft making technique utilizing different knots to form something. The technique was chiefly applied to textile-making then, but has since been adapted to create assorted crafts, with bracelets as one of them.

Commonly Used Materials

Bracelets can be fashioned using different types of twine materials.

1. The most popular is of course cotton yarns. Folks love these materials as practically every store carry them, plus they come in a wide range of colors, and are hypoallergenic too.

2. The next most commonly utilized material is perhaps the natural hemp and jute twines. Bracelets made from these are biodegradable, although the course texture of the materials can be a bother for some wearers.

3. Strings made from synthetic materials such as nylon and polypropylene are a popular choice as well. Like cotton yarns, these strings are widely available in the market and in a wide variety of hues and thickness too.

4. And last but not the least is leather. Because leather cannot be cut to become really thin and fine twines, the relatively thick width gives a whole new twist to the finished macrame trinkets.

 

Techniques

You can create bracelets using different types of knots.

1. A figure-eight knot is typically used to start Macrame as the knot’s ended loop style seals the bracelet off effectively.

2. The square or reef knot is what typically follows. Holding the two cords in each of your hands, you then create an overhand knot by putting the right cord over the left, and then sealing it off. You follow it up by placing the left cord over the right, after which you seal by tying the ends up.

3. Half hitches are heavily utilized too. The two working ends of the cords are brought over the main line of the bracelet and sealed by tying the ends up. Afterwards, another hitch, but this time, the working ends are brought under the main line, before they are tied up.

The great thing about this craft making technique is the flexibility it affords the creator. Not only can you come up with colorful macrame bracelets, but you can integrate beads and buttons to make unique pieces as well.