When I was first delving into the world of macrame, one of the most daunting tasks was sourcing string. There are so many options, sizes and colors to choose from, it can be very overwhelming to beginners! At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preference.

5 Things to Consider When Choosing Macrame Rope

The type of rope or cord you choose can greatly impact the final look of your project, so it is important to have an idea of what you want before you start making. I have created a basic guide on rope and what to look for when shopping for your next DIY project!

Grey and Mustard Lotus Macrame Wall Hanging by Thyme and Twine Again on Etsy.

1. Material. The fiber your cord is made of has a huge impact on your final product! The most common materials for macrame projects include natural fibers like cotton, hemp, silk and jute, animal-sourced fibers such as suede, leather and wool, and man-made fibers such as nylon, rayon and polypropylene.

My favorite material by far is 100% cotton, as it is suitable for most of my projects, is not hard on my fingers when I am knotting, and brushes out into a beautiful fringe.

2. Diameter. The diameter of the rope you use can determine the size and level of detail in your projects. The smaller the diameter, the more delicate the knots. It also takes longer to make larger projects with a smaller rope. With a thicker rope you are able to knot much faster, therefore fill up more space in a shorter amount of time.

A thinner rope, from 0.5mm to 2mm is great for smaller projects like keychains and jewelry. Small to medium wall hangings with lots of detail look great when made with a 3mm wide string. For detailed plant hangers, simple wall hangings of all sizes, and large wall hangings, I really like a 4mm to 5mm width. A 6mm to 8mm width is great for chunky plant hangers, and you can use even larger widths to add texture and statement details to your projects!

Try mixing and matching different widths to give your piece a unique and interesting look!

3. Composition. Most cord falls in one of three categories: Single strand, twisted, and braided.

Single strand cord is made of lots of thread tightened together, making it soft and flexible. This cord will loosen as you use it for a denser appearance. You can use this rope to give your wall hanging a luxurious tapestry look. It is often the easiest on the fingers and effortlessly combs out into a gorgeous fringe. It also unravels the easiest of the three compositions, so it may not be the best for a very structured piece. It is awesome for decorative plant hangers and most wall hangings!

Twisted cord has a more rope-like appearance and adds structure and amazing texture to a macrame piece. Because it doesn’t loosen over time, your piece will keep a more polished appearance. The twist is made up of 3 or more strands of rope, so it is a bit stronger than just one strand. You can also unravel it for a gorgeous, textured fringe! This is a great material for outdoor planters and more structured wall hangings. I love it for keychains, too!

Braided rope is made by braiding a case around a central cord, creating a stiffer cord with beautiful texture. It has the most structure and durability of the different ropes. This is a great rope for beginners as it doesn’t easily unravel, and it is perfect for decorative plant hangers and geometric projects with lots of straight lines.

4. Quantity. The larger your project is, the more rope you will need. A good rule of thumb is to determine the length of the project you are creating, then cut each strand about 6x as long as your project. Since the cord will be folded in half, this gives you plenty of room to work with so you don’t stress out about running out! Simpler projects require less rope, and more detailed projects require more. I will eventually make a more detailed guide on how much rope to cut!

5. Sustainability. I am a huge fan of sustainability. I am currently looking into becoming a rope supplier myself, and it is very important that I can provide an ethically sourced and environmentally friendly product. I want a product that is Oeko-Tex certified, organic or recycled, and from a company that treats the environment as well as its employees with respect.

What rope do I like to use?

I prefer 100% cotton, single strand string. I mostly use 3mm to 5mm widths. Here are some suppliers that I have used before, and think are awesome! This is not a paid advertisement, I have purchased and used all of these products myself.

Long Macrame Plant Hanger made by Thyme and Twine Again on Etsy.

Ganxxet is where I get most of my materials from. I like that they are located in Miami, FL, because there are less resources used to ship it to me. They offer cotton single strand, twisted and braided cord in a variety of colors and diameters.

Knotty Katty is the first person I ever purchased cotton rope from! She offers single twist cotton string in 3mm and 5mm widths and a variety of gorgeous colors! I like that she is on Etsy, because when I was first beginning it made me feel better to purchase from a website that I trusted.

Niroma Studio is where I currently get my 100% raw cotton string. She offers it at a great price in bulk for larger projects! She offers so many beautiful colors of string, rope and other materials in many different diameters!

Crafteza Macrame Cord on Amazon is great for a beginner. It is super soft, comes in a few different colors, and you can buy a smaller, less overwhelming quantity. I also like it because it’s on Amazon with free Prime Shipping!

Bonnie Craft Cord is an honorable mention. While I don’t use it in my projects, this is the cord I learned to knot with. It comes in a bunch of colors, the braided texture of the rope doesn’t unravel easily, and if you run out of room, you can use a lighter to melt the ends of two strands together to add length because it’s made of polypropylene. It is also super accessible because it’s available at a few different retailers, such as Hobby Lobby, Joann, Walmart and Amazon.

If you liked this post or have any feedback for me, let me know in the comments!