Macramé crafting and knot work has been around for a very long time. Macramé is the art of tying knots in a cord to form a patterned piece of fabric, either for decorative or utilitarian purposes. It is said that it has Arabic origins in the 13th century, with the word “migramah,” referring to the knotted fringe on the fabrics of horses and camels used to help keep flies away in the deserts.
When the Moors from northern Africa invaded Spain in the 8th century, they brought their macramé skills with them, after which it spread throughout all of Europe. In the 15th through the 19th centuries, sailors would pass the time at sea creating their hammocks and belts out of rope with what they called square knots, but was essentially macramé.
It has experienced ebbs and flows of popularity throughout history, becoming popular again in the United States in the 1960s and 70s. It was popularly used to make plant hangers in the 1960s, and became associated with the hippie movement in the form of bracelets, necklaces, bags, and fringe. Recently it has been popular in the fashion world among fashion gurus and celebrities and with handbags and, once again, with bracelets and necklaces. Wooden or colorful beads are often incorporated into the knot work to allow for more individuality and decoration.
It is only natural that macramé’s popularity has begun to expand into various forms of the craft. From the original thick cording and rope used in macramé’s heyday for larger objects, today there are items and jewelry made with thinner and more varied types of material, which gives the name of the craft a slightly different moniker.
Indigenous peoples of North America and Africa, particularly the Navajo and the Kenyans, respectively, have become renowned for their style of macramé, known as Cavandoli macramé. Initially used for basket weaving and wall tapestries, it has been adapted to make intricate pieces of knotted jewelry.
Macramé has definitely earned its place in the world of crafting, and is popular enough that it will stay in the mainstream crafting arena for a long time. For example, today you can buy a set of macrame accessories and try this craft. If you love plants and flowers, they definitely look nicer to hang, and with the help of Macrame Plant Hanger Kits you can make your own, and you can even sell and make money while enjoying and relaxing doing this craft.