Like knitting, macrame is also a traditional craft. It is a very ancient textile-making skill. Macrame uses knotting technique rather than weaving or knitting to produce either a decoration or a fabric. This technique originated in the 13th century with Arab weavers of hand-loomed fabrics making decorative fringes on shawls, bath towels, and veils by tying knots of the excess thread or yarn along the edges of the finished garment.



This art of making knotted fabric spread to Europe through Spain. It got introduced into England in the late 17th century. Fancy trimmings for costumes were made using macrame. They were popular to Victorian fashionable society. The fashion waned in later years.

Sailors were away from home for days and sometimes months at a stretch. They would macrame to decorate articles while killing time. They used to cover anything from handles of knives to parts of the ship on which they sailed.

To make extra money decorative macrame objects made by the sailors could be sold or bartered at the ports-of-call. In this way this ancient Arabic craft spread to far and away places like China. The Chinese refined this craft by adding their twist to the art. Consequently, in many places it is known as "Chinese knotting." British and American sailors in the 19th century used to make hammocks, belts, and other things as well with macrame. It is commonly known that macrame was a popular pastime.

Macrame is gaining popularity again after having gone out of fashion in the mid-twentieth century. Furnishing things in macrame such as bedspreads, wall hangings, draperies, etc are quite popular. Small jean shorts, Plant hangers, and tablecloths in macrame are also very much in vogue.

Macrame jewelry often uses glass or wooden beads, pendants, articles of bones or shells, etc in combination with macrame knots. Occasionally gemstones or rings are used as decorative inserts, secured by wire-wrapping or held in net-like intertwined knots. Earrings and bracelets in macrame are quite fashionable. In fact almost anything in macrame is mod and fashionable. In Brazil swimming costumes made in macrame are hot.

Macrame instructions, macrame patterns and explanations on how to macrame are available on many sites on the internet. E-tutorials on "How to Macrame" are also available giving illustrated macrame instructions. Macrame patterns and macrame knots illustrated with photographs for ease of understanding can be found on any number of websites.

You can find vendors selling macrame articles like jewelry, decorations, etc In many malls, and other public places. In schools there is a enthusiastic following to macrame in the arts and crafts courses. Since macrame has become quite popular as a hobby many crafts stores offer macrame materials including beads, work boards, etc.

EBay touts being the world's largest internet market place. Popularity of macram can be gauged from the fact that even EBay is selling macram patterns, materials, and other supplies. It is only a matter of time now before chain stores like Target and Wal-Mart start stocking macram materials and supplies.