- Macramé fibers are usually measured in millimeters. Thick fibers, such as 6 mm yarn, are used for making plant hangers or wall hangings. Bracelets are easier to make using thinner fibers, such as cotton, hemp or jute twine, embroidery floss or standard-thickness knitting and crochet yarns. According to fiber artist Sara Glenn, "macramé" is Arabic for "fringe." The conquering Moors brought macramé to Spain in the 8th century, and it spread through Europe thereafter, Glenn says.
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Christine Gierer, editor of How-to-Make-Jewelry.com, prefers lark's head knots for "attaching your cords to a clasp, jump ring, or other finding at the beginning of a knotted jewelry project." Thread is folded over on itself to form a loop in your hand, with loose ends hanging. The loop end is pulled through the ring or over the rod, and the loose strands are threaded through the loop and pulled tight.
If you begin your bracelet on a large-diameter rod, using a lark's head knot, you can knot the other end of your bracelet, remove the rod from the lark's head knot, and pull the other knot through the open loop. This is the easiest and cheapest way to finish a macramé bracelet, since you will not need any jump rings or closures. - Square and spiral knots are used between beads and after lark's head knots, to make long runs for belts, bracelets and necklaces. Square knots use four strands. When you have just begun learning macramé, it is easiest to use two light-colored strands and two dark strands. The light-colored strands are usually on the inside and the dark strands on the outside, laid flat and close against each other. The left-most strand is crossed over the other three strands in an "L" shape. The right-most strand runs under the middle two strands and through the space between the left-most strand and the bend of the "L." The right strand is pulled tight through the bend and becomes the new left-most strand. Repeat in reverse, using the right strand first, and alternate, left, right, left to make a long, flat run. If you keep using the right strand only or the left strand only, you will make a spiral.
- Beads make your bracelet more valuable and more visually appealing, especially if you use crystal or semi-precious stones. The best way to add beads to your bracelet is to pull the two center strands through the hole in the bead, making at least one square or spiral knot before and after it.
- Because you are tying knots with the thread strands, you usually need four times the length of the item you want to create. To get the most comfortable fit, add one inch to your wrist circumference and cut cords four times that length.
