Find the perfect spot to hang your ropes from

Before you begin your macrame project, you’ll need somewhere to hang your ropes. This will allow you to pull on the ropes and increase the tension on your design. “When I first started macrame I used the curtain pole from my window and stood on my bed to do it,” says Emily. “You can be quite creative about it.”

Emily suggests using a clothes rail if you’re going to be making macrame regularly. “It makes a huge difference to have something sturdy to hang from,” she says.

Pick the right rope

Cotton rope is the best type for beginners and it comes in different thicknesses for different projects. For example, a plant hanger will usually use 3mm rope, while macrame artwork might use a really thick 10mm rope.

You can buy cotton rope from most independent craft shops. “I like to look out for recycled rope,” says Emily.

If you don’t have professional equipment, adapt

Macrame only requires a few basic tools, many of which you can improvise from things you already have at home. Emily suggests using a pet comb to run through the rope as you make your piece. “Combing out the fringing of your design spreads out the fibres and prevents tangles and knots,” says Emily. “A soft-bristled pet brush works really well.”

Most macrame pieces will need a wooden dowel (a long, cylindrical piece of wood) that you can tie your rope to. You can buy these from craft and DIY shops, or even use a stick. “There are lots of free materials out there,” says Emily. “I’ve been on runs before and seen a really cool long stick, which I’ve stopped to take home and sand down.”

Learn the basic knots and go from there

As soon as you’ve learned the essential macrame knots you’ll be able to make a whole range of designs. “Once you know the basic knots you can adapt them in different ways,” says Emily. “You only need to learn a couple of different ones and then depending on the way you repeat them you can make different interesting patterns out of them.”

Get creative

Once you’ve mastered the basics you can get creative by adding different materials and textures to your designs. “I like to weave in sari silk and experiment with different materials like metallic rope and beads,” says Emily.

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