Macrame

Macramé is the beautiful art of tying knots so that the end result is a series of ornamental patterns that create a final project. Once very popular in the 1970's, macramé is now making a huge comeback for people of all ages.

Many ask what is the origin of Macramé? "Macramé" is an Arabic word that means "fringe" and is derived from the early practice of knotting a fringe to a solid fabric in a continuation of knotted patterns.

Eventually entire pieces of knotted fabrics were created with a texture that was perfect for altar cloths, church vestments, and doilies.

The early history of Macramé is a bit vague. There is some documentation which indicates that Macramé was done in France and Italy in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. France has produced a large amount of Macramé, and historical data shows that it was considered to be an established art.

Macramé was then quite popular in the nineteenth century among British and North American sailors who spent their long hours aboard ships tying square knots and hitch knots. Sailors made fringes for wheel and bell covers, as well as netting and screens. Many of these knotted articles were then used for barter in India and China. There are many fine examples of sailor's Macramé to be found in the Seamen's Church Institute in the city of New York.

Macramé is thought to have been introduced to Great Britain in the late 1600's by Queen Mary, who herself learned the craft in Holland. During the 1780's Queen Charlotte, wife to George III, was busy knotting Macramé fringes for court adornments. Macramé continued to make itself known around the world and many cultures already had some form of knot tying in place that they used for their native art.

Through the early twentieth century many functional objects were the focus of Macramé, such as purses, belts, leashes, lanyards, light and shade pulls, and bell pulls. At the same time, in Portugal, Ecuador, and Mexico, local artists continued to produce shawls and purses as a native craft.

In North America, through the 1960's and 1970's, Macramé became a popular craft among the hippie generation and the children of the '70s. In the 1980's Macramé interest dwindled and was soon forgotten. Not so today, as Macramé is making a huge comeback among people of all ages.

One of the reasons that macramé is becoming so popular is because it's easy enough for anyone to learn. And as you learn and master macramé knots and techniques you can advance to more complicated and incredible projects.

Macramé is a great craft to pursue if you suffer from arthritis or other disabilities. This is because tying knots helps to increase your fine motor skills and bilateral dexterity. Your joints will remain loose and strong when you put them through the motions of tying Macramé knots. As well, Macramé is a great outlet for the stress of the day. After spending just a short time tying knots you'll start to feel relaxed and satisfied with the result of your handiwork.

Once you learn the basic knots and techniques of macramé you'll be ready to start your first project. The end result will be a beautiful piece of macramé that you can keep for yourself, give away as a gift, or sell to make a profit. With a little bit of time and patience your fingers will soon be working on project after project.

For more information on Macrame including some Free Macrame Patterns check out this link: http://www.macramelovers.com