Best Macrame Cord & Supplies // Beginners Guide

Are you looking for good quality macrame supplies? They can be tricky to find! To help you out, I put together this ultimate macrame supply guide with everything you need.

All you really need to do macrame is some cord, right? Well, yes… but which kind of cord? Or is it rope? String?

There are several different kinds of macrame cord, rope, and string, plus accessories like dowels, metal rings, beads, and more.

If you’re just starting out, the most important macrame supplies you’ll need is some macrame rope and a place to hang it (for larger projects) or a board to pin it down (for micro-macrame, like jewelry).

Want to remember this? Post this list of the best Macrame Supplies to your favorite DIY Pinterest board!

Once you get started, you’ll quickly realize how awesome and fun macrame is, and most likely want to try new techniques and need a few more supplies and accessories.

Speaking of getting started, be sure to check out this Basic Macrame Knots post and grab your copy of my free printable guide to the 5 Basic Macrame Knots!

Be sure to pin and bookmark this list so you can find it easily!

(This post may contain affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read the disclaimer here. Thank you for your support!)

Macrame Cord, Rope and String: What’s the Difference?

The most important supply you’ll need for macrame is some sort of cord, rope, or string!

Let me take a moment to explain the difference between cord, rope, and string.

• Macrame cord: This is tightly braided six-strand (or sometimes more) cord. Sturdy, but not good if you want to brush out the ends for fringe.
• Macrame rope: Two, three, or sometimes four strand twisted rope. It’s usually harder than macrame cord or string. You can unwind the ends and brush it out for a pretty, wavy fringe.
• Macrame string: Single strand twisted string. This is lots of individual threads of (usually) cotton, bundled together and twisted so it holds together. Very soft to work with and brushes out to make a beautiful fringe. Can be tricky for beginners because it likes to untwist on you which can make your work look messy if you don’t twist it back up as you go.

All of these come in different thicknesses which is measured in mm (millimeters). The higher the number, the thicker the cord.

Where to Get Cotton Macrame Cord, Rope & String

Cotton string, rope and cord are the most commonly used materials for making macrame wall hangings, plant hanger, and other knotty projects.

Wondering where to buy cotton macrame cord, rope, string, and all the other macrame supplies?

Here are my two favorite places to stock up on macrame supplies in the US, and I’ve got links to shops in other countries as well down below:

US Based Macrame Supply Shops

• Niroma Studio – this is one of my favorite places to stock up on cotton macrame rope and string, especially when there’s a sale! She has a bulk buy option where you can get 3 big spools of certain natural rope and string and save a little extra, which is really nice.
  
• Ganxxet – this shop sells one of the softest 4mm cotton strings, plus lots of other types of macrame rope and cord.
  >>You can get 10% off your purchase at Ganxxet with the coupon code MARCHNORTH at checkout!.

There are lots of other great shops in the US as well, here’s a list of some that come to mind:

• Rock Mountain Co.
• Soulful Notions Shop
• Right Rope
• Modern Macrame
• HolmMade Macrame
• Careless Threads

Here are some shops in other countries that I’ve seen recommended by other macrame artists.

Canada

• Unfettered Threads
• Lots of Knots Canada
• Knotty by Nature

Australia

• Mary Maker Studio
• Knotting Hillbilly
• Home Vibes

UK

• Arty Bee
• Tommy Bobbins Studio
• The Thread Shop UK

New Zealand

• Boho Romance Boutique (Instagram Page)

Italy

• Macrame Spaghetti

Portugal

• Welcome Yarn
• Tek-Tek

Finland

• Lankava

Netherlands

• Mango and More

Sweden

• Createaholic

Greece

• The Ropes Store

China

• Sheweave Craft

Related: DIY Macrame Market Bag // Tutorial + Video!

Other Macrame Materials

There are many other types of rope and cord you can use for your macrame projects. Here are some popular choices and where you can pick some up!

Jute Macrame Rope

Jute is a strong, natural fiber that’s been around forever. It’s great for making rugs, plant hangers, coasters, and more.

• This braided jute rope is strong and sturdy.

Hemp Macrame Cord

Hemp rope and twine is another strong, natural fiber that works great for macrame.

• This hemp twine is great for making chunky macrame bracelets and jewelry.

Raffia

Add amazing texture and style to your macraweave projects, baskets, and more with raffia!

• Here’s eco-friendly raffia some that’s perfect for macrame projects.

Synthetic Rope and Cord

If you want to make an outdoor macrame project, like a plant hanger that’ll be on your porch, or an outdoor hammock, synthetic rope is your best bet.

It’ll stand up to the elements and you won’t have to worry about what will happen if your macrame gets wet.

• This “unManila” rope has the look of natural rope, but the strength of polypropylene.
• If you love bright colors, this neon 550 paracord is perfect for bracelets, home decor and anything that needs a strong synthetic cord.
• This reflective paracord is ideal for making macrame dog leashes and collars.

Metal Shapes and Frames

You can use metal shapes in your macrame projects to create wreaths, mandalas, and other wall hangings.

Small metal rings are great for making plant hanger loops and other hanging macrame designs.

If you’re going to be hanging anything heavy, be sure the ring you choose is welded closed so it’s strong enough to hold the weight.

There are lots of different metal shapes with sizes and colors to suit your needs. Here are some of my favorites:

• 2″ welded rings
• Circles
• Hexagon
• Square
• Half Circle
• Diamond
• Heart
• Crescent Moon
• Moon Phase
• Pentagram Moon Phase
• Teardrop
• Eye

Wooden Rings

You’ll often see wooden rings used for the top of plant hangers.

Be careful with what kind of wooden rings you use, some of them are cheap and snap right in half! (Ask me how I know…)

If you’ll be using one for the top of a plant hanger, be sure to get a sturdy one. These wooden rings have worked really well for me and I haven’t had one break yet.

These wooden rings from Niroma Studio should be pretty sturdy, they sell good quality supplies!

That being said, the cheaper ones are great as a base for macrame Christmas ornaments, small mandalas, and other decorative macrame purposes.

• Here are some other very affordable wooden craft rings

Beads

Adding beads to your macrame designs really adds a new level of creativity and texture.

There are so many different kinds of beads to choose from! The only limitation is making sure they’re large enough to string onto your cord.

• These chunky handmade ceramic beads are so unique and vibrant! Truly one of a kind.
• Here are some really pretty copper tube beads.
• For a natural look, these unpainted wood beads are a great choice and they come in multiple sizes.

Dowels, Driftwood, and More for Macrame Wall Hangings

Most macrame wall hangings start with a dowel or branch of some sort as the base. Here are some options for your wall hangings and where you can find them.

Driftwood

So, you want to make a macrame wall hanging and you’ve been drooling over the gorgeous ones on Pinterest using driftwood as a base. But you live in the middle of the country! Bummer, right?

Luckily, there are people who do live near the coast that go out and collect beautiful pieces of driftwood and sell them in their online shops!

Yes, my husband laughed at me when I told him I ordered a stick online, but it was totally worth it.

• Here’s a shop where you can buy extra-long driftwood branches.

Wooden Dowels

Wooden dowels are a great choice for macrame wall hangings or wall plant hangers.

They come in different diameters and lengths and they’re affordable. You can stain them or paint them if you like, or just leave them natural.

Check out these high quality wooden dowels that are perfect for your next macrame project.

• Here are some basic 48″ wooden dowels from Amazon.
• This 10-pack of 12″ wooden dowels is popular.

Copper Dowels

Another option for macrame wall hangings is a copper dowel. These are lengths of hollow copper pipe and they come in different lengths and diameters just like wooden dowels.

Using a copper dowel is a great way to upgrade the look and change the style of your macrame decor.

• Here’s a shorter copper dowel option, it comes in 6″ and 12″ sizes.

Macrame Boards, Cork Boards and Pins

When you’re making small macrame projects like flowers, leaves, and jewelry, a macrame board or a corkboard and some push pins are super helpful.

• This self-healing macrame board has a grid pattern to help keep your macrame knots nice and even.
• A nice thick piece of cork works great to hold your macrame project while you work and it’s multi-functional.
• Don’t forget to grab some T-pins to hold the cord to the macrame board or cork.

Hanging Racks

For larger macrame projects, it’s a lot easier to work on them if you have a rack of some sort to hang it on.

Garment racks are commonly used for this (that’s what I have), and they’re a great choice because they’re usually lightweight and easy to find.

• This heavy-duty collapsible garment rack is a popular choice.
• Here’s a garment rack that has a shelf on the base and looks a little less utilitarian.
• This bamboo rack actually looks like a nice piece of furniture as well as a functional macrame rack.

Related: How to Set Up Your Perfect Macrame Workstation!

Macrame Rope Storage

Once you start doing macrame, you discover a major issue. Storage.

Just like every other fiber art, you end up with string and rope taking over your whole house! Between rope and yarn, it can get out of hand very quickly.

This handmade vertical macrame rope stand is a perfect solution! Not only does it safely store your rope and string, it’s also a work of art in itself. Love.

Brush for Fringe

The best brush I’ve used for brushing out macrame fringe is a pet brush with wire bristles.

• This pet brush has a self cleaning mechanism to easily get fibers out of the bristles.

Hand-Held Steamer

A hand-held steamer is so helpful when you’re brushing out fringe and you want it to lay nice and smooth.

• Here’s the steamer I have, it’s small and does a great job!
• Not only is this steamer great for flattening out your macrame fringe, but you can use it to sanitize your home! Gotta love multi-use tools.

Sharp Scissors

I know you’re probably thinking come on, I already have scissors. THESE SCISSORS are not your everyday Fiskars.

These are professional scissors. They’re crazy sharp and cut through rope, cord, fabric, you name it like butter.

Once you go to cut the fringe on a big macrame wall hanging with dull scissors, you’ll see why sharp scissors are so important. (It took me a while to catch on to this fact, but it makes a world of difference!)

PS- don’t let your kids use these, and be sure everyone else in the house knows there will be hell to pay if you see them cutting paper with them!

Related: The Best Scissors for Macrame, Yarn, Sewing, and Other Fiber Arts!

In Summary

I hope this list of macrame supplies (and where to find them) helps you out.

There are so many options available out there, it can be overwhelming to know what all you need and what is good quality.

What are your favorite shops to stock up on macrame supplies? Let us know down below!

Related Posts

• DIY Macrame Terrarium Plant Hanger // Tutorial + Video
• Crazy Easy Macrame Plant Hanger with Fringe // Tutorial + Video
• DIY Macrame Market Bag // Tutorial + Video

Where to Get GOOD Macrame Supplies and Materials