Macrame is a Fascinating Ancient Craft

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Macrame is a Fascinating Ancient Craft

by: DianeKelly | Total views: 8 | Word Count: 492 | View PDF | Print View
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Macrame is a traditional craft that is comparable to knitting. It is a textile-making craft which uses knotting techniques rather than weaving or knitting. It is a very ancient craft. macrame is believed to have originated with weavers from long ago Arabia who made hand-loomed fabrics in the 13th century. These weavers knotted the excess threads or yarn along left hanging along the edges of the fabric into decorative fringes on shawls, bath towels, and veils.

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.

The decorated objects were later sold or bartered when the sailors were in port. In this way macram spread from continent to continent all the way to China. The Chinese weavers continued to develop the craft and in some circles macram is known as "Chinese knotting." Macram was also a popular pastime with British and American sailors in the 19th century.

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.

Now that macram gaining in popularity, there are many sites on the internet specifically devoted to giving instructions and explaining step by step how to macram. There are a bunch of e-tutorials on "How to Macram" available giving illustrated macram instructions. There are even a lot of websites where you can find information on macram patterns and macram knots illustrated with photographs for easy understanding.

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.

It is obvious that due to popularity of macrame, the world's largest internet market place, EBay, has also started selling macrame patterns, materials, and other supplies. Large department stores like Target and Wal-mart also will start stocking macrame materials in the course of time.
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