If you are new to macrame, you are probably confused about what type of macrame cord you need. There are so many different brands and sizes, it can be baffling. But once you know the basics of macrame cord, you will see how easy it is to choose the macrame cord for your next project.
Our Top 3 Picks for Best Macrame Cords of 2024
Best Overall
Hand Painted 3mm Recycled Cotton Macrame String
The 4 mm macrame string is made from recycled cotton. There are 14 colors to choose from, and you can purchase mini rolls for small projects.
Premium Choice
Recycled Cotton Macrame Cord 4mm 50 ft
The hand painted 4 mm macrame cord by Unfettered Co is absolutely beautiful. And each skein is unique due to the painting process.
Great Value
Cotton Bakers Twine 656 Feet Cotton String for Crafts
This cord comes in 3 mm, 4 mm, and 5 mm sizes. The bundle weighs 500 g which is approximately 459 feet long. It is extremely affordable and perfect for countless projects.
Types of Items You Can Make with Macrame Cord
Macrame is a very versatile type of crafting form. You can create countless items, including:
- Plant Hangers
- Wall Hangings
- Hammocks
- Swinging Chairs
- Keychains
- Jewelry
- Ornaments
- Garland
- Bags
- Curtains
- Coasters
- …and More
Different Types of Macrame Thread
Macrame projects use a few different types of macrame cord. The different types of cords will give each project a different look and feel. The project itself will determine which macrame cord you should be using.
The different types of macrame thread are:
- Macrame String
Macrame string is a bundle of fibres twisted together. It is often soft and easily pliable. It creates a lower profile knot than macrame rope. Since it is so soft, you can create a fine fringe.
- Macrame Rope
Macrame rope is made using several bundles of strings. It can be either twisted or braided. Rope is thicker than string and has a firmer texture. The knots will have a larger profile than those created with macrame string.
- Macrame Yarn & Macrame Cord
The terms macrame cord and macrame yarn and both used for describing macrame string and macrame rope.
What Size Macrame Cord Should You Use?
The size of the macrame cord you need will depend on the type of project you are making. If you are working on a design that has intricate detail, you will want a cord that measures around 1-2 mm in size.
Large projects such as wall hangings, hammocks and plant hangers will use a larger cord size around 3-5 mm in size. For even larger macrame projects, you may want to use a cord that is 6 mm or larger.
What to Look for When Choosing Macrame Cord
- Fibre
Determine what fibre you want your macrame cord made from. There are 2 main types. These are natural and synthetic.
Natural fibres are environmentally friendly. They can be made from cotton, hemp, flax, jute, and wool.
Synthetic fibres are man-made from synthesized polymers. They are often petroleum based. Synthetic fibres are often made from polyester, nylon, and spandex.
- Size
Check your pattern and see what size you need. If you are creating your own pattern, take into consideration the amount of detail you want and if you are going to be adding beads or other accessories.
- Strength
Make sure the cord you are choosing is strong enough for your project. For example, if you are making a hammock you will want a cord that will not break while you are relaxing.
On the other hand, if you are making a bracelet, the cord can be thin.
- Colour
Macrame cord is available in a huge variety of colours. It is always nice to have natural colours on hand. But it is fun to play around with colours too. Decide what projects you are wanting to make and match the color to the decor.
- Consistency
If you are making a wall hanging or plant hanger, the macrame cord can be rough. If you are making jewelry, you will want to use a cord that will not irritate the skin.
- Length
When you are ordering, consider the amount of cord you need. There is nothing worse than starting a project and running out of material.
Our Top 10 Best Macrame Cord Products
1. Cyrico Natural Cotton Macrame Cord 3mm x 260 Yards
The Cyrico natural cotton macrame cord comes in a length of 260 yards. It is made from 100% natural cotton and is soft and durable.
The rope features a three-strand twisted cord which allows for flexibility while being strong. The cord is 3 mm, which makes it a good size to use for projects that use beads.
Features:
- 100% Natural cotton and eco-friendly
- Unbleached cotton
- Biodegradable
- Odour-free
- Free of chemical dyes
- Softer and strong
- 260 Yards
- 3 Twisted strands
- Available in natural, black, blue, yellow and grey
2. Recycled Cotton Macrame Cord 4mm 50 ft
This cotton macrame string is made of recycled cotton. It is a great cord for macrame, knitting, or weaving. The cord is sold in mini spools, which is great for customised small projects.
Features:
- Made of recycled cotton
- 50 feet (mini rolls)
- Available in mustard, pure white, black, natural, dusty rose, dusty mint, soft blush, dusty jade, light grey, avocado, terracotta, brick red, maroon, teal blue, sky blue, ice blue, Heather grey, slate blue, camel, olive, blue sage, plum, blush pink, taupe, taupe grey, dusty lavender, forest green, coral, cocoa, and powder blue.
3. MB Cordas Natural Single Strand Cotton Macrame Rope for DIY Projects
The single strand 100% natural cotton macrame rope is soft and easy to work with. It is not dyed or bleached, and no chemicals have been used in the manufacturing process. You can get this cord in 3 mm, 4 mm, or 5 mm sizes.
Features:
- 100% Natural cotton rope
- Approximately 459 feet long
- Not dyed
- Not bleached
- Free of chemical dyes
- Single twist
- Soft
4. Hemptique Hemp Cord 4 Color Cards
The Crafter’s Choice 1 mm Hemtique Hemp Cord is ideal for all types of small projects. You can use it for crafting projects, home decor, gift wrapping and gardening.
The Hemptique hemp cord stays sturdy for macrame knots and works for stitching, binding, piping and more. The 100% natural hemp fibres will always remain fresh. The cord is biodegradable and eco-friendly.
Features:
- 100% Natural hemp fibres
- 4 Different colours (9.1 meters each)
- Biodegradable
- Eco-friendly
- Free of chemical dyes
- Vegan Approved
- AZO-dree dye
- Oil free
- Polished
5. Hand Painted 3mm Recycled Cotton Macrame String
Each skein of this 100% unfettered recycled cotton yarn is unique. The hand painting process ensures every skein is one of a kind.
Skeins measure 150 feet of continuous rope and are classed as bulky yarn. You can get them in prairie fire, apple blossom, grassland, tundra, early morning, adore, January dusk, Xoxo, and evening sky.
Features:
- Hand Painted
- 100% Unfettered 3 mm recycled cotton
- 150 Feet
- Vegan
- Free of chemical dyes
- Vegan approved
- Bulky yarn
- Oil Free
- Polished
- Available in prairie fire, apple blossom, grassland, tundra, early morning, adore, January dusk, Xoxo, and evening sky
6. Bobbiny 100 m Macrame Yarn
Bobbiny Premium cotton cords are soft, flexible and very durable. They are made from 100% recycled cotton with a cotton core. The cord is very versatile and can be used for both macrame and crochet.
Skeins measure 108 feet long. You have 37 different colours to choose from.
Features:
- 100% Recycled cotton
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100
- Soft
- Flexible
- Durable
- Available in 37 different colours
7. Cotton Bakers Twine 656 Feet Cotton String for Crafts
The cotton bakes twine from G2Plus is made of 100% pure natural cotton. It is sturdy and soft.
This cotton twine is 2 mm in diameter and 218 yards in length. It is woven with 12 strands of fine cotton string making it thick and durable.
It is perfect for macrame crafts, such as wall hangings, plant hangers, dream catchers, wedding decorations, and Christmas decor. It is also a great choice for gift wrapping and ornaments.
Features:
- 100% pure natural cotton
- Sturdy and soft.
- 218 Yards
- Woven of 12 strands of fine cotton string
- Free of chemical dyes
- Vegan approved
- Bulky yarn
- Oil free
- Polished
- Available in beige, grey, light green, light purple, pink, rose, and red wine
8. XKDOUS Macrame Cord for Wall Hanging, Plant Hangers, Crafts, Knitting, Decorative Projects
The XKDOUS cord is made from 100% natural cotton. There are no scraps or recycled fabric. Just 100% virgin cotton.
It has a soft and smooth texture. The cord is easy to use and extremely durable. You can easily comb it out to create fringe.
Features:
- 100% Natural cotton
- Biodegradable
- Environmentally friendly
- Odour-free
- Soft and strong
- Easy to work with
- Easily combs out
- Available in deep purple, black, blue, coffee, grey, light green, light pink, mustard, olive green, pink, royal blue, white, dark coffee, dark grey, deep green, fruit green, natural, wine red, and beige
9. Natural Cotton Macrame Puzzle Cord 7 Colors Yards Organic Macrame Rope
This natural cotton macrame rope makes it easy to create ombre effects. You no longer have to dye your own yarn to get the perfect colours.
The cord is 2 mm in size and 219 yards long. It is soft and durable. Since it is made from 100% cotton it is biodegradable. No harmful dyes or chemicals were used to make the macrame rope.
Features:
- 100% Natural Cotton
- 219 Yards
- Soft
- Durable
- Easy to work with
- Biodegradable
- Odour-free
- No harmful dyes or chemicals
- Available in autumn, black sea, canary, candy, flamingo, mandarin, mustard, ocean, orange, pinky, redhead, sky, smoky, summer, and yellowish
10. FLIPPED 100% Natural Cotton Macrame Cord for DIY Crafts
The Flipped cord comes in 36 different colours and sizes 2 mm, 3 mm and 4 mm. It is a high quality cord made from 100% natural cotton material. It is very soft and durable. The cord is biodegradable and odour-free.
Features:
- 100% Natural cotton
- 220 Yards
- 4 Twisted strands
- Thick and strong
- Odour-free
- Available in 36 different colours.
Now you can choose the best macrame cord to use for your next project!
Macrame is a fun hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. If you are new to the craft, we suggest that you experiment with all kinds and sizes of macrame cord.
This way, you will get a feel for exactly what you like and how easy each type is to work with.
So, what is the best macrame cord? That will all depend on what you are making. The ideal macrame cord will vary depending on the type of project you are working on.