Tied up in knots by giselle laming s3190652 Macramé is a form of textile-making using knotting rather than weaving or knitting. Its primary knots are the square knot and forms of “hitching”: full hitch and double half hitches. It hails from a time where It was long crafted by sailors, especially in elaborate or ornamental knotting forms, to decorate anything from knife handles to bottles to parts of ships. Macramé is thought to have originated with 13th-century Arab weavers. These artisans used the excess thread and yarn along the edges of hand-loomed fabrics into knotted decorative fringes on bath towels, shawls, and veils. The Spanish word macramé is derived from the Arabic migramah, which means “striped towel”, “ornamental fringe” or “embroidered veil.” This handcraft was taken to Spain, and then spread through Europe. It was introduced into England during the late 1700’s. Whilst at sea, the sailors crafted, more practical projects consisting of durable netting and strong shields or screens. These helped with myriad tasks at see such as catching fish and securing items during storms. Bored Sailors macramé
objects in down time, and sold or bartered them when they were on dry ground, thus spreading the art to places like China and the New World - this was the first space where Macramé truly began to spread like a disease. Macramé really took its first lunge at popularity in the Victorian era. Sylvia’s Book of Macramé Lace (1882), a favorite amongst stylish fashionistas of the time, showed readers how “to work rich trimmings for black and colored costumes, both for home wear, garden parties, seaside ramblings, and balls—fairylike adornments for household and underlinens ...” Most Victorian homes also began to be also adorned by this craft. As time passed the skill fell to neglect. It was revived in the 1960s and ‘70s, which made way for more delicate and intricate knitting with a multitude of materials. Along with peace, love, and tie die, though, the sixties brought macramé back into the crafting world. Whether it was because hemp (a natural fiber made from the cannabis plant) is an ideal material to macramé with or because the entire style of macramé knotting is an earthier trend, the hippies loved their macramé. Through range of outlets such as wall hangings, articles of clothing, bedspreads, small jean shorts, tablecloths, draperies, plant hangers and other furnishings. Macramé jewelry became popular amongst the American neo-hippie and grunge crowd, starting in the early 1970s. Using mainly square knots and granny knots, this jewelry often features handmade glass beads and natural elements such bone and shell. Necklaces, anklets and bracelets have become popular forms of macramé jewellery. This then spread across the different generations in American culture, as it was an easily accessible craft. This revitalization to the ancient skill waned in popularity during the ‘80s and ‘90s, but the beginning of the 21st century has seen the return of its popularity. The trend was popularized through the youth originally, and then took a main stage within the older generations in the time as the craft was accessible for self-homemaking parents and grandparents. The subcultures within the macramé trend unfolded depending on the use of material and knot, the square knots popularized