Asymmetrical Macrame Bracelet

DID YOU KNOW?

For jewelry making, macrame is a popular knotting technique used especially for bracelet making, particularly friendship bracelets. There are conflicting views on the origin of macrame. Some believe it comes from a 13th century Arabic weavers’ word “migramah”; this word refers to decorative fringes on camels and horses used to keep the flies off the animals in the desert regions of northern Africa. Another theory is that macrame comes from a Turkish word "makrama", which refers to a way to secure the ends of pieces of weaving by using the excess thread and yarn along the top and bottom edges of loomed fabrics. Either way, the earliest recorded use of macrame-style knots as a decoration is attributed way back to the Babylonians and Assyrians.

The use of macrame spread west after the Moorish conquest. By the time of the Victorian era, macrame was incredibly popular; it used to make household items such as tablecloths, bedspreads, and curtains. For a brief period, macrame fell out of fashion, but it saw a resurgence in the 1970s. This is when macrame jewelry really gained popularity. Necklaces, anklets, and particularly macrame bracelets have become jewelry making favorites. Follow the tutorial above to learn how to make a macrame bracelet at home, and discover why this knotting techniques has been so beloved for centuries.