the.com/macrame
Proof that tying knots became an art the moment someone refused to call it a net.
means Macramé is the craft of making textiles—plant hangers, wall hangings, belts—by hand-knotting cords into decorative patterns, with no needles or loom required.
from The word came to English in the 19th century from French 'macramé,' which borrowed it from Italian 'macramè'—and the trail runs back, most likely, to Arabic 'miqrama,' meaning a fringed or knotted veil or shawl. Some trace it further to a Turkish word for a napkin or towel with a knotted edge. Either way, the thread leads east: a technique carried by sailors and traders who, on long voyages, tied ornamental knots to pass the time and fringe their work.
- old word
- From Arabic 'miqramah,' meaning fringe or veil
- sailor craft
- Bored seamen knotted it on long voyages
- no needles
- Built entirely with fingers and tension
- 70s revival
- Plant hangers ruled every bohemian apartment
- core knots
- Mostly square and hitch knots, endlessly remixed
hippie wall hangings 1960s — counterculture craft movement that exploded in popularity during the 1960s-1970s bohemian era
plant hanger trend 2010s — resurgence of macramé specifically for hanging potted plants, peaked around 2015-2018 on instagram and etsy
owl wall art craze — macramé owl wall hangings became a ubiquitous home décor item in 1970s-1980s american households