Stability is an issue when crocheting upright objects, but can you crochet with macrame cord to give your creations more structure? Definitely, yes! Macramé cord in smaller thicknesses is fairly easy to manipulate and control, making it a viable textile to use while you master the basic crochet techniques for more rigid structures. This is especially true of synthetic cords, which are often more uniformly smooth than other macrame cords, and not so tricky to move on and off the hook.
- How to crochet with macrame cord.
- Macrame crochet tips.
- Choosing your crochet macrame cord.
- Pros and cons of crocheting with macrame cord.
Recently I’ve been experimenting with various materials to crochet more rigid structures and defined shapes. Specialized rope for crochet creations isn’t easy to find. I’ve crocheted with twine before so I was confident I can crochet with macrame cord too. But I think time is a healer in more ways than one, and I’d forgotten what hard work harsher materials are to hook. Lighter weight macrame crochet cord* is leagues easier to work with than the heavier fibers. It’s more like crocheting string than hawser.
Based on my recent experiences, I’ll chat through the pros and cons of crocheting macrame and share the hard-earned tips and blister avoidance techniques I’ve picked up since I started to make my own macrame cord crochet designs!
How to Crochet with Macrame Cord
To crochet with macrame cord you’ll need a large hook. My preference for most household projects is to use 2mm soft cotton rope. At a fundamental level you’ll work the cord in the exact same way that you hook yarn, but there are some things you can do to make stitching this firmer fabric easier.
Tips For Crochet Macrame Cord Success
- Use a 0.5mm to 1mm larger crochet hook than you would with the equivalent sized yarn.
- For 2mm macrame cord use a 6mm crochet hook minimum.
- Keep the tension looser than usual.
- Take regular breaks and stretch out your finger muscles.
- Use strong scissors, your usual yarn cutter won’t cut it!
No Big Hooks? No Problem!
Most crocheters only have smaller sized crochet hooks, as that’s what is required in most patterns. So if you’ve only got a little bit of macrame cord to play with, it’s simply not worth buying a bigger hook for most people. A fun alternative is to use that cord as a basis for crocheting with yarn. So you’re literally crocheting around cord, instead of with it.
Which Macrame Cord is Best For Crocheting?
You can buy hemp, synthetic and cotton macrame crochet cord. Hemp is scratchy to work with, synthetic is smoother to the touch but I find cotton nicest to manipulate.
I’ve worked with two thicknesses of macrame cord in crocheting projects – 2mm and 3mm. Both sets were 100% cotton. I’ve decided that for me 3mm macrame cord is just too much hassle to crochet with, but 2mm macrame crochet cord is a different story.
The Advantages of Cord Yarn for Crochet
Crocheting with macrame cord is brilliant for any project that requires a rigid structure. Like plant holders, pencil holders or cases, coasters and other household objects that need more stability.
Once you get the hang of the tension needed then it’s reliably easy to hold onto macrame rope. And the stitches you create will be less variable than the usual stretchy nature of yarn.
The other big bonus is durability. Macrame cord is tough. The strength of the material means it’s hard to break or mis-shape it even once it’s worked up.
The Problems With Crocheting Macrame Cord
There are some problems with crocheting macrame cord that I find quite frustrating. The main one is that you can’t wiggle your way into the yarn like you can with regular materials. So if you drop the ball tension wise and make a stitch too tight you’ll need to undo it before you can move on, you won’t be able to force the hook through.
I also can’t close the magic circle as tightly as I’d like.
The harsh, stiff material creates friction on your fingers as it passes through them. Hook type matters more too, as you’ll really want a soft grip ergonomic in contrast to the roughness of the fibers.
I have found that the necessary hook size varies more than with yarn, especially between the different macrame types. And the macrame cord runs out quicker than looser lighter yarn of the same sized skein.
I also find it harder to hold the crocheted item you are making as it gets bigger. Soft yarn squishes into your hand and is easy to manipulate around as you stitch new rounds. When the item you are holding is firm, crocheting back around it is trickier.
Crochet Macrame Plant Pot Holder
Crochet isn’t my only obsession. I’m also crazy about exotic pets and house plants. The houseplant hobby is a fairly recent one, and as a result my ever growing collection of plants that started out in carefully chosen pots have rapidly evolved into living in whatever random containers I have around the house as I propagate them.
One of the cheaper solutions to keeping houseplants happy in their pots is to use plastic, but I’m not a big fan of the aesthetic. So I had the cunning idea to crochet macrame cord plant pots to hide them in. That’s what you’re seeing in the photos I’ve used to illustrate this guide!
To make your own macrame crochet pot holders simply make repeated increases from your magic circle. Pop the pot you want to disguise next to you, and every now and then sit it on the circle you are making. When the circle is the same size as the base of your pot, make the next round one of single stitches into the back loop only of the previous round.
Continue to the height of the pot by making a single crochet in each stitch, and watch your macrame pot grow!
*The products linked in this pattern were carefully selected by Lucy Kate Crochet. If you decide to purchase using the links provided, we may earn a small commission on that sale. This is at no extra cost to you.