This section gives us the opportunity to introduce you to the most important material of all for any macramé artist, the cords for tying the knots, as well as a few basic tools that you will need. The exact materials used for each design are listed at the beginning of each project chapter.
We have used a number of different cords for the projects in this book, some of which are pictured here, but the one we use most often is 5mm (1⁄4in) rope as we find it is the perfect thickness for most projects (use too thin rope and it can become tedious and time consuming to finish projects, and thicker rope is best reserved for large scale projects only). We recommend the use of cotton rope as it is soft on the hands when knotting. Cotton rope has a much more sophisticated look than polypropylene or polyester rope, which can look tacky, and its texture is better suited to beautiful interiors.
The size and exact amounts of cord required for each project are listed at the beginning of each project. Cords may be substituted to suit your personal preference although choosing a different cord thickness will affect the quantities you require, so for the best results we suggest you limit substitutions to cord texture and colour only and we recommend that you use the same cord thickness. Cord is available through www.edeneve.com.au or from all good rope suppliers and haberdashery stores.
You may find it useful to invest in a project board for laying down your cords when working the smaller projects in the book (see Mounting Techniques). Project boards are often printed with a grid and useful basic knot-tying information, and cords are attached to the board using T-pins.
In addition to the tools listed in the requirements for each project, you will also need:
Note: When buying and cutting rope and cord lengths, use either the metric or the imperial measurements given – do not switch between the two.