Love of Macrame

Christmas-time growing up always meant going to North Carolina. My aunts would take me to craft stores to find fun ways to spend our time off in the holiday season. They were all so crafty, from cross-stitching to embroidering lamp shades.

One busy shopping day spent at the mall landed us at a store that sold macrame friendship bracelet kits. It was dazzling and came with all kinds of beads. As soon as I could, I opened the box, looked at the pictures, and stumbled my way through my first bracelet.

I remember going into the summer later that year when a new bracelet style was popular. It twisted around, had many colors, and they were very trendy at church camp. 

Not knowing there were many more ways to use what I learned in making those bracelets, I stopped knotting for a while. It wasn’t until I became a mother and plant-lover that I felt like I needed to get my plants into plant hangers. That way my adorable walking toddler would stop accidentally breaking so many pots on my windowsills. 

I found a plant hanger at a local nursery. It comes in just one style and was made out of synthetic fiber. It was intimidating at first, but I finally hung my planter off of a curtain rod in my bedroom. It was so lovely. The vines of the ivy plant could fall down and my plants were bringing me peace again, instead of ceramic messes on the floor. 

One day I was just staring at the plant hanger and wondered if I could make one. A few kits, videos, and many trials and errors later, I started making macrame planters that were beautiful and customized for each of my plants. I also could source my own material, so I started using jute, hemp, and most of all cotton.

After I made my first planter, I decided I did not like the style. I listed it online and it sold within hours. Looking back, the timing of that sale changed the trajectory of my work-life for the better. COVID, like the thief that it is, stole my job away and it never came back. I had to shift, and thankfully, what was meant for evil can be made into a very good small macrame business. 

So here I am today. Making macrame during nap times and after my little blessings lay their heads down to sleep. It has been a source of peace and I’m happy to share my modern macrame with you.