Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Macrame Kits I Tried So You Don't Have To, These Actually Look Professional
35
items You want that boho handmade wall hanging look but the last time you tried a craft project it ended up in the trash by hour two. I burned through six kits before I found ones that don't require a PhD in knot theory. If you're someone who wants to make...
Sections
6
Beginner Macrame Kits That Won't Make You Cry
Macrame Cord and Rope Worth Buying in Bulk
Wooden Dowels and Hanging Hardware That Don't Look Cheap
Beads and Accessories That Make Pieces Look Expensive
Books and Guides When You Outgrow the Kits
Display and Styling Pieces That Tie the Room Together
Beginner Macrame Kits That Won't Make You Cry
My first attempt at macrame looked like a cat attacked a mop. These kits actually come with instructions a normal human can follow, and the finished product looks like something from a boutique.
Grab this if you've never tied a knot fancier than your shoelaces. I finished it in one evening and my sister thought I bought it at a craft fair. The instructions have actual photos, not cryptic diagrams.
Leisure Arts Macrame Kit Arrow Plant Hanging
Use this for your first real wall piece. The wooden dowel it comes with is sturdy, not some flimsy stick. Took me about three hours and I hung it above my bed that same night.
Solid Oak Macrame Wall Hanging Kit-Dual Spirals - MWH003
Switch things up from wall hangings with this one. Perfect if you're the person whose windowsill is overflowing with pothos. Held my heaviest pot without any sagging after two months.
Pepperell Designer Macrame Plant Hanger Kit-Mint
Try these feather designs if you want something small for a gallery wall. I made all three in one Netflix session and they filled that awkward blank space above my light switch perfectly.
Leisure Arts Macrame Kit Feather, Macrame Kits For Adults
Snag this for a teen or tween who keeps asking to redecorate their room. My niece made hers during a sleepover and it's still hanging eight months later. Surprisingly solid quality.
Cra-Z-Art Shimmer 'n Sparkle Surprise Bracelet Making
Get this if plain rope bores you. The wooden beads add just enough detail that it looks intentional, not like a beginner project. Hung mine in the kitchen and it's holding a heavy herb pot no problem.
Leisure Arts Macrame Kit Arrow Plant Hanging
Macrame Cord and Rope Worth Buying in Bulk
Once you finish one kit you're going to want more rope. I ordered cheap cord once and it frayed so badly my hands looked like I'd been wrestling a cactus. These hold up.
Keep a spool of this around once you get hooked. It's soft enough that your hands don't hurt after an hour of knotting, and it doesn't shed little fibers all over your couch.
JinBeiXi Natural Macrame Cord 3mm x 328yards
Use this for tighter, more detailed patterns. The twist is consistent so your knots actually look uniform instead of lumpy. I went through two spools on a big wall hanging and zero complaints.
BOCHIKNOT Single Strand Macrame Cord 3mm x 330yds
Grab the thicker stuff when you want a chunky, textured look. Projects go faster because fewer knots cover more space. My living room piece took half the time compared to using 3mm.
ZUEXT 5mm Black Macrame Cotton Cord
Try this if you want color options without dying rope yourself. The mustard yellow one matched my throw pillows perfectly. Soft on the hands even after a long crafting session.
Craft County Macrame Cord 100% Natural & Unbleached
Pair this with a big driftwood branch for that oversized statement piece. It's thick enough that even simple knots look dramatic. Guests literally stop in the doorway when they see mine.
Darice Natural Color Cotton Macramé Cord, 32 Ply
Swap to jute when you want a rougher, more rustic vibe. Works great for plant hangers going on a porch. Fair warning, it's scratchier than cotton so maybe skip this one if your hands are sensitive.
Love, Laugh, Craft 3-Ply Flexible Cord Jute Twine
Wooden Dowels and Hanging Hardware That Don't Look Cheap
Nothing kills a beautiful macrame piece faster than hanging it from a warped dollar store stick. I learned that the hard way when my first piece literally slid off a dowel mid-dinner party.
Keep a few of these on hand because you'll use them constantly. Sand the ends lightly and they look like something from a specialty craft shop. Sturdy enough for heavy pieces.
Hello Hobby Wood Dowel, 36” Long
Use real driftwood when you want that coastal boho look. Each one is slightly different so your piece is genuinely one of a kind. I get more compliments on the branch than the knots honestly.
Chubby Driftwood Pieces, 10" to 20" Inches Long
Try copper instead of wood for a modern twist. It catches light in the afternoon and gives the whole piece a completely different mood. Nobody expects metal and macrame together, that's why it works.
Copper Pipes for Plumbing and HVAC Projects
Toss whatever tiny nail you were going to use and get these instead. My biggest wall hanging weighs about four pounds and these hold it without pulling out of the drywall. Peace of mind matters.
Everhang 20kg Heavy-Duty Solid Wall Picture Hanging Hook
Grab these if your landlord will actually cry over nail holes. Held my medium-sized macrame piece for an entire lease without budging. Came off clean when I moved out too.
How to Use Command™ Picture Hanging Strips
Use these for smaller pieces or sampler projects. They're lighter than dowels so delicate designs don't droop. I keep a bag in my craft bin and reach for them constantly.
Round Bamboo Craft Sticks 14 in (50 pieces)
Beads and Accessories That Make Pieces Look Expensive
Plain rope is fine, but adding a few wooden beads or metal rings took my work from ‘nice hobby project’ to ‘wait, you MADE that?’ The difference is wild for like three extra dollars.
Toss a few of these into your next design and watch it go from basic to boutique. The natural wood tone works with every cord color I've tried. Sand any rough spots before threading.
100pcs 20mm Natural Round Wooden Beads Small Hole
Get the smaller size for more intricate patterns. They slide onto 3mm cord easily without needing a needle. I added a row of these to a plain hanging and it suddenly looked intentional and polished.
TUWAFE 600pcs 12mm Wood Beads Round Wooden
Pair a gold ring at the top of your piece for that modern boho look everyone's copying from Pinterest. Way sturdier than the plastic ones. Mine hasn't bent or tarnished after a year.
40 Pack 3 Inch Gold Dream Catcher Metal Rings Hoops
Use wooden rings when you want a softer, more organic feel. They're perfect as the starting point for a dreamcatcher-style piece. I wrapped mine with cord first and it looked like a $60 wall piece.
80 Pcs 55mm Natural Wooden Rings
Snag the big bag so you're not constantly reordering. Having different sizes on hand means you can experiment mid-project. Saved me from three separate trips to the store last month alone.
ELAYARD 100 Pieces Natural Wooden Beads for Jewelry
Try adding tiny bells to a plant hanger near a window. Every breeze makes the softest sound and it genuinely makes my kitchen feel calmer. Weird but true, multiple friends have copied this idea.
Small Brass Bells for Crafts, Set of 10 with Hanging Rings
Books and Guides When You Outgrow the Kits
Kits got me started but I hit a wall after my fourth one. These books taught me actual techniques instead of just following step-by-step, and now I can design my own patterns from scratch.
Grab this before you buy another kit. It breaks down every knot with photos clear enough that I actually understood spiral stitch on the first try. Worth every penny for the plant hanger chapter alone.
Macrame for Beginners and Beyond by Amy Mullins (ebook)
Keep this on your shelf as a reference. It covers everything from basic knots to wall-sized installations. I still flip through it when I forget how to start a gathering knot, which is embarrassingly often.
The Complete Reference Guide to Macrame Knots
Use this if you want projects that actually fit your space. The designs feel modern, not like something from a 1970s commune. Her curtain pattern is the reason my bathroom looks like a spa now.
Macramé at Home by Natalie Ranae (ebook)
Get this for the color combination ideas alone. I never would have tried blush and sage together without seeing it in here. Every project photograph gives you styling inspiration too.
HHGBAD Bohemian Leaf Macrame Wall Hanging
Bring this home if you lean more minimalist. Her style is clean and modern, not overly fringy. The hanging table project blew my mind and it's now where I keep my keys by the front door.
Modern Macrame: 33 Stylish Projects for Your Handmade
Display and Styling Pieces That Tie the Room Together
Making the macrame is only half the battle. Where and how you hang it matters just as much. I rearranged my living room wall three times before I figured out what actually looks good around these pieces.
Pair a floating shelf right below your macrame piece to create a little vignette. I put a small plant and a candle on mine and suddenly that corner of my bedroom looked like a magazine spread.
Mkono Rustic Wood Floating Shelves Wall Mounted
Drape a strand of these behind a large wall hanging for evening ambiance. When friends come over and I turn the overhead lights off, the macrame practically glows. Takes the whole room up a notch.
33 Feet 100 Led Fairy Lights Battery Operated with Remote
Tuck a few stems into your macrame knots for a living wall effect without any watering. They look real enough that my mom tried to water them. Swap them out seasonally if you want variety.
Artificial Eucalyptus Stems 6-Pack with Leaves
Hang a round mirror next to your macrame piece to balance the texture with something sleek. The combination fills a big wall without looking cluttered. Took me months to figure out this trick.
Mehoom, Wall Mirror, 15" Round, Boho Hanging, Beige
Set these on a shelf near your hanging for cozy evenings. Real candles and dangling cotton rope made me nervous, so flameless was the obvious call. They flicker convincingly enough that nobody notices.
Mainstays Unscented Flameless LED Pillar Candle
Toss a small framed photo or print into your macrame gallery wall. Breaking up all that texture with a clean frame keeps things from looking like a craft booth. My hallway finally feels finished.
Beautiful 5x7 Burl Wood Photo Frame by Drew Barrymore