When people think of macrame they often picture some bearded hippy selling plant hangers. However, most don’t know the nautical history of this knotty craft.
Macrame itself is said to have origins in 13th-century Arabic culture. Migrama is believed to mean “ornamental fringe”. After the Moorish Conquest the art of tied knots and weaving was introduced to Spain and continued to spread throughout Europe and into England during the late 17th-century.
Sailors during this time often occupied their free time by making macrame objects which also sharpened their skills in Knot tying which is an essential skill while sailing. Sailors would use their macrame to barter or sell at port which brought the craft to places such as China and the New World.
The most common knot used in macrame is called the square knot a variant of the reef knot, which lent to the name “square knotting” others referred to the craft as “McNamara’s Lace” Macrame was wildly popular during the Victorian Era and was used on almost everything from undergarments to curtains.