macramé [key], a technique of decorative knotting employing simple basic knots to create a multitude of patterns. The term derives from an Arabic word for braided fringe. Its first known use was recorded by Arabs in the 13th cent. During the next hundred years it spread to S Europe. Macramé has been used extensively by sailors as a pastime. The craft revival of the 1960s brought the technique to life after decades of obscurity. It remains popular for the making of handbags, wall hangings, plant hangers, and jewelry.
See E. Andes, Practical Macramé (1971).
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Arts and Crafts
