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A macramé wall hanging made only with natural cord can look elegant, but add a few well-chosen yarns for decorating macramé and the piece gains depth, colour and personality. Coloured fringes, textured tassels, wraps over knots or woven details with fine yarn are all ways to transform any project without making the knotting technique more complicated.
Here we are not talking about the structural cord that forms the main knots, but about the complementary yarns used to decorate, finish and give character to the finished piece. These are affordable cotton or acrylic yarns that add colour where the base cord cannot. Choosing them well matters just as much as mastering the square knot, because the wrong yarn may fray when brushed out, bleed onto the cord or run short halfway through the project.
What type of yarn is used to decorate macramé projects?
Yarns for decorating macramé are fine or medium-weight fibres added to the cord structure to create visual effects: brushed coloured fringes, tassels on the ends, decorative wraps around sections of knots or small woven details integrated into the design. Their purpose is not to bear weight, but to enrich the piece aesthetically.
The most common are cotton yarns, especially mercerised or combed ones, which offer a soft sheen, good colour definition and are easy to brush out into fringes. But soft, affordable acrylics also work very well: they add volume, lightness and a very wide colour range at a reasonable price. In our experience working with these fibres, combining both materials in the same piece gives very interesting results: cotton for defined fringes and wraps, acrylic for full-bodied tassels and more voluminous filling.
Natural fibres such as jute or hemp also work well for rustic details, as do cotton-polyester blends when lightness and easy washing are needed in functional pieces.
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Which fibres work best for fringes, tassels and wraps?
For brushed fringes, fine mercerised cotton is the most reliable choice: its twist opens easily, the colour looks crisp and the drape stays neat. For voluminous tassels, a soft DK acrylic adds fullness without weight. And for wraps over knots, a firmly twisted cotton keeps its tension without loosening.
A cotton such as DROPS Safran, which is 100% Egyptian cotton in sport weight with 160 metres per ball, is very versatile: it has enough firmness for wraps and the softness needed for fine fringes. For thicker, more prominent tassels, DROPS Paris (100% cotton, aran weight, 75 m per ball) gives body and a pleasant natural feel.
When the aim is to achieve very full tassels and intense colours at a good price, acrylic yarns such as Scheepjes Colour Crafter or Rico Design Basic Soft Acryl DK are a safe choice. As they are affordable yarns with wide colour ranges, they make it possible to experiment with colour combinations without the budget getting out of hand.
What yarn weight should you choose for each type of decoration in macramé?
The weight of the decorative yarn should be proportionate to the thickness of the base cord. A yarn that is too fine on a thick cord goes unnoticed; one that is too thick competes visually with the knots and takes attention away from the structure.
| Decorative use | Recommended weight | Example yarn from the collection |
|---|---|---|
| Fine brushed fringes | Fingering / Sport | Scheepjes Catona Colour Pack, DROPS Safran |
| Voluminous tassels | DK / Aran | Scheepjes Colour Crafter, DROPS Paris |
| Wraps over knots | Sport / DK | DROPS Safran, Etrofil Punch |
| Woven or embroidered details | DK | Rico Design Cotton Wool, Rico Design Basic Soft Acryl DK |
If you work with 3-5 mm macramé cord (the most common for wall hangings and plant hangers), sport and DK weight yarns are usually the perfect balance: visible without being overpowering. For finer cord (1-2 mm), a fingering yarn keeps the proportions better.
How does the yarn colour affect the final result?
Colour is the main reason decorative yarns are added to a macramé piece. Structural cord is usually natural or a single shade, and coloured yarns make it possible to create contrasts, gradients or small accent details that elevate the design without complicating the technique.
Dye stability matters more than it seems when buying. A yarn that fades in the light or transfers colour onto the cord can ruin a piece meant to hang on the wall for months. Yarns with a mercerising or gassing process hold colour better. Quality acrylics also retain dye well, and as they are synthetic fibres, they do not degrade in sunlight as much as untreated natural fibres.
If you are just starting to decorate macramé with yarn, earthy tones (terracotta, mustard, sage, sand) work beautifully with natural cord. For projects with broader palettes, the colour packs in the macramé collection let you have dozens of shades available without buying large balls of each one.
Is it worth using mercerised cotton rather than regular cotton for decorating macramé?
Mercerised cotton offers more sheen, greater strength, better dye absorption and a smoother surface. For brushed fringes and wraps, these qualities translate into a cleaner, more professional result than standard cotton.
The mercerising process (a caustic soda treatment under tension) changes the fibre structure and gives it a polished finish. Unmercerised cotton has a more matte and rustic look, which can also be appealing if the piece is meant to match a more organic and less refined style. The difference is not one of quality but of visual effect: in mixed projects, the contrast in texture between raw cord and mercerised yarn is a very effective aesthetic device.
If you are going to invest in a mercerised cotton colour pack to have a full palette, the Scheepjes Catona Colour Pack (109 colours, 100% mercerised cotton, fingering weight) is probably the most complete option on the market. At Garmon Yarns, it is one of the most in-demand products for projects combining crochet, amigurumi and macramé decoration.
How much yarn do you need to decorate a macramé project?
The amount of decorative yarn is much smaller than the amount of structural cord. A medium-sized wall hanging (40 × 60 cm) may need between 30 and 80 metres of decorative yarn if it includes coloured fringes at the bottom, a few tassels and one or two wraps. A plant hanger with coloured details may use around 15-30 metres.
The sensible option is to buy a 15-20% margin above your estimate. With generous yarns such as DROPS Safran (160 m per 50 g ball), a single ball will usually cover the decorative needs of a medium project with room to spare. If you use several colours, mini formats or colour packs prevent you from having large leftovers of shades you may not use again.
Bear in mind that actual metreage can vary greatly between yarns of the same weight. A 50 g ball of aran cotton such as DROPS Paris gives 75 metres, while 50 g of sport cotton such as DROPS Safran gives 160 metres. That detail makes a real difference to both yield and final project cost: it is always worth comparing grams and metres together, not just the price per ball.
One advantage of these yarns is that they can also be used for crochet, knitting or amigurumi. If you have half a ball of cotton or acrylic left over, you can always use it in another project. Nothing goes to waste.
What mistakes should you avoid when choosing yarns to decorate macramé?
The most common mistake is choosing only by colour without checking how the yarn behaves when brushed out, wrapped or exposed to light. To avoid surprises, it is worth keeping these points in mind:
- Do not use very fluffy yarn for brushed fringes. The fuzz prevents the fibres from separating cleanly and the result looks matted. Yarns with a smooth surface and defined twist brush out much better.
- Check colour fastness before integrating the yarn into the piece. Mercerised cotton or quality acrylic with Oeko-Tex certification reduces the risk of dye transfer onto natural cord.
- Do not assume any yarn works for everything. A thick aran cotton works well for full-bodied tassels, but may be too heavy in a delicate wrap. And conversely, a very fine fingering yarn may go unnoticed as fringe on a piece made with thick cord.
- Always make a small sample before decorating the whole piece: a 10 cm fringe or a quick tassel. That way you confirm that the tone, feel and behaviour are what you expect.
If you combine macramé with other textile techniques, in our section of macramé books you will find guides explaining how to integrate coloured yarns into pieces, with step-by-step photographs and advice on materials.
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Frequently asked questions about yarns for decorating macramé
Can acrylic yarn be used to decorate macramé?
Yes, and in fact it is one of the most practical options. Soft acrylic works especially well for full tassels and details where you want fluffiness and intense colours. It is not the best choice for brushed fringes (it tends to frizz when the fibres are separated), but for tassel filling, decorative wraps and coloured details it is an affordable alternative with very wide colour ranges.
What is the difference between using fine and thick yarn to decorate macramé?
Fine yarn (fingering or sport) gives delicate fringes, precise wraps and crisp colours with soft drape. Thick yarn (DK or aran) produces fuller fringes, more visually striking tassels and covers more surface area with fewer wraps. The choice depends on the thickness of the base cord: the thicker the cord, the thicker the decorative yarn can be without competing with the structure.
How many yarn colours do I need to decorate a macramé wall hanging?
Between 2 and 4 shades are usually enough for a wall hanging with well-balanced colour details. A palette that is too broad can dilute the visual effect. The usual approach is one main shade that contrasts with the natural cord and one or two complementary shades. Colour packs let you try combinations without buying full balls of every shade.
Can I use the same cotton yarn I use for crochet or amigurumi?
Yes, and that is one of the big advantages. Affordable cotton and acrylic yarns are used interchangeably for crochet, amigurumi, knitting and macramé decoration. Leftovers from one project can be used in the next, and the colour palette stays consistent if you alternate techniques.
Where can I learn techniques for decorating macramé with coloured yarns?
Specialist books are a good place to start. Macramé: The Art of Creative Knotting by Fanny Zedenius includes step-by-step colour integration techniques. Also, Macramé for the Modern Home explains the use of natural dyes to personalise cords and yarns. Both are available at Garmon Yarns.
Crochet or Knitting for Beginners: What to Choose for Your First Project
Jumper yarn: how to choose it without getting it wrong
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