In this story:
A baker, a company analyst and a writer walk into a room...
Although this may sound like the start of one of your go-to Dad jokes, what you’ve just started reading is all about two guys who are keen to explore a new and exciting craft—macramé!
Macramé is the weaving and knotting of colourful thread into stunning shapes and forms like wall hangings, plant hangers and even bespoke bags. It’s a surefire way to engage your senses and allows your mind to reach a state of flow where everyday worries vanish as your hands take over and your creativity blooms.
From beloved British Olympian Tom Daley’s multicoloured Insta feed of crochet creations to shows like The Great Pottery Throwdown drawing attention to the messy fun of ceramics, crafting has never been more popular or accessible — and the only requirements are a little imagination and a willingness to get stuck in.
With a little help from Gee of GeeArte Makes, a passionate maker and self-confessed macramé addict, our two newbie crafters set out to discover the benefits of this fun and creative activity…
The novice knotters
Josh, 25
With a high-pressure job working for a multinational defence company, Josh spends his days amending contracts and attending Zoom calls, before heading home to work on redecorating his recently purchased first home. He values his free time and usually relaxes by listening to podcasts and playing games, but is always up for trying something new!
Daryl, 27
Having unlimited access to sweet treats might sound fun, but as a baker, Daryl can often spend all day lugging around heavy ingredients in a physically demanding role. In his free time, he’s usually reading or watching TV but would love to learn a new craft he could try with his kids.
![Two men sit behind macrame craft boxes containing yarn and hooks as they prepare to learn to macrame]()
Knot your average afternoon
As they unbox their craft kits, Daryl and Josh seem a little dubious about the experience ahead, but once they’ve settled in and spotted the eye-catching colours of the thread, you can see they’re eager to get going!
Gee has provided instructions that inspire confidence in complete beginners, with easy-to-understand stages and plenty of helpful pictures to follow to create a macramé plant hanger. Thanks to this, there are no tangled knots or crossed wires as our macramé men arrange the strings onto the wooden hanger and begin.
Once they've gotten through the first few steps and mastered the simple square knot to form the main pattern, Josh and Daryl sink into a rhythm and begin to gain confidence in the process — you can almost see the creative cobwebs fade away as their plant hangers take shape!
Although they share different interests, a common thread throughout their first attempt at macramé is a building sense of productive calm as they enjoy unplugging from their screens to focus on a tactile experience.
Macramé seems as far from lugging heavy bags of sugar around as possible. But it still involves a physical element that Daryl enjoys. For Josh it offers a break from the intricate contract clauses he handles in his daily work – macramé gives him a soothing slice of escapism and it's a refreshing change from the 9-5.
Macramé masters or one-time crafters?
Why macrame will make you smile…
Josh: I liked how easy it was to pick up! I was a bit worried about it at first as I’ve never tried anything crafty because I can be a little heavy-handed, but once we'd got the hang of the first knot, I felt a lot more confident in what I was doing.
Daryl: I really enjoyed the element of creativity and loved how relaxing it was while still being a hands-on activity. I'd usually unwind by zoning out in front of the TV, so this was a nice alternative and something I'll definitely try more in the future.
The gateway to an uplifting world of crafting
Josh: Trying macramé made me realise that lots of crafts are actually pretty accessible. I’d love to try something a little different like pottery making or painting next time!
Daryl: I’m keen to carry on with macramé. I’m really curious to see what else I could make and what other knots there are to learn. It’s got me thinking about other crafty activities too – I’ve always wanted to learn how to crochet so maybe I’ll give that a go in the future.
Macramé for the win
Josh: Learning macrame has increased my confidence when it comes to trying new things. I think sometimes it’s easy to get stuck in a rut and do the same things day in and day out, so this should help me shake up my routine.
Daryl: Look at my beautiful plant hanger! As well as that, I’m taking away some new skills that I can hopefully put to good use in the future. Who knows? Maybe in a few months, I’ll be a pro and make it a crafty Christmas.
Crafty conclusions
Macramé doesn’t have to be all or knotting. It can be a fun way to discover a potential passion or just a chance to leave behind the screens and learn something new and different. Whatever the aim, a chilled-out session of macramé is officially millennial approved!
