What is Macrame and

Basketry?
It is believed that macramé and
basketry are hobbies done for
pleasure during the ancient
times. These kinds of activities
are done for relaxation.
 Macrame’- is a fabric craft that uses
a variety of knots to create functional and
decorative items. It can be worked in many
different kinds of threads, strings and rope and is
often used to make jewelries.
.
 Another interesting part is how various
countries and their people are utilizing
macramé as well as other craft skills as
income in poorest areas.

Macramé art in Ghana has now been adopted

as one of the most important manufacturing
methods for fashion accessories.
This art form now provides an alternative
method, especially for bag and shoe
production in the fashion industry. The
number of younger users of macramé
products has increased over the past few
years. The youth of today is trendy and
putting a great emphasis on new creative
designs.
Now macramé art is not only an occupation
for the youth, but an acknowledgement of
the creative development of the ingenuity of
Ghanaian youth.
 Basketry - is the process of weaving or sewing pliable
materials into three-dimensional artifacts, such as
baskets, mats, mesh bags or even furniture.

Craftspeople and artists specialized in making

baskets may be known as basket makers and basket weavers.
Basketry Modern archaeologists have found
a great deal of relevance to both ancient sites
and cultural practices in its prose.

All cultures on earth have basket weaving

traditions that date back before the times of
Gil- gamesh, which we are still learning
about. Indigenous tribes on every continent,
including Australia and America were
involved in basket weaving. The key to their
success was an innate and intimate
understanding of their natural environment,
as well as their skills in designing nets,
baskets and bags that were both flexible and
adaptable.

Basketry plays a large role in the Philippine

economy where our local farmers in
Palawan (Ibaloi, Banayakero weavers)
Ifugao Basketry Village outside of Banaue
and other part of Luzon depends only in
basketry weaving as their source of income
for the family.
“History
of
Macrame
”
The history of macrame' can be traced to
the early 14th and 15th centuries when
this craft was practiced in France and
Italy. The patterned knotted fabrics
created out of macramé craft were used
in churches for vestments and altar
cloths in early days. This craft then
became popular among the British
during the 19th century. Legend says
that North American sailors spent long
hours aboard ships practicing macrame'
square knots and hitch knots. These
sailors made fringes for wheels and bell
covers, netting, and screens. It was revived
in the 60's with the hippie movement,
which brought with it a recovery of
interest in this ancient craft. Today,
macrame' craft has regained its huge
popularity.
The word macrame' describes any
elaborate fringe of knotted thread or
cord, but the Arabic word migramah,
from which macrame' is derived,
originally meant "stripped towel" or
embroidered veil." The craft is supposed
to have been brought from the Middle
East to Spain by the Moors. It then
spread through Europe and was
introduced to England from Holland by
Queen Mary, wife of William of Orange,
in the late 17th century. Macrame' soon
became a popular pastime in court
circles. Macrame could be used to
decorate almost anything and could be
found in every prosperous 19th century
home. With the introduction of
machine lace for clothes and a desire
for simpler furnishing styles, the art of
macrame' was almost forgot- ten. The last
few years have seen a revival as another
generation rediscovers its fascination.
“History of
Basketry”
Basketry or basket making is one of the oldest crafts.
Prehistoric humans used limbs, leaves, and vines
woven together to carry their supplies. From these
basic beginnings, different cultures have urbanized
literally hundreds of styles of baskets. In many cases,
the style of basket depends on the availability of
resources and plants suitable for basket
construction. In early times, baskets were a
necessity. This was before the days of metal and
plastic containers. They were used to carry and store
various materials. Today, baskets are used for the
same purposes, but also to decorate at home, to
hold flowers for weddings and hospital visits, to
store personal items, and to make arrangement for
holiday festivities. Since the materials for basketry
are as close as the nearest palm tree, cane stalks, or
rush, its development was universal. Early weavers
sometimes lined their baskets with clay to make
them watertight; from these beginnings, pottery has
developed.
Today, basket making survives in many parts of the
world using forms, techniques, and materials like to
those employed in previous ages.

In the Philippines, raw materials for basket weaving

are abundant. The most common are bamboo,
rattan, and abaca. Basket coming from the lowland
are usually made of bamboo and abaca, while in
mountainous places, the main raw material used is
chiefly of rattan. The four types of basket found in
the Philippines are snare and traps, holding basket,
carrying basket, sieves and strainers.

Traditional designs are still employed in making

these four types of basket for special purposes,
such as crab and lobster pots, fish traps, eel traps,
bird and fowl snares, holding basket, and carrying
baskets. Today, the basket weaving industry in the
country has gone a long way, as it remains to be a
major basket- making producer abroad.
 Here are some
sample pictures of
macramé produce
in different parts of
the Philippines.
 Here are some
sample pictures of
basketry produce in
different parts of
the Philippines.
 1. Macrame’ Necklaces - come in
various designs and styles. The famous
Different Kinds of style is macramé. Y-shaped necklaces.
Macrame and By varying the knots, the position, and
the kind of gemstone used, several one-
Basketry of-a kind designer necklaces are
produced. Macrame chokers that come
with semi-precious stones and freshwater
pearls are created.
 2. Macrame’ Earrings – are light and

Different Kinds of various sizes and shapes

Macrame and 3. Macrame’ Bracelets – are made of

Basketry nylon-waxed twine; are light to wear in
contrast to
silver, gold, and traditional jewelry with
crystals and gemstone.
 4. Macrame’ Textiles – is a form of textile making
using knots instead of weaving or knitting. It is
similar to crochet or Chinese knotting, which is
used to create intricate textiles. A variety of

Different Kinds of macramé called cavandoli macrame’ is used to

form geometric patterns especially in weaving.

Macrame and 5. Macrame' Bags – are fashion accessories now a

days, trendy style made of beads or sequences.
Basketry
 Coiled Basketry is a type of technique in basket making,
which is Native Americans of the Southwest are well
renowned for. This comes in various styles and shapes
depending on the materials used and the type of stitch used
to interlock the coil together.

Basketry
Plaiting Basketry- is like to textile weaving where the
material is plaited or woven to produce a wide variety of

“ items like bags, basket, purse, fan, etc.

Technique” Twining Basketry uses materials from roots and tree bark.
Twining refers to a weaving technique where two or more
flexible weaving elements through the stiffer radial spokes.

Wicker and Splint Basketry uses materials like reed, cane,

willow, oak, and ash to create useful basket designs.