Why Macramé Fell Out of Fashion (And Why It Never Really Disappeared)

Macramé once had a moment where it felt completely unavoidable. In the 1970s, it was everywhere—plant hangers dangling in sunny windows, wall hangings covering feature walls, and chunky knotted accessories turning up in handmade markets and living rooms alike. Then, almost overnight, macramé seemed to vanish. Many crafters still ask the same question years later: why did macramé die?

The short answer is that macramé didn’t truly die—it simply fell out of fashion, much like many other craft trends before it. Craft popularity tends to move in cycles, closely tied to home décor styles, cultural shifts, and generational taste. What feels fresh and exciting in one decade can quickly start to feel dated in the next.

When Macramé Was Everywhere

Macramé’s rise was closely linked to the handmade, natural aesthetic of the 1960s and 1970s. During that time, people embraced organic materials, earthy colours, and handcrafted décor as a reaction to mass production and modernism. Knotting cord into decorative and functional pieces felt accessible, affordable, and expressive—no needles or looms required.

Because macramé was relatively easy to learn and required minimal tools, it spread quickly. When a craft becomes extremely popular, it also becomes extremely visible, which can eventually work against it.

How Trends Fall Out of Favour

Macramé’s decline wasn’t due to a flaw in the craft itself. Instead, it became a victim of overexposure. As tastes shifted in the 1980s toward sleeker lines, minimalism, and new technologies, macramé became associated with a specific era. Once a craft is strongly tied to a particular decade, it often gets labelled as “dated,” even if the techniques themselves remain timeless.

This pattern isn’t unique to macramé. Many needlework techniques—crewel embroidery, candlewicking, hardanger, even certain styles of cross stitch—have experienced similar rises and falls in popularity. Crafts don’t disappear; they simply step out of the spotlight for a while.

The Quiet Survival of Macramé

Even during its less fashionable years, macramé never completely went away. It continued quietly in craft circles, books, and small communities of makers who appreciated its structure and versatility. What changed was how visible it was in mainstream décor and magazines.

In recent years, macramé has experienced a gentle revival, often presented in softer colour palettes, modern patterns, and more minimalist designs. Today’s macramé looks different from its 1970s counterpart, but the underlying techniques are the same—proof that the craft itself was never the problem.

What Macramé Teaches Us About Craft Cycles

Macramé’s story is a useful reminder that craft trends are cyclical. A technique may fall out of favour, but that doesn’t diminish its value or creative potential. For stitchers and makers, this is reassuring. Skills learned today may feel unfashionable tomorrow, only to be rediscovered and appreciated years later.

Rather than asking why macramé died, it’s more accurate to say that it rested—waiting for a new generation to reinterpret it in their own way.

A Craft Worth Revisiting

Whether you love traditional macramé plant hangers or prefer cleaner, modern knotwork, macramé remains a flexible and expressive craft. Its temporary disappearance from the spotlight says more about changing tastes than about the craft itself.

As with embroidery, knitting, and other forms of needlework, macramé continues to evolve. Trends may come and go, but well-loved techniques have a way of returning—often when we least expect them.

 It’s a veritable survey of macrame of the era. Now you’ll know why we oldsters tend to scream at the mention of that word. Go to the post.