Macramé as Therapy

Like nearly every person growing up in the 1970s, I enjoyed creating things by hand using the hippest forms of art at the time: string art, sand art, and, of course, macramé. It was my sister—who also turned me on to '70s music and houseplants—that got me started. We would shoot out plant hangers, wall hangings, and owls as if we were some sort of factory. Two hobby stores in Medina, New York, would feed my passion, and they carried a wide selection of cords, beads, feathers, and macramé magazines. I would bike miles to make my purchases, then return home to my bedroom and go at it. We even sold some of our creations out of our garage, and I had a few plant hangers for sale at a nearby plant center.

Some of my many creations over the years. Too many to keep for myself, for sure.

Over 40 years had passed when I restarted this hobby during the pandemic. It was a way to keep busy. To not think about what was going on in the world. To shut out politics and the news of constant death. And the best thing: macramé had already been making a comeback for years. There are now several Facebook groups where you can share your creations and YouTube tutorials to learn basic knots and more complicated combinations.

Not many people know this, but sailors used to create macramé items out of rope and cord on ships during down time. They would sell them on shore. Here is picture proof of that.

Even though this particular craft is typically dominated by females, it is something I feel anyone can take up and enjoy. I will often find myself at the Goodwill store perusing the wood aisle and ceramic aisle for inexpensive bowls, pots, and anything that I can incorporate into a macramé project. Those back massagers can be broken down for large wood beads, which would otherwise be expensive to purchase.

Now I sell my macramé creations at craft & vendor fairs. I do really well, actually. I hope you will take up this wonderful hobby, too. You'll find it's a great way to relax, and the results are very satisfying.

Typical setup at a craft show. Clothes racks are great for both creating and selling product.

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New Book: A Life with Carnivorous Plants

Now on Amazon in paperback, eBook, and hardcover!

Learn how to grow, maintain, and propagate beautiful and healthy carnivorous plants: Venus flytraps, pitcher plants, sundews, and butterworts. This book is for the beginner and intermediate grower with simple and easy-to-understand instructions. Includes over 150 color photographs and how-to steps, plus a Resources chapter detailing where you can purchase plants, growing supplies, and interact with other carnivorous plant hobbyists. Propagation techniques include division, seeds, and cuttings. Within a few years you can easily double or triple your collection.

Author Victor Rook has been growing carnivorous plants since 1973. His enthusiasm for carnivorous plants started at the age of 10 when his mother purchased two Venus flytraps from a nursery in Medina, New York. Back then, there were no David Attenborough documentaries that delved deeper into these strange curiosities. And Marlin Perkins never featured carnivorous plants on Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. So it was books that would be his main resource.

This colorful primer includes tried-and-true methods used by professional and knowledgeable amateur growers around the world. If you ever purchase a carnivorous plant for yourself, a friend, or family member, include this book as a companion. Carnivorous plants have very special needs, unlike typical houseplants. With a little help, anyone can become a successful cultivator of these wildly intriguing plants.

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