You are about to enter my world of beautiful, whimsical and even practical macrame. Everything you see here was handmade by me, using 100% cotton cord or nylon paracord. Item measurements are width x length, from dowel to bottom of fringe. As everything is handmade, the actual measurements may vary. Although I try to be sure that all accessories are glued securely, I can't guarantee that they'll never come off. Please be wary with young children or pets. The cotton cord is available in many sizes ranging from 1mm to 16mm. The cord can be single strand or 2,3 or 4 twisted strands. The cord I use most is made from cotton fabric waste from the garment industry that would otherwise end up in landfills; natural fibers, recycled cotton and low impact dyes. Cotton is a renewable source and is biodegradable. Paracord was developed in World War II for the purpose of making parachutes, hence the name para-cord. It became so useful in the field for many other things that soldiers tried to carry some with them. The mantle or outer covering has 3 to 7 strands inside, called the kern. These inner strands can also be used for stitching, dental floss, etc. Paracord comes in sizes according to the maximum weight they can hold. Although that doesn’t apply to my use, it does relate to their strength. The two common sizes I use are 95, for many of the smaller detailed keychains, or 550 for the larger keychains and bracelets. Paracord can also be made of nylon or polyester. I use the nylon because it is softer, easier to work with, and has more vibrant colors. Macrame is truly a universal craft. I belong to a club based in Finland, I buy dowels from the Ukraine, wooden beads from the UK, silicone figures from Japan, and patterns from Australia to Turkey.