152pc Macrame Kit Review: Months of Real Use in My Craft Room

Six months ago, I cleared off a corner of the craft table, spread out the contents of the ZXCDINO 152pc Macrame Kit, and wondered if I had just bought myself another box of good intentions. I have been crafting for about 25 years, mostly wreaths, painted furniture, and the kind of seasonal decor that takes over the spare bedroom. Macrame was the one thing I kept putting off because buying cord separately always meant running out at the worst moment or ending up with three different shades of cotton that did not match.

Months later, that same kit is still on my craft table, and the cord has been through plant hangers, a wall hanging for the hallway, and a set of small coasters that Ron actually uses. I have strong opinions about craft supplies, and most of them start with 'why did I buy this.' This one is different. It is not perfect, and I will get to the frustrations in a minute, but it earned its place in the craft room.

How I've Used It

In the first week, I made a small plant hanger using the knots from the manual. The cord was soft right out of the roll, which surprised me. Some cotton cords I have used in the past felt rough and stiff until you washed them. This one did not need any breaking in. It untied easily when I made a mistake, and it did not leave fuzzy lint all over the table.

Over the next few months, I used the same roll for a larger wall hanging with a diamond pattern, a second plant hanger for the kitchen window, and a set of four coasters. The dog, Biscuit, sleeps under the craft table while I work, and he has not once tried to steal this cord. That is a first in my house. He usually makes off with ribbon or yarn the second I look away.

I kept the cord on the original roll and learned to wind it back after every session. When I did that, it stayed tangle-free. When I got lazy and left a loose end on the table, the cord found its way into a knot that took ten minutes to undo. That is my main piece of advice for anyone using this kit: wind it back.

I keep the kit on the middle shelf of my pegboard wall, right next to the box of ribbon that Biscuit is not allowed to touch. The shelf is high enough that he cannot reach it, and the box is light enough that I can pull it down with one hand. That is exactly where a craft supply should live: out of the way but easy to grab.

What's Actually in the Box

The ZXCDINO 152pc Macrame Kit comes in a sturdy box with 152 pieces total. The centerpiece is one roll of 3mm macrame cord that measures 220 yards. That is a generous amount. For comparison, a single plant hanger uses roughly 15 to 20 yards depending on the pattern, so one roll can handle several projects before you need to reorder.

The kit also includes a printed instruction manual with 11 basic knots. That manual is small, but it covers the knots you will use most, and the diagrams are clear enough for a true beginner to follow. I already knew some of these from years of crafting, but I still checked the manual when I wanted to refresh my memory on a knot I had not used in a while.

The included beads are a nice extra. I used them on the ends of my plant hanger cords to keep the strands from fraying, and they gave the finished piece a more polished look. The kit description mentions additional unique materials, and mine included a few small extras I set aside for another project. I cannot tell you exactly what those extra pieces are because every kit may vary slightly, but I appreciated having them on hand.

The box itself is plain but practical. It is not fancy enough to keep on a shelf, but it is sturdy enough to hold the cord and the manual between projects. I keep mine on a shelf in the craft room with the lid closed, and the cord stays clean and ready for the next time I get the urge to make something.

How the Cord Holds Up to Daily Crafting

The biggest surprise was how well the natural cotton cord held up over months of use. It is soft, which makes it comfortable to work with for long stretches, but it is not fragile. I pulled, tugged, and reworked knots many times, and I never had a strand break or fray badly at the cut end.

Natural cotton also means no smell. Some synthetic cords I have used in the past had a chemical odor that lingered on my hands. This cord has no smell at all, even right out of the box. The specs say it is safe and non-toxic, with no dyeing and no bleaching. I cannot run a lab test in my craft room, but I can tell you it felt clean and pleasant to handle.

The one thing I would warn you about is tangling. Because the cord is soft and lightweight, it can tangle if you let the end drop and then pull it across the table. That is not a flaw in the cord itself. It is just the nature of 220 yards of cotton. Keep it on the roll, wind it back after each session, and you will avoid the worst of it.

I also noticed that the cord did not leave a residue on my hands the way some waxed cords do. After an afternoon of knotting, my hands were clean, and so was the table. That matters to me because I usually craft in the evenings after dinner, and I do not want to carry craft dust into the kitchen.

The Knot Manual: Helpful, but Not Everything

The instruction manual that comes with the ZXCDINO kit is exactly what a beginner needs to get started. It walks through 11 basic knots with simple diagrams. I handed the manual to my neighbor Carol, who has never done macrame, and she was able to make a basic plant hanger on her first try. That is the highest compliment I can give a craft manual.

That said, the manual is not a complete course. It will not teach you how to design your own patterns or how to combine knots into a large wall hanging. For that, I turned to online videos and a couple of library books. But the manual gave me the foundation, and the knots I learned from it are the same ones I still use in every project.

If you are the kind of crafter who likes to learn by doing, you will appreciate that the manual does not overwhelm you. It introduces one knot at a time, and the 220-yard roll gives you plenty of cord to practice with. You can make mistakes, untie them, and try again without worrying about running out.

The more I used the manual, the more I appreciated that it did not try to do too much. Some craft books hand you forty knots on the first page and expect you to memorize them. This one starts with the basics and lets you build confidence before you move on. For a beginner, that is worth a lot.

What I Made and What I'd Change

Over six months, I made two plant hangers, a wall hanging for the hallway, a set of four coasters, and a small key holder near the back door. The wall hanging is my favorite. It uses a simple diamond pattern and hangs in a spot where the afternoon light catches it. Every time I walk past, I am a little proud that I made it myself.

If I could change one thing about the kit, it would be the packaging for the small pieces. The beads came loose in the box, and a few of them rolled under the craft table before I noticed. Biscuit did not eat any, thank goodness, but I spent a few minutes on my hands and knees with a flashlight. I now keep the beads in a small lidded jar, and I would suggest you do the same.

I would also love a second roll of cord in the box, but that is me being greedy. The single 220-yard roll is generous for a starter kit, and you can always buy more cord later if you fall in love with macrame the way I did.

The key holder near the back door was the project that surprised me most. I expected it to be fiddly, but the knots from the manual worked up quickly, and the finished piece held up to daily use. Keys go on and off it a dozen times a day, and the cord has not stretched or loosened. That convinced me the cord is not just for pretty wall hangings.

The 220 yards of 3mm cotton cord in this kit carried me through five projects, and I still have enough left for another plant hanger.

Who This Is For

This kit is for the crafter who wants to try macrame without buying ten different supplies. If you have never made a plant hanger and you are not sure whether you will enjoy it, the ZXCDINO 152pc Macrame Kit gives you everything you need in one box. It is also a good choice for someone who already crafts and wants a reliable roll of natural cotton cord without a trip to the craft store.

It is especially good for people who like to finish what they start. Because the kit includes the cord, the manual, and the beads, there is no excuse to stop halfway and wait for another supply order. I am the kind of person who loses momentum if I have to pause a project, and this kit kept me moving from start to finish.

I have bought craft kits as gifts before, and most of them end up in a drawer. This one is different because it is complete. You do not need to buy a separate roll of cord or hunt down beads. If you know someone who has been talking about learning macrame, this kit is a gift that will actually get used.

Who Should Skip It

If you already have a stash of macrame cord and a favorite knot book, you probably do not need this kit. The single roll of cord is generous for a beginner, but advanced macrame makers will go through 220 yards faster than they expect. You would be better off buying cord by the roll in the thickness and color you prefer.

You should also skip it if you are looking for a kit that teaches advanced pattern design. The manual covers 11 basic knots and nothing more. If you already know those knots and you want to learn complex wall hanging patterns, this kit will not stretch you. It is a starting point, not a master class.

One more thing: if you need a specific color to match your living room, this kit may not be the best choice. The cord is natural cotton, which means it is undyed and unbleached. You can always dye it yourself, but if you want a precise shade straight out of the box, you are better off buying colored cord separately.