3mm or 5mm? Braided or twisted? Premium or Junior? Here's how to choose — without ending up with a cupboard full of the wrong thing
This is the question we get asked more than almost any other about Bobbiny cord. You've looked at the range, you've seen the colours, you want to start a project — and then you're faced with a choice between 3mm and 5mm, braided and twisted, Premium and Junior, and you're not entirely sure which combination you actually need.
It's not as complicated as it looks. Here's the plain-English version.
Every piece of Bobbiny cord has two characteristics you need to choose between: thickness (measured in millimetres) and construction (how the threads are put together). Get these right for your project and everything else follows.
This is the most fundamental choice, and the good news is that 80% of macrame projects use one of just two sizes.
5mm cord is the one to start with if you're new to macrame. It's chunky, easy to handle, and projects work up quickly — you can see your knots forming clearly, which makes it easier to learn and easier to spot mistakes before they get buried under twenty more rows. Wall hangings, plant hangers, large baskets, statement pieces — 5mm is the natural choice for anything where you want visual impact and speed.
The same design made in 5mm cord will come out roughly twice the size of one made in 3mm cord. Keep that in mind when you're choosing, particularly if you're following a pattern — the finished dimensions will change significantly with the cord size.
3mm cord is the choice when detail matters more than speed. It's finer, which means you can achieve more intricate knotwork, more delicate patterns, and a more refined overall look. Jewellery, keychains, smaller wall hangings, decorative pieces where you want the knotwork itself to be the focal point rather than the scale — these are 3mm territory. It takes longer to work and requires a bit more patience, but the results are worth it when you want something precise.
A useful rule of thumb: if you're following a pattern that specifies a cord size, use that size. The pattern's finished dimensions, the amount of cord required, and the look of the piece are all calculated around the specified thickness. Changing from 5mm to 3mm isn't just a matter of swapping one for the other — you'll need approximately 40% less cord per length in 3mm, and the finished piece will be considerably smaller.
Once you've chosen your thickness, you need to decide how you want the cord to be put together. Bobbiny makes cord in two main constructions, each with different strengths.
Braided cord (what Bobbiny calls "Premium" in 5mm and "Junior" in 3mm) is made by braiding hundreds of threads into a round, stable tube. It's smooth, consistent, and very forgiving — if you make a mistake and need to unpick a section, braided cord undoes cleanly without distorting. It's also completely stable at the cut end: if you snip a length of braided cord, the end stays tidy. No fraying, and no unravelling.
The one thing braided cord won't do is give you a fluffy, combed-out fringe. The braided structure is fixed. If you cut the end it stays a clean cut. If your project involves fringing — the feathery, brushed-out tassels you see at the bottom of wall hangings and plant hangers — braided cord isn't the right choice for those sections.
Single twist cord is made by twisting threads together rather than braiding them. It's a softer, more yielding construction, and its key characteristic is that it can be separated back into individual threads and combed out into the kind of fluffy, organic fringe that defines a lot of classic macrame. If that finish is what you're after, single twist is the cord you need.
Single twist is slightly less beginner-friendly than braided cord — it has a tendency to untwist gently as you work, particularly if you're new to the craft and not yet sure of your tension. It's not a problem, just something to be aware of. Most makers find they adapt to it quickly.
We stock Bobbiny single twist in 3mm, which is the most versatile size for this construction — fine enough for detailed knotwork, soft enough to brush out beautifully.
Here's the plain version, by project type:
Large wall hanging → 5mm Premium braided, or 3mm single twist if you want fringing and don't mind the extra time
Plant hanger → 5mm Premium braided for chunky, modern; 3mm single twist for finer, more traditional with brushed fringe
Smaller wall hanging or detailed piece → 3mm Junior braided or 3mm single twist depending on whether you want fringe
Macrame bag or market bag → 5mm Premium braided — the structure holds up better for functional items that take weight
Basket or bowl → 5mm Premium braided — the braided construction gives you the firmness you need
Jewellery, keychains, earrings → 3mm Junior braided or 3mm single twist for finer detail
Table runner or coasters → 3mm braided for a flat, refined finish; 5mm if you want something chunkier and more textural
First project as a complete beginner → 5mm Premium braided. Every time. It's the most forgiving and the fastest to see results with.
We stock the full Bobbiny range across all three cord types, in a wide choice of colours including regular shades and limited editions.
Bobbiny Premium (5mm braided) — available in a large and ever-changing colour palette. Each skein is approximately 100m and weighs around 500g. Recommended hook or needle size 8–10mm for crochet and knitting use.
Bobbiny Junior (3mm braided) — 100m balls in a wide colour range. The finer braided cord for detailed macrame and smaller projects.
Bobbiny 3mm single twist — 100m balls, made from 56 individual threads twisted together. The one to choose when you want fringe, texture, and a more classic macrame finish.
All current colours and stock levels are on the individual collection pages. Some limited edition shades sell out and don't return, so if there's a colour that's calling to you, it's worth not leaving it too long.
The full Bobbiny range — all types and all colours — is browsable in one place in our Bobbiny collection. And if you'd like to explore our wider macrame offer, including our own recycled cotton cord range, that's in the macrame cord collection.
This is the other question we get asked a lot, and the answer is: it depends on the project, and patterns vary. As a very rough guide:
If you're following a pattern, use the cord quantity it specifies as your starting point, adjusting slightly upward if you're using a different thickness than specified. When in doubt, buy one more skein than you think you'll need. Running out halfway through a project is considerably more annoying than having a little left over — and leftover Bobbiny cord always finds a use.
If you'd like to know more about what makes Bobbiny different from other macrame cords on the market — the production process, the recycled cotton credentials, and the Warsaw family behind it — read our first post in this series: What Is Bobbiny Cord — And Why Is It Worth It?
And if you're new to macrame altogether, our posts on T-shirt yarn and how to crochet a basket are good companion reads — different materials, same spirit.
