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After talking about the line of Thai cords that we produce here at Tessiland, we realised that we had helped many customers with the choice of products to buy. So today we thought we would offer you another guide to save, dedicated to cords suitable for making bags, macramé, home décor accessories and much more.
These are thick, cotton-blend, Made in Italy cords created here in our Tessiland production department. We will talk about the differences between Olly, Ternes and Tornado.
TORNADO, TERNES AND OLLY: WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES?
The three cords mentioned are cotton-blend cords, and the main difference between them concerns the size of the yarn:
- TORNADO: it has a thickness of 2.3 mm, versatile, smooth to work with, suitable for bags, accessories and home décor.
- TERNES: it has a thickness of 3 mm, grows quickly and is ideal for bags, macramé and home décor.
- OLLY: it has a thickness of 5 mm, full-bodied and eye-catching, perfect for statement projects, rugs, baskets, structured bags and important decorations.
TORNADO: the matte tubular cord for bags, home décor and macramé.
Tornado is a circular tubular cotton-blend cord made of 50% cotton and 50% acrylic, with a matte effect and natural look. The 200-gram spool offers approximately 180 metres in length, with a diameter of 2.3 mm. The recommended crochet hooks are sizes 5-7.
It is the ideal cord for anyone looking for a yarn that can adapt to several projects without losing its identity.
Its circular structure gives a clean and tidy finish, while the matte effect makes it perfect for those who love a natural, contemporary, shabby or Nordic style.
What can you use Tornado for?
Tornado is perfect for:
- structured bags that are not overly rigid;
- pochettes and shoulder bags;
- decorative baskets;
- cushions and small rugs;
- fashion accessories;
- macramé decorations;
- home projects with a natural feel;
- possible garments or wearable accessories with a more supported structure.
Its great advantage is versatility. It is not too thin, not too thick: it is that cord you can choose when you have a project in mind, but still want to leave room for creativity.
TERNES: the 3 mm matte cord for bags, macramé and shabby chic style
Ternes is a cotton-blend cord with a circular look and matte effect. The 200-gram spool contains approximately 120 metres of yarn, with a diameter of 3 mm. Crochet hooks size 7-8 are recommended.
Compared to Tornado, Ternes has more body. It works up quickly, the project grows faster and the final result has a more noticeable presence.
It is the perfect cord for those who want to create beautiful, resistant and decorative projects, without yet reaching the maxi thickness of Olly.
What can you use Ternes for?
Ternes is ideal for:
- crochet bags;
- casual backpacks;
- pochettes and clutches;
- macramé plant hangers;
- table runners;
- placemats;
- charger plates;
- storage baskets;
- small rugs or bedside rugs;
- shabby chic decorations.
On one hand, you can imagine it in a summer bag with a natural style, perhaps with wooden handles or metal accessories.
On the other hand, it is perfect in a hanging plant holder, a breakfast placemat or a decorative word to hang in a child’s bedroom.
Ternes is also very interesting for creating names and decorative lettering: it has enough body to be visible, but it is not so thick that it becomes bulky.
OLLY: the thick 5 mm cord for maxi projects and statement decorations
The Olly cord is the thickest of the three. It is a robust cotton-blend cord with a circular structure and matte effect. The 200-gram spool contains approximately 40 metres, with a diameter of 5 mm. We recommend using a 9-10 crochet hook or larger.
Olly was created for those who were looking for a greater thickness compared to traditional cords.
What can you use Olly for?
Olly is perfect for:
- rugs;
- sturdy baskets;
- very structured bags;
- poufs;
- floor cushions;
- important wall decorations;
- maxi macramé;
- statement plant hangers;
- home décor accessories with strong visual impact.
The work grows quickly, making it very satisfying, especially for those who love seeing the project take shape straight away. It is the ideal cord for anyone who wants to create something striking, solid, resistant and decorative.
Olly in macramé. In macramé, Olly gives its best in maxi projects: square knots, spiral knots, decorative weaves and plant holders immediately become important and very visible.
Which cord should you choose based on your project?
If you want to make a structured but not overly rigid bag, you can choose Tornado or Ternes.
Tornado will be finer and more versatile, while Ternes will be fuller and more visible.
If you want to make an important bag with a more natural effect, Olly is the most suitable choice.
If you want to try macramé for the first time, Tornado and Ternes are easier to manage.
If, on the other hand, you want to make a maxi project, such as a very decorative plant holder, Olly will give you a more eye-catching effect.
If you want to create names for birth bows, decorative lettering or details for children’s bedrooms, Ternes can be a beautiful middle ground: thick enough to be legible, but not too heavy.
If you want to make rugs or sturdy baskets, Olly is the most suitable option.
If you want to create cozy home decorations, all three can work, but the choice depends on the final effect:
- Tornado: finer and neater;
- Ternes: fuller and more decorative;
- Olly: more maxi and eye-catching.
A small practical guide
I want to make a bag: which one should I choose?
For a lightweight and versatile bag: Tornado.
For a fuller, shabby-style bag: Ternes.
For an important and structured bag: Olly.
I want to make macramé: which one should I choose?
To start: Tornado.
For balanced and clearly visible decorations: Ternes.
For maxi macramé: Olly.
I want to decorate my home: which one should I choose?
For small details: Tornado.
For runners, placemats, plant holders and lettering: Ternes.
For rugs, large baskets and important wall hangings: Olly.
I want to create a name for a birth bow or a child’s bedroom: which one should I choose?
The most balanced choice is Ternes, because it has a 3 mm diameter and a beautiful full effect.
For thinner lettering, you can consider Tornado.
For maxi lettering or very visible decorations, you can use Olly.
Why buy these cords on Tessiland?
Tornado, Ternes and Olly are Made in Italy cords, produced in-house by Tessiland. This means you can count on careful production, a selection designed for creatives and a proposal built around the real needs of those who work with crochet or decorative techniques such as macramé.
Another very important aspect is colour batch management.
When creating a large project, buying yarns from the same batch is essential to avoid visible colour differences. Only on Tessiland can you find the batch number directly on the product page: a precious detail for those who work carefully, for those who make projects on commission or for those who simply do not want to discover halfway through a bag that “beige” was not exactly the same beige.
And if you have doubts?
There is customer support made up of real people, ready to help you choose the product, check quantities and find the best solution for your project.
Because choosing a cord does not only mean adding something to the cart: it means understanding what you want to make, what effect you want to achieve and which material can best support you.
The right cord changes the project
In the handmade world, the material often makes the difference. You may have a beautiful idea, a saved tutorial, an inspiration photo in your gallery and an incredible desire to start, but if you choose the wrong cord, the result may not be what you imagined. That is why knowing the differences between Tornado, Ternes and Olly is so important.
Three cotton-blend cords, three different ways to interpret bags, macramé and home décor.
Now it is your turn to choose where to start.
Whether it is a bag, a rug, a basket, a name for a child’s bedroom or a wall decoration, on WWW.TESSILAND.COM you will find the right cord to turn your idea into a project.
And beware: once you start with home décor cords, there is only one risk: looking at every corner of the house and thinking: “A basket would actually look perfect here.”
Rosaria Tessiland®
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