Looking at the intricate macrame bags that Lu-lyn Chang makes by hand for her accessories brand, Bound Designs, it’s hard to believe she once considered herself completely hopeless at arts and crafts.

“I failed the subject terribly in school and cannot sew or fold a paper aeroplane to save my life,” she told CNA Lifestyle, in an email interview.

Chang, now in her 50s, discovered an unexpected knack for macrame much later in life, after turning to the craft of knot-tying to cope with her anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“That was a difficult time for me. It threw so many things out of my control and worrying thoughts occupied my mind. I was constantly thinking about my mum and children catching COVID, and so forth,” she recalled.

Desperate to keep herself occupied, she tried yoga, baking, gardening, meditation and crocheting. Nothing quite worked.

Then she chanced upon a YouTube tutorial on how to make a macrame plant potholder.

“Somehow, I got hooked. The repetitive, rhythmic pattern of knot-tying calmed my mind. The focus on creating the rows of knots did something to align my mind, breath and movement,” she said.

Unlike the other activities she had tried, the sense of calm lingered. “I couldn’t wait to get back to it.”

FROM A HOBBY TO A BUSINESS

It didn’t take long before plant holders gave way to something considerably more ambitious.

Chang had little interest in making the table runners and cushion covers commonly associated with macrame. Looking at the weave one day, she wondered if she could turn it into something she would actually use: a bag.

“So I researched materials and made a simple clutch bag in black. After that, I couldn’t stop,” she said.

She experimented with different colours, knots and materials, gradually deve...