Macrame is the art of creating textiles using knots rather than weaving or knitting. It’s one of the most accessible crafts you can pick up — all you need is cord, your hands, and a little patience.
Whether you want to make a plant hanger for your living room or a wall hanging for your bedroom, this guide covers everything you need to go from zero to your first finished piece.
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What You’ll Need to Start
The beauty of macrame is how little you need. Here’s your starter kit:
- Macrame cord (3mm or 4mm cotton cord is ideal for beginners)
- Scissors
- A dowel or branch (to mount your work on)
- Measuring tape
- Optional: A comb or brush for fringing
For cord, we recommend starting with 4mm single-strand cotton cord. It’s forgiving, holds knots well, and is easy to unravel if you make a mistake.
Get Your Macrame Starter Kit
Cotton cord, scissors, dowels, and everything else to start your first project.
The 3 Essential Knots
Every macrame project uses some combination of three basic knots. Master these and you can make almost anything.
1. Lark’s Head Knot
This is how you attach cord to your dowel. Fold your cord in half, place the loop over the dowel, and pull the ends through the loop. That’s it.
2. Square Knot
The workhorse of macrame. You’ll use this in 90% of your projects. It uses four cords — the two outer cords do the work while the two inner cords stay straight.
Left square knot: Take the left cord over the two center cords and under the right cord. Then take the right cord under the center cords and up through the loop on the left. Pull tight. Repeat from the right side to complete one full square knot.
3. Spiral Knot (Half Square Knot)
This is just a square knot where you always start from the same side. Instead of alternating left-right, you keep starting from the left. The result naturally spirals — it looks complex but it’s the easiest knot to master.
Your First Project: Simple Plant Hanger
A plant hanger is the perfect first project because:
- It uses only 2 of the 3 knots (lark’s head + square knot)
- It’s forgiving — slight imperfections look intentional
- It’s functional — you’ll actually use it
- It takes about 1-2 hours
Materials
- 8 pieces of 4mm cotton cord, each about 8 feet long
- 1 metal or wooden ring (2-3 inch diameter)
Steps
- Fold all 8 cords in half and attach them to the ring using lark’s head knots (you’ll have 16 strands hanging down)
- Divide into 4 groups of 4 strands each
- Tie a square knot with each group, about 6 inches down from the ring
- Take 2 strands from one group and 2 from the next, and tie another square knot 3 inches below
- Repeat around all groups to create a net pattern
- Gather all strands together and tie a large gathering knot at the bottom
- Trim the ends evenly and brush them out for a fringed look
Common Beginner Mistakes
Using the wrong cord thickness. Too thin (1-2mm) and your knots disappear. Too thick (6mm+) and your hands will ache. Stick with 3-4mm to start.
Not measuring enough cord. Macrame eats cord. A general rule: cut your cord 4-5 times the length of your finished piece. It’s better to have too much than too little.
Tying too tight. Loose, even tension creates the cleanest knots. Death-gripping your cord makes everything uneven.
What to Make Next
Once you’ve finished your plant hanger, try these projects in order:
- Simple wall hanging — adds half hitch knots to your repertoire
- Macrame feather — great for learning shaping and fringing
- Keychain — small, quick, and makes a great gift
- Curtain or room divider — bigger project, but uses the same knots at scale
Supplies We Recommend
For quality macrame cord and tools, Bochiknot carries everything you need — from starter kits to specialty cords.
Browse All Macrame Supplies
Cord, tools, and starter kits for every skill level and project type.
