The rya knot is one of the fastest ways to add thick, textured fringe to any macrame wall hanging. A rya knot is simply two folded cords looped and knotted onto a base, creating tails that brush out into the signature fluffy fringe seen in boho wall hangings. It requires no previous knot knowledge, works on any base cord or dowel, and takes only a few minutes to learn. This tutorial covers everything: how to tie the knot, how to calculate cord lengths, and how to brush fringe to its fullest potential.
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What You Will Need
Before you start, gather your materials. The good news: rya knots are one of the most minimal techniques in macrame. You only need a few things.
- Single-strand cotton macrame cord in 3mm or 4mm width — single-strand brushes out the most cleanly. The Single-Strand Macrame Cord (Regular Rolls) is a great starting point. Use code KNOT10 for 10% off your order.
- A wooden dowel or base cord to tie the rya knots onto
- Sharp scissors for clean cuts
- A macrame fringe comb — the 8" Macrame Stainless Steel Fringe Comb makes brushing fast and thorough
- A measuring tape for consistent cord lengths
If you are brand new to macrame, read the beginner's guide to macrame first to get familiar with basic cord types and setup before diving into this technique.
How to Calculate Cord Length for Rya Knot Fringe
Getting cord length right before you cut is the most important preparation step. Cut too short and your fringe looks sparse; cut too long and you waste material.
The rule is simple: cut each cord to at least 3 times your desired finished fringe length.
Here is a quick reference:
| Finished Fringe Length | Cut Length per Cord | |---|---| | 4 inches | 12 inches | | 6 inches | 18 inches | | 8 inches | 24 inches | | 10 inches | 30 inches | | 12 inches | 36 inches |
Each rya knot uses two cord pieces. So for 20 rya knots across a 12-inch wall hanging, you would cut 40 cord pieces at your chosen length.
Add a small buffer. After brushing, fringe sometimes looks shorter because the fibers puff outward rather than hanging straight down. Cutting cords at 3.5x your finished length gives you a little extra to trim to a clean edge afterward.
How to Tie a Rya Knot: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Measure and Cut Your Cord
Decide on your finished fringe length and cut each cord to 3 times that length. You will use two pieces of cord per rya knot.
For your first practice knot, cut two pieces of 4mm single-strand cotton cord to 18 inches each. This gives you roughly 6 inches of finished fringe to work with.
Step 2: Fold Both Cords Together
Hold the two cord pieces together and fold them in half at the midpoint. You now have a folded pair with one looped end at the top and four loose tails hanging down.
Step 3: Position the Loop Behind the Base Cord
Hold the looped end behind your dowel or base cord so the tails hang in front of you. Think of the loop as a lasso going around the back of the base.
Step 4: Pull the Tails Through the Loop
Take all four tails hanging in front and pass them forward, down, and through the loop from behind. Pull them all the way through until the loop tightens against the base cord.
Step 5: Tighten and Position the Knot
Pull down evenly on all four tails to seat the knot firmly against the base. Slide the knot left or right along the dowel to position it exactly where you want it. The knot head should sit flush against the base with no twist.
Step 6: Repeat Across the Row
Tie rya knots side by side across the full width of your project. The knot heads should sit close together with little to no visible gap. This ensures that when the fringe is brushed, it looks full and dense rather than patchy.
Step 7: Trim the Fringe to Length
After all knots are tied, use sharp scissors to trim the fringe to your final length. A straight horizontal cut gives a clean, modern edge. A V-cut with the center shorter and sides longer creates a more organic boho shape. A slight angle gives an asymmetric look.
Take your time here. The fringe length defines the final proportions of your piece.
Step 8: Brush Out the Fringe
This step transforms your rya knots from neat cord tails into thick, fluffy, cloud-like fringe. Use the 8" Macrame Stainless Steel Fringe Comb and brush each section from the base of the knot downward to the tip in firm strokes.
Repeat until the individual cord plies fully separate. With single-strand cotton, this happens quickly. Expect each rya knot to take 10 to 20 brush strokes to fully open up.
After brushing the entire row, give the fringe a final trim to neaten up any uneven strands. The brushing process can change the apparent length of individual fibers, so a light final trim brings everything back into alignment.
Design Ideas: Arranging Rya Knots for More Visual Impact
A single row of rya knots across the bottom of a wall hanging is the classic approach. But there are several other arrangements worth trying.
Layered rows — Tie two or three rows of rya knots at different heights. Each row uses slightly longer cord than the one above it. The result is a tiered fringe section with real depth.
V-shape fringe — Tie rya knots in a V-pattern, with the shortest knots at the outer edges and the longest at the center. This creates a dramatic pointed fringe section that suits narrower wall hangings.
Mid-wall fringe bands — Rya knots do not have to go only at the bottom. Tie a band of rya knots across the middle of a wall hanging to create a horizontal stripe of texture that breaks up the knotted upper section.
Mixed cord widths — Combine 2mm and 4mm single-strand cord in the same row of rya knots. The different cord weights brush out to different textures, giving the fringe a more organic, varied look.
For more inspiration, take a look at the macrame wall hanging ideas post and the modern boho macrame wall hangings gallery for ways to incorporate fringe into full designs.
Tips for Better Rya Knot Fringe
Use single-strand cord for the best brush-out. Single-strand cotton separates into individual fibers easily and creates the fullest fringe. 3-ply cord can be brushed but takes significantly more effort to open up the plies. Avoid braided cord entirely for rya knots — it does not brush into fringe.
Consistent cord lengths matter. Cut all your cords the same length before starting. Inconsistent lengths create uneven fringe that is difficult to trim neatly after the fact.
Brush gently at first. If you brush too aggressively on the first pass, individual fibers can break. Start with light downward strokes to open up the cord, then increase pressure once the cord is loosened.
Wet brushing for extra fullness. Lightly mist the fringe with water before brushing. The water makes the cotton fibers more pliable and the fringe brushes out fuller. Let it dry completely before hanging the finished piece.
Trim after brushing, not before. Always do your final length trim after brushing, not before. Brushing changes how the fringe sits, and a trim that looks even before brushing can look uneven after.
What's Next
Rya knots are the gateway to creating rich, textured wall hangings with real depth. Once you are comfortable with the technique, try incorporating them into a full project with our macrame plant hanger tutorial or building a complete piece using the easy macrame wall hanging with beads tutorial as your starting structure.
