Why macramé is the perfect first fiber craft
Macramé looks intricate, but every design is built from just two knots: the square knot and the spiral knot. With a single roll of inexpensive cotton cord and no needles, hooks, or looms, you can finish a graceful plant hanger in under two hours. The result is a custom-length holder that turns a basic pot into Instagram-ready boho décor.
What you need (and what you can skip)
- 48 m (52 yd) of 3–4 mm single-strand cotton cord—unbleached, recycled, or dyed
- Sharp scissors
- Measuring tape
- a 5 cm (2 in) metal or wooden ring, key ring, or even a sturdy stick
- Optional: masking tape, a clip-board, or an S-hook to hang your work while you knot
Skip fancy beads, dowels, or macramé boards for now; they slow beginners down.
Cut list for a 90 cm (3 ft) hanger
Cut eight cords, each 6 m (20 ft). The finished hanger will hold a 15 cm (6 in) pot. Want a shorter drop? Trim each cord to 5 m; for taller, add 1 m.
Set-up: anchor and group
1. Fold all eight cords in half and pass the midpoint through the ring, creating 16 working strands.
2. Pull the ends through the loop and tug tight—this is a Lark’s Head knot. You now have 16 tails hanging down.
3. Divide the tails into four groups of four. Clip the ring to a cupboard handle or tape it to a table edge so the cords hang freely.
Knot 1: the square knot (SK)
Working with four cords:
- Take the left cord, lay it over the two middle “filler” cords, under the right cord.
- Bring the right cord under the fillers and up through the loop on the left. Tighten halfway.
- Reverse: right cord over fillers, under left; left cord under fillers, up through the loop.
- Pull evenly—you’ve made a flat square knot. Repeat for practice on all four groups.
Knot 2: the spiral knot (half-square)
Repeat the first half of the square knot over and over—always start with the same side. The work twists into a candy-stripe spiral. Use this later for decorative sections.
Step-by-step hanger pattern
Section A – Gathering knots (5 cm / 2 in)
Grab all 16 cords together and wrap a 40 cm (16 in) scrap cord tightly around them, binding for 5 cm. Tuck the end inside the wrap and pull through to lock. This tidy bundle hides the Lark’s Heads.
Section B – First square-knot row (20 cm / 8 in below wrap)
Back to the four groups. In each group of four cords, tie one square knot. Keep the knots level.
Section C – Spacer (15 cm / 6 in)
Leave cords hanging straight; this gap shapes the “basket.”
Section D – Second square-knot row (join neighboring groups)
Take two cords from the left group and two from the next; treat these four as a new set and tie one square knot. Repeat around so you form a diamond net. Keep tension even—this is the shelf that cradles the pot.
Section E – Netting (optional but pretty)
Measure 8 cm (3 in) down and tie another row of square knots, again pairing adjacent cords. The lower you go, the tighter the basket fits around a tapered pot. Most beginners stop at two rows.
Section F – Finishing bottom
Gather all cords together 10 cm below the last knots. Tie one final wrap knot (same as Section A) for 4 cm. Below this wrap, trim tails to 8 cm for a tassel or 2 cm for a neat stub—your choice.
Hanging your planter safely
Choose a ceiling hook screwed into a joist, a wall bracket, or a sturdy curtain rod. A 15 cm terracotta pot with soil weighs roughly 2 kg (4.5 lb) when watered; ensure the hardware holds at least 10 kg for safety. Slip the pot into the cradle, center it, and adjust the spacer sections so the base sits flat.
Customization cheats for beginners
- Color-block: dye the lower half of cords in fabric dye before knotting.
- Beads: thread one large bead onto each group of four cords before Section D.
- Mini hanger: cut four cords instead of eight, and make two groups—finish in 30 minutes.
- Wall version: stop after Section D and staple-gun the tails to a painted board for vertical herb gardens.
Troubleshooting the top three beginner mistakes
Twisted cords? Hang the work and let gravity help; weights (a spare pair of scissors clipped on) straighten kinks.
Uneven basket? Measure spacer lengths with a ruler; tie one group, then replicate the gap using a cut scrap as a template.
Over-tight knots? Gently pinch the filler cords and push the knot upward to loosen before adjusting.
Caring for cotton macramé
Dust monthly with a hair-dryer on cool. If the hanger gets muddy during watering, hand-wash in lukewarm water with mild soap, press in a towel, and air-dry overnight. Cotton may shrink 3 %; stretch gently while damp.
Cost breakdown
A 100 m roll of 3 mm cotton cord costs about $10 USD at craft chains and yields two full-size hangers. The ring and electricity you already own, so each hanger ends up under $5—cheaper than a store-bought plastic hook.
Next-level skills to explore
Once muscle memory kicks in, swap cotton for recycled T-shirt yarn, jute, or paracord. Try diagonal clove-hitch patterns to create color stripes, or layer multiple hangers at staggered heights for a floating garden corner. Combine the same square-knot technique to make camera straps, belts, or even a pet leash.
Quick recap checklist
- Cut eight 6 m cords.
- Lark’s Head to ring.
- Wrap knot to gather.
- Two rows of square knots with spacers.
- Final wrap and trim.
- Hang, pot, water, admire.
That’s the entire craft—no patterns to print, no abbreviations to decode. Pick up cord this afternoon and by sunset your favorite trailing pothos will be swinging in handmade style.
Disclaimer: This tutorial is for informational purposes only. Test wall or ceiling hooks for weight capacity before hanging loaded planters. This article was generated by an AI assistant.