DIY Macrame Plant Hanger Pattern

Have you ever seen a beautiful bohemian plant hanger in a store and wished you could make one yourself? Maybe you thought it looked too complicated or that you weren’t the “crafty type.” Well, I have great news for you. You absolutely can make one, and it’s much easier than it looks!

Welcome to the wonderful world of macrame! It’s a fun, easy, and budget-friendly craft that is having a huge comeback. All you need are a few simple supplies and a little bit of patience. The purpose of this post is to give you a complete, step-by-step macrame plant hanger tutorial that is perfect for absolute beginners.

This is your ultimate guide to a diy macrame plant hanger. By following these free macrame instructions, you will create a gorgeous, classic plant hanger that will add a touch of handmade charm to any room in your home. Let’s get your hands busy and create something beautiful!

What You’ll Need: Gathering Your Macrame Supplies

Before we start tying knots, let’s gather all our supplies. Getting the right materials is the first step to a successful project. The good news is that you don’t need much, and you can find everything at your local craft store or online.

Think of this as your shopping list for fun. Here is everything you will need for this easy macrame pattern.

Your Simple Supply List

* Macrame Cord: This is the star of the show! For this macrame plant hanger pattern, I highly recommend a 4mm or 5mm single-strand cotton cord. It’s soft, easy to work with, and holds knots perfectly. You will need about 100 feet in total. Don’t worry, we’ll cut it into smaller pieces soon!
* A Plant Pot: A standard 4-inch or 6-inch pot works great for this design. You can use a plastic nursery pot or a cute ceramic one. Have it ready so you can test the fit as you go.
* Sharp Scissors: You’ll need a good pair of fabric scissors to cleanly cut your cord.
* A Measuring Tape: A soft measuring tape is best for this kind of project.
* A Wooden or Plastic Ring: This will be the top of your hanger, where it will hang from a hook. A 2-inch ring is a perfect size.
* A Key Ring or Small Carabiner (Optional): This isn’t required, but it makes hanging your finished project super easy. You can attach it to the wooden ring.

See? That’s not a long list at all. Once you have everything together, find a comfortable spot to work, maybe with a good podcast or some music playing. You are ready to begin your macrame journey!

Macrame Knots 101: The Only 3 Knots You Need to Know

This is the most important part for macrame for beginners. The entire diy macrame plant hanger is made using just three simple knots. Once you learn these, you can make so many other projects!

We will practice each knot here. Don’t rush. Read the steps, look at the pictures in your mind, and practice with a short piece of cord if you need to. You’ll be a knot-tying pro in no time.

The Lark’s Head Knot (Your Starting Point)

This is the knot you will use to attach all your cords to the wooden ring. It’s very simple.

1. Take one of your long cords and fold it in half so you have a loop at one end.
2. Place the loop over the front of the wooden ring.
3. Pull the two loose ends of the cord through the loop.
4. Pull the ends down to tighten the knot against the ring.

That’s it! You’ve just tied a Lark’s Head Knot. You will repeat this for all the long cords.

The Square Knot (The Star of the Show)

This is the classic knot you see in most macrame projects. It creates the beautiful, woven pattern on the body of your hanger. A square knot is made in two parts: a half knot to the right, and then a half knot to the left.

Let’s say you have four cords hanging down. We’ll call the two in the middle the “filler cords” and the two on the outside the “working cords.”

1. Take the left working cord and cross it over the two filler cords, making a number “4” shape.
2. Take the right working cord and lay it over the left working cord. Then, pull it under the two filler cords and through the loop on the left side.
3. Pull both working cords to tighten. This is the first half of the knot.
4. Now, do the same thing but in the opposite direction. Take the right working cord and cross it over the two filler cords.
5. Take the left working cord and lay it over the right working cord. Then, pull it under the two filler cords and through the loop on the right side.
6. Pull both working cords to tighten again.

Remember, a square knot is just a right knot followed by a left knot! If you do it correctly, the knot will look neat and square, and it won’t slip.

The Gathering Knot (For a Secure Finish)

This knot is also called a wrapping knot. You will use it at the bottom to gather all the cords together and hold your plant pot securely. It’s like tying a big, pretty belt around all the loose cords.

1. Gather all your cords together as if they were one big pony-tail.
2. Take one of your shorter spare cords (about 5 feet long) and fold it in half. Place the folded loop at the top of the spot where you want to tie the knot.
3. Wrap the long ends of the short cord tightly around all the other cords and the base of the loop. Wrap it down and around many times until you have a nice, tight band.
4. When you’re happy with the wrapping, take the two ends of the short cord and thread them through the loop that is sticking out at the top.
5. Now, pull firmly on the other end of that loop (the one at the very top of your wraps). This will pull the loop and the ends down underneath the wrapped band.
6. Tug everything tight and then trim the ends of the short cord. The knot is now locked in place!

Preparing Your Cords: Let’s Get Everything Measured and Cut

Now that you know the knots, it’s time to prepare your cords. Doing this all at once will make the whole process smooth and enjoyable. You won’t have to stop and measure in the middle of your fun.

For this specific macrame plant hanger pattern, you will need to cut your cords to the following lengths. I know 100 feet sounds like a lot, but trust the process. All that cord is what gives the hanger its beautiful, full look.

Here is your cutting list:

* Four long cords: Each 15 feet long. These will form the main body of your hanger.
* Two long cords: Each 12 feet long. These will add extra fullness to the pattern.
* One short cord: 5 feet long. This will be used for the gathering knot at the bottom.

So, you will have six long cords hanging down, which will give you twelve cords to work with for your knots (because each cord is folded in half). This creates a lush, detailed pattern. Lay all your cut cords out neatly. You are now ready to start building your bohemian plant hanger!

Let’s Start Making! Attaching Cords to the Ring

This is it—the official start of your how to macrame plant hanger project! We are going to attach all the long cords to the wooden ring using the Lark’s Head Knot you practiced.

1. Take your first 15-foot cord and fold it in half.
2. Place the loop over the front of the wooden ring.
3. Pull the two loose ends through the loop and tighten. You now have two cords hanging down from the ring.
4. Move directly to the right and attach the next 15-foot cord the exact same way.
5. Continue around the ring, attaching all four of your 15-foot cords. Space them evenly apart. You should now have eight cords hanging down.
6. Finally, attach your two 12-foot cords in the remaining spaces. You should now have twelve cords total hanging from the ring.

Your ring should look full and beautiful, with twelve cords ready to be turned into a masterpiece. Make sure all the Lark’s Head Knots are snug against the ring.

Creating the Body: Weaving the Square Knot Pattern

This is the core of the project where you will see your hanger really take shape. This section might look long, but that’s just because I’m walking you through every single step. You are just repeating the same square knot over and over, and it becomes very relaxing.

Forming Your First Square Knot Section

Look at your twelve hanging cords. We are going to group them into three sets of four cords each.

1. Skip the first two cords on the far left. Take the next four cords (cords 3, 4, 5, and 6). In this group, cords 3 and 6 are your working cords, and cords 4 and 5 are your filler cords.
2. Tie one complete square knot using these four cords. Remember: right half-knot, then left half-knot. Pull it tight so it sits about 4-5 inches below the ring.
3. Now, move to the next group of four cords (cords 7, 8, 9, and 10). Tie another complete square knot at the same height as the first one.
4. You have one group of four cords left on the right (cords 11, 12, 1, and 2—because the first two cords you skipped are part of this last group). Tie a square knot with this group.

You should now have three square knots side-by-side, forming the first row.

Building the Diamond Pattern with More Square Knots

For the next row, we are going to offset the knots to create a diamond or net pattern. This is the classic look for a bohemian plant hanger.

1. Look at the space between your first and second knot from the previous row. Take two cords from the first knot (the two on the right side of that knot) and two cords from the second knot (the two on the left side of that knot). These four cords now form a new group.
2. Tie a square knot with this new group. It should sit a few inches below the first row of knots.
3. Now, move to the space between the second and third knots from the top row. Take two cords from the second knot (the two on the right) and two cords from the third knot (the two on the left). Tie a square knot with this group.

You now have two square knots in the second row. Continue this pattern for several more rows. Always pull your knots tight for a consistent look. As you add more rows, you will see a beautiful diamond pattern forming. Keep going until the knotted section is about 7-9 inches long, or until it looks good with your pot.

When to Stop Knotting: Measuring for Your Pot

How do you know when to stop? This part is easy. Simply hold your plant pot up inside the hanger. The bottom of the knotted diamond pattern should be just above the top rim of the pot. You want the pot to sit down inside the un-knotted cords below. If the knotted section is too long, the pot won’t fit. If it’s too short, the pot won’t be cradled nicely. Just hold it up and check!

Securing Your Plant Pot: The Gathering Knot and Tassel

You are so close to finishing your diy macrame plant hanger! Now we need to bring all the cords together to hold the pot securely. This is where that gathering knot and your short cord come into play.

Tying the Gathering Knot

1. Gather all twelve cords together below your last row of square knots. Smooth them all down so they are even.
2. Place your empty plant pot inside the hanger. The pot should rest comfortably. Now, gather the cords tightly just below the bottom of the pot.
3. This is where you will tie the knot. Take your 5-foot short cord and tie a gathering knot around all twelve cords, using the steps you learned earlier. Make the wrapped section about 1.5 to 2 inches long. This will create a little shelf for your pot to sit on.
4. Once the knot is secure and tight, you can remove the pot for the next step.

Creating a Pretty Tassel at the Bottom

Now for the fun, fluffy finish! Below the gathering knot, you have all those long cord ends. We are going to turn them into a beautiful tassel.

1. Decide how long you want your tassel to be. A good length is about 6-8 inches.
2. Hold all the cords together and trim the ends evenly with your sharp scissors.
3. For an extra bohemian plant hanger look, you can gently brush out the ends of the tassel with a pet brush or a fine-toothed comb. This will fray the cotton cord and make it soft and fluffy. Be gentle so you don’t break the cords!

The Final Touch: Adding the Hanger and Adjusting Length

Your plant hanger is functionally complete! Now, let’s get it ready to hang.

1. Take your wooden ring at the top. You can tie a simple, strong knot with a piece of leftover cord to the ring to create a hanger loop. Or, for an even easier method, use your key ring or carabiner. Just clip it onto the wooden ring.
2. Now, find the perfect spot for your new creation! Hang it from a hook in a ceiling, a porch beam, or a wall bracket.
3. Place your plant pot (in its nursery pot or a decorative one) into the hanger. It should sit securely on the gathering knot with the knotted diamond pattern cradling its sides.
4. Step back and admire your work! You just followed a macrame plant hanger tutorial and created something beautiful with your own two hands.

Troubleshooting Common Beginner Hiccups

It’s normal to run into a small issue or two on your first try. Here are some quick fixes for common problems.

* My knots are loose or messy. No problem! This is very common. As you work, just take a moment to go back and gently tug each knot tighter. The more you practice, the more even your tension will become.
* My cords are different lengths now. This happens when some knots are tighter than others. The gathering knot at the bottom will hide any small differences. For the tassel, just trim the ends to be even.
* I think I used the wrong knot. If you make a mistake, you can almost always untie it. Macrame cord is very forgiving. Just carefully loosen the knot and re-tie it correctly.
* I don’t have enough cord. This is why measuring carefully at the start is important. If you run out, you can carefully knot on a new piece of cord, but it’s best to try and avoid this.

Key Takeaways

Let’s quickly review what you’ve accomplished with this free macrame instructions guide.

* You learned the three essential macrame knots: the Lark’s Head Knot, the Square Knot, and the Gathering Knot.
* You gathered simple supplies and prepared your cords like a pro.
* You built the body of the hanger by repeating a simple square knot pattern to create a diamond design.
* You securely finished your hanger with a gathering knot and a pretty tassel.
* Most importantly, you created a stunning, handmade diy macrame plant hanger from scratch!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Your New Handmade Hobby

Look at what you did! You started with a simple ball of string and a dream, and you turned it into a beautiful piece of home decor. This easy macrame pattern was just the beginning. Now that you know the basic knots, a whole world of creativity is open to you. You can make wall hang