Easy DIY Macrame Wall Hanging for Beginners: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide

Welcome to the beautiful, calming, and deeply enjoyable world of fiber arts!

If you have found yourself drooling over fiber art posts while browsing Pinterest or Instagram and wondering how on earth such beautiful, textured pieces are made, you are definitely not alone. Macrame has had a huge modern renaissance in recent years as the bohemian aesthetic of the 70's is embraced by a new generation of minimalists trying to bring rustic, natural elements into their modern decor.

Whether you live in a small downtown condo that needs some organic warmth or a sprawling suburban dream home with some wall space to spare, making your own wall hanging is a way to satisfy your inner artist. The good news is, you do not need a degree in fiber arts to create something truly stunning with macrame. In fact, all it takes is a single ball of cord, a wooden dowel or branch, a set of sharp scissors, and some patience to create your own beautiful home decor.

In this guide, you will learn everything you need to know to create your very own Easy DIY Macrame Wall Hanging, including:

Essential tools

An easy-to-understand overview of basic knots

A step-by-step guide to help you along the way

Styling and finishing tips

and

Common troubleshooting advice.

Why Macrame is the Ultimate Mindful Craft

Before diving into the nuts and bolts of knot tying, it is good to understand why so many people are taking up macrame in recent years.

Beyond the obvious benefit of enjoying a beautiful new art piece, the process of macrame knitting itself is extremely satisfying.

In our fast paced digital culture, our minds are constantly trying to absorb information and react at a rapid pace. Macrame provides a healthy contrast in that it is a type of active meditation for many people.

Looking at the lovely natural cotton cords, feeling the knots hold snugly, and watching a simple length of cord transform before your eyes into a piece of art can be incredibly satisfying.

Another benefit of macrame as a hobby is that the resulting art pieces are beautiful and personal. Every time you admire your finished project, you will appreciate the effort and thought that went into it.

Phase 1: Gathering Your Supplies

One of the best things about macrame is that it is super accessible. You do not need to have a ton of expensive tools or a special room dedicated to your crafting. In fact, most of the necessary tools for macrame could fit into a small tote bag.

Here is a list of the materials you will need for your project:

The Cord (Obviously!)

Your cord choice will dictate the overall look and feel of your wall hanging.

• Material: For beginners, looking for a 100% single twist/cotton 3-ply twisted cotton cord is a good choice. Cotton is gentle on the skin and knots hold snugly, but it is also easy to undo if you make a mistake. Avoid nylon or cheap plastic twine for your first project as it can be slippery and will not hold knots well.
• Thickness (Diameter): A nice medium thickness cotton cord is ideal. Avoid super thin 2mm cords that take forever to work up, and thick 6mm cords for a less structured, less defined look.
• Color: Classic natural cream or ecru cord is versatile and will match almost any decor. However, if you want to bring in specific colors for a decorating project, you can often find modern cotton cords in earthy terracotta, sage green, mustard yellow, and dusty pink shades.

The Foundation

Every wall hanging needs a nice horizontal foundation to attach your cords to. You can either buy a wooden dowel from a local hardware or craft store, or forage for a nice branch to use as your foundation.

For dowels: You can often find budget dowels at your local hardware store. Look for something around 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick, and 12 to 18 inches long. You can choose to leave your dowel natural, or paint/stain it to match your taste.

For branches: Look around your local park or forest and find a nice sturdy branch to use as your foundation. Make sure to clean it well and dry it completely before using it for your project.

The Tools

• Sharp fabric scissors
• Measuring tape
• A comb or pet slicker brush
• A sturdy surface to hang your dowel or branch from (clothes rack, clothes hanger over a door handle, or two heavy books to hold a branch)

Phase 2: Mastering the Foundational Knots

Before beginning your own wall hanging, here is a brief but thorough breakdown of the 3 foundational knots used in 90% of all macrame projects. Knowing these 3 knots will allow you to create hundreds of different patterns.

1. The Lark's Head Knot (The Mounting Knot)

The Lark's Head Knot is how you will attach your working cords to your wooden dowel or branch.

Step 1: Take a single length of cord and fold it in half to find the center point.

Step 2: Bring the folded loop over and behind your wooden branch, facing downwards.

Step 3: Take the two loose tail ends of the cord and pull them completely up and through the loop.

Step 4: Pull the tails down to secure the knot against the branch. You have now mounted your first working cord!

2. The Square Knot (The Building Block)

The Square Knot is the most iconic knot in all of macrame. It is super versatile and can be used to create geometric grids or checkerboard patterns when worked in alternating directions. A Square Knot is technically two Half Knots, one left facing and one right facing, worked together to create a balanced knot. To make a Square Knot, you need 4 vertical strands of working cord (let's call them 1, 2, 3, and 4, from left to right).

Step 1: Take the leftmost working cord (Strand 1) and cross it over the middle two filler cords (Strands 2 and 3) and under the rightmost working cord (Strand 4).

Step 2: Take the rightmost working cord (Strand 4) and cross it under the middle two filler cords (Strands 2 and 3) and up through the loop on the left.

Step 3: Pull tight to finish your Left Half Knot.

Step 4: Now, create a Right Half Knot by repeating the motions on the right side of your working cords. Take the right working cord (Strand 4) and cross it over the middle two fillers (Strands 2 and 3) and under the left working cord (Strand 1).

Step 5: Take the left working cord (Strand 1) and cross it under the middle two fillers (Strands 2 and 3) and up through the loop on the right.

Step 6: Pull tight to finish your Right Half Knot. When you put a Left Half Knot and Right Half Knot together, you get a complete Square Knot!

3. The Double Half Hitch (The Diaganol or Horizontal Line)

The Double Half Hitch is used to create the diagonal and horizontal lines in macrame. It works by taking an anchor cord (to hold your line), and a second working cord, looping it around the anchor cord two times.

Step 1: Hold your chosen anchor cord taut in the direction you want to work (ex: diagonally down and to the right).

Step 2: Take the working cord immediately next to it and loop it over and around the anchor cord from back to front, forming a small knot. Repeat this motion a second time, right next to your first loop (this is your Double Half Hitch).

Step 3: Repeat this all the way along your anchor cord, using the two working cords next to each set of loops to chain together your Double Half Hitches. This will create solid geometric lines of texture.

Phase 3: Step-by-Step Project Guide - Your "Boho Chic" Beginner Wall Hanging

Now that you know your basic knots, let's build your first DIY wall hanging with this structured, yet elegant beginner guide. This particular design uses a simple wooden dowel, a square knot grid pattern, and some lovely flowing fringe to create a "boho chic" look.

Project Specs:

Finished Size:Approx. 10 inches wide by 24 inches long (including fringe).

Cords Required:10 cords cut to 90 inches (2.25 meters).

Hanging Medium:12 inch wooden dowel.

Step 1: Cutting and Mounting Your Cords

Begin your project by cutting and mounting your cords.

Cut 10 distinct lengths of your chosen cotton cord, each measuring 90 inches long.

Take your wooden dowel and secure it on a work surface or hang it at eye level with a clothing hanger.

Mount each of your cords onto the dowel using the Lark's Head Knot you learned in step 2.

Once you have attached all 10 of your working cords to the dowel, you should have 20 working ends hanging down from it, evenly spaced. Spread them out nicely on the center of the dowel, leaving about 1-2 inches of bare wood on the left and right sides.

Step 2: Row 1 - The Square Knot Grid

We are going to create a grid pattern by tying square knots.

Take your 20 working cords and divide them into 5 working groups of 4. Starting on the far left, tie a square knot about 2 inches down from the middle of the dowel. Space out the square knots evenly, leaving a nice amount of space between knots and the dowel itself.

Repeat this process on the next 4 groups of 4 working cords to the right. Once you have completed a nice horizontal row of 5 square knots, you can move on to the next step.

Step 3: Row 2 - The Alternating Diamond Mesh

For the second row of knots, we are going to make a nice diamond mesh pattern by alternating the placement of our square knots.

For now, leave the outer 2 working cords on the far left and far right completely loose.

For the second row of square knots, take the 2 rightmost working cords from your first square knot and the 2 leftmost working cords from the square knot to its right and tie a new square knot in the middle, about 1 inch below your first row of knots. Repeat this process all the way along the row. This will create 4 nice square knots in a diamond pattern.

Step 4: Row 3 - Closing the Grid

For the third row of knots, return to the working cords you used for your first row of square knots.

Tie 5 more square knots directly below your first row of knots, aligning them horizontally to close the diamond pattern grid.

Make sure to snug up all of your knots so that the pattern is tight and your wall hanging does not sag.

Step 5: Trimming and Shaping the Fringe

The final step is to give your wall hanging the nice, even fringe it needs to become a true statement piece.

Hang your wall hanging vertically and let your cords hang freely for a bit.

Decide how long you want your fringe to be, and cut the ends of your cords in a straight horizontal line.

Pro Tip: If you want a trendy modern look, you can also cut your fringe in a V shape from the middle outwards to the sides.

Take a step back and admire your work. Trim any stray individual cords that stick out to give your fringe an even, tidy look.

Phase 4: Pro Tips and Advanced Variations

If you enjoyed this basic wall hanging project, here are some advanced variations you can try with your next projects:

Adding texture using a brushed fringe

Adding natural elements such as wooden beads or dried florals

Color blocking

Troubleshooting Common Beginner Mistakes

Even experienced fiber artists make a few boo boos every now and then. If you run into any issues with your project, here is how to fix some common beginner mistakes:

Problem: My knots look twisted or uneven.

Solution: Knots look uneven when left and right half knots have unequal tension. Make sure you always tug the left and right tails with equal force when making square knots. If you have a knot that looks completely wrong, simply use your fingernail to untie it and re-tie it. Macrame is super forgiving since knots in cotton cords can be easily adjusted.

Problem: My wall hanging is all lopsided and pulls to one side.

Solution: This happens when you always tug one side of your square knots harder than the other. Lay your piece flat on a table and gently tug the knots to loosen them up, or run a steam iron a few inches above the knots to relax the cotton.

Problem: My fringe looks bunched and uneven.

Solution: Never cut your fringe when your cords are twisted or bunched. Always run your fingers through the cords to untangle any knots first. Also, always use sharp scissors instead of blunt kitchen shears to cut the fringe.

Caring for Your Macrame Wall Hanging

To keep your handmade wall hanging looking its best, follow these simple care tips:

Dusting: The natural cotton cords will collect dust over time. Give your wall hanging a good shake outside every few weeks, or use a hand vacuum with a brush attachment to remove dust.

Spot Cleaning: Dab any spots you might get on your wall hanging with a microfiber cloth, a bit of mild dish soap, and lukewarm water. Avoid getting any water on a wooden dowel wall hanging since raw wood can warp and bleed tannins onto white cotton.

Wrinkle Removal: Use a regular garment steamer or a low steam iron to remove any creases or wrinkles from your fringe.

Conclusion

You did it! You have now learned about macrame supplies, mastered the foundational knots, and created your very own macrame wall hanging. Creating a macrame wall hanging is more than just a craft, it is a mindful, fulfilling activity.

Remember that imperfection is part of the beauty of handmade art, and your first macrame project will always be a cherished reminder of your creativity and effort. Now go forth and make beautiful things!