From a simple key chain to an elaborate wall hanging, it's easy to learn how to macrame by knowing the basic knots.
So, get started with macrame by kicking off beginner level knotting. The very foundation of any macrame design depends on the knots you choose to make. Therefore, knowing basic macrame knots is quintessential.
Familiarise yourself with these beginner-friendly macrame knot types to curate your designs by combining different knotting styles.
So let's begin with the basic Macrame Knots with a step by step tutorial!
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Basic Macrame Knots: Step by Step
"Is macrame easy?" This is the most common question asked by beginners. To answer this question once and for all, we present this exhaustive tutorial on how to tie different macrame knots. This art form started in the 13th century Arab and uses knots to make hand-woven textiles. So, the more you know about tying various knots, the better designs you can make. You can quickly try all these knots to make macrame wall hangings, plant holders, key chains, bookmarks, hammocks, swings, etc. Let's get started!
Macrame Supplies You'll Need:
To learn and practice how to make knots, you will need the following:
Macrame thread: Choose any colour or type of macrame cord, rope or thread. It can be made of synthetic material, cotton, hemp or jute.
Support: You will either need a hoop, stick, branch, ring or dowel to attach your cord and tie the knot to.
Scissors
Moving on, here are the first few important macrame knots to learn and practice.
Lark's Head Knot
Out of all the different types of macrame knots, the Lark's Head Knot is the most fundamental one. It is also called a Cow Hitch Knot. This elementary knot will get your macrame cord tied or mounted to the support, such as a dowel, hanger or ring.
How to make a Lark's Head Knot?
The most fundamental lark's head knot can easily be made in the following 5 steps. It's super easy to grasp.
Step 1: Take the macrame cord and fold it in half.
Step 2: Take the loop of folded cord and put it over your dowel or through the ring.
Step 3: Bring the loop to the front, pull the cord’s ends through the loop, and tighten it.
Step 4: If you want to make the reverse Lark's Head Knot, take the macramé cord, fold it in half and place the loop under the dowel or behind the ring.
Step 5: Now bring the macrame loop to the front and pull the remaining cord ends through it and tighten.
Square Knot
The Square Knot is used to bring extra strength and intricacy to a macrame design. After Lark's Head Knot, the Square Knot is most commonly used.
How to Make a Square Knot?
The square knot is yet another easy-to-make macrame knot. Learn how to make the square knot in the following steps to quickly secure cords:
Step 1: Tie two Lark's Head Knot side by side on a dowel, ring or any support.
Step 2: Now you have 4 macrame cords (2 working cords and 2 filler cords). The first and the last cords are the ones we will work with (working cords). The 2 middle cords are the filler cords.
Step 3: Take the outer left cord and move it towards the right, taking it over the filler cords. Then, place it under the outer right cord.
Step 4: Now, take the outer right cord and move it towards the left by bringing it under the filler cords and over the outer left cord.
Step 5: Pull both the outer working cord to tighten the knot and keep the filler cords straight at all times.
Congratulations! You successfully made your first square knot.
Spiral Knot
As the name suggests, this knot turns out in a gorgeous spiral, twisted or helix form. It's judiciously used when making plant hangers. Now that you know how to make a square knot, it will be easier to make the Spiral Knot.
How to Make a Spiral Knot?
Here are the steps to make the spiral knot often found in plant hangers:
Step 1: Choose a direction in which you want the spiral to turn out. In this tutorial, we are choosing the right direction.
Step 2: Make several Square Knots in the same way as described above. Keep working on the right side of the square knot, and the pattern will naturally spiral.
Clove Hitch or Doule Half Hitch Knot
The Clove Hitch Knot is also called the Double Half Hitch. It is the most flexible type of macrame knot with endless possibilities. It can be made horizontal or vertical. Here we will look at the horizontal half hitch knot.
How to make a Clove Hitch Knot?
This binding knot can be done in the simple 4 steps given below:
Step 1: Tie 3 Lark's Head Knot on support.
Step 2: Take the outermost left cord and move it to the right, bringing it horizontally over all the other cords. This outermost cord will be your filler cord, and the rest of them will be the working cords.
Step 3: Now take your first working cord (start beside the filler cord) and bring it forward, upwards and around the filler cord to form an anti-clockwise loop.
Step 4: Take the same working cord and take it up, over, through the same loop.
You have successfully created the horizontal clove Hitch Knot.
Here you have the 4 basic types of macrame knots you will need to practice to make any macramé piece.
If you want to gain more knowledge while appreciating your newly made macrame knots, explore our micro learning app and learn new skills in 15 minutes. Thousands of learning opportunities await you.
Top 4 Macrame Knotting Tips for Beginners
Kickstart your knotting journey with these valuable tips.
Tip 1 - Don't make the design too complicated
There are a lot of macrame knots, and each of them gives a different feel and style. If you are a beginner, it is advisable to start from the easiest ones first and then proceed to more intricate ones. For instance, knowing the Lark's Head Knot makes it easier to make the square knot.
Tip 2 - Maintain consistency in knot tension
The next step after learning how to make a knot is to master the key to the knots. If you tighten too much or too loose, the size of your design will be affected. The goal is to maintain a balance while knotting. It can be mastered only with regular practice.
Tip 3 - Choose your macrame supplies wisely
There is a wide variety of threads, cords and ropes available for macrame. To improve your speed and for your convenience, figure out what material suits you and your macrame design the best.
Tip 4 - Have fun with the process
While there are many types of macrame knots, remember that you are free to try and experiment! Practice regularly, and don't be afraid to start over if something goes wrong. Maintain a log of all that you learn in a day and share your progress with others. The best way to stay motivated is to join a macrame community (like the one we have on our Instagram). Feel free to ask questions, hype up each other and learn. Release your creativity with macrame and make something that gives you joy!
Now that you have plenty of information up your sleeve, it's time to get down to business and start creating. We are eager to see your progress with different macrame knot styles. Until then, remember anything you make is "knot half bad".
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