It's really pretty easy to learn how to macrame and it's a lot of fun. Once you master a knot, you can get into a rhythm it's surprising how quickly a project is completed.
This pretty wall hanging consists of only one type of knot and I kept the scale small, making this a perfect project for beginners. The finished piece measures 6 1/2" x 15" – ideal for any small space in your home needing a little decor. For a larger wall hanging, you can change the scale by using a longer anchor dowel or stick and longer pieces of heavier cord or rope.
While the knot, called the double half hitch or clove hitch knot, is fairly simple, I find many illustrations to be somewhat confusing. So I created my own to share with you that more accurately demonstrate the steps to make it crystal clear. Learn how to tie a double half hitch knot and create a stunning mini-masterpiece in the tutorial below.
Mini Macrame Wall Hanging
For this project, you will need:
1 straight-ish twig, about 6 1/2 inches long
board to work on
fabric shears
16 pieces of cotton cord or string*, 1 yard long
2 pieces of cotton cord or string*, 1 1/2 feet long
tape
optional: fabric dye and stainless steel bowl
*FYI, all-purpose string found in hardware stores is way cheaper than macrame cord found at craft shops.
Here is the macrame pattern:
If you don't know how to macrame, don't let the pattern scare you. I illustrate the steps below and it will all make sense in the end, I promise.
1. Tape your twig to a work surface of some sort. If you have a macrame board, that's great. If not, you can use just about anything. I do recommend finding something you can pick up and move around like a drawing board, large clipboard, corkboard, or a sturdy piece of cardboard. I used a self healing cutting mat which was a little floppy but the lines are helpful to keep your rows even.
2. Attach all 16 cords to the stick, or anchor, using a lark's head knot. (Yes, I lied there is one other knot other than a half-hitch but it's crazy simple!) Fold the cord in half and slide the loop under the anchor from the top. Pull the ends through the loop.
Now all your cords are attached, you should have 32 strings hanging. We will be tying diagonal half-hitch knots to the right and the left, working in groups of 4 cords. Now it's time to learn how to create a half-hitch!
Diagonal Double Half-Hitch
1. For a left facing double half-hitch, hold your filler cord at a diagonal to the left.
2. Throw the adjacent cord over the filler cord to the left.
3. Wrap around the filler cord and up through.
4. Pull taut but not too tight.
5. Repeat this once more. Throw the cord over to the left, around the filler cord, and through.
6. Pull taut again and drop the tying cord.
For a right-facing double half hitch, the steps are the same only you will be holding your filler cord at a diagonal to the right and throwing the tying cord up and over it to the right.
Got it? Cool, let's continue with our wall hanging and I'll show you in pictures, too...
3. Hold the first cord on the left diagonally to the right.
4. Pick up the next cord and bring it up and over to the right. This is how I remember which way to wrap the cord: right diagonal, bring the next cord up and over to the right.
5. Wrap the cord around the filler cord and up through the loop. Pull tight.
6. Pull tight and repeat. Drop that cord.
7. Repeat the steps to tie a right-facing diagonal double half hitch knot with the next 2 cords. Your first 4 cords are compete.
8. Now working with the second set of 4 cords, pick up the 4th cord on right, hold it at a diagonal to the left and tie a left-facing half-hitch knot with the 3rd cord.
9. Repeat with the 2nd and 1st cords.
10. Now you will repeat this "V" pattern 3 more times: 3 right-facing diagonal double half hitch knots working from the left, then 3 left-facing from the right.
11. Once you have the knot down, I find it's easiest to stay on the same 4 cords for as long as the pattern dictates. In this case, you'll create 3 more rows of knots for 4 rows total.
12. And, I also find it's easiest to do all the right-facing at once, so I get into a rhythm.
13. Then go back and tie all your left-facing knots.
14. Now we are going to join the center cords at the bottom of each "V" shape with a left-facing double half hitch knot.
15. Keep going with those left-facing knots, with strands 3, 2, and 1.
16. Then do one more row. See what we did? We are just reversing the direction of the knots above to form an "X" shape.
17. Work the next 4 strands in right-facing knots and repeat, alternating directions, all the way across. Join the bottom of the "V" shapes again, this time with a right-facing knot.
18. And let's just do two more rows, again switching directions, for the hell of it. Join the points of the "V" with a left-facing knot.
19. Now trim the fringe straight across.
20. Flip that baby over and use a lark's head knot to attach your two 1 1/2' cords on either side to add a hanger. Tie the cords in a knot at whatever length you like and trim the ends.
Optional Final Step:
21. To dye the ends, prepare a fabric dye according to the instructions on the package. Hang your wall so that just the ends are submerged in the dye. Wait the required time, rinse and wash, then hang in a warm spot to dry.
Hang that baby and love it!
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