Directions to Make Hanging Macramé
Macramé involves knotting cords together to create strong, woven patterns. You can create hanging macramé pieces simply for decoration or to make useful objects like plant hangers. Hanging macramé pieces are typically made larger than basic macramé pieces so that they can be seen from a distance; the knots and patterns remain the same. Two simple knots that work well with beads are the square single knot and the wishbone knot. The wishbone knot works well for beginners, while the single knot provides more of a challenge.
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Things You'll Need
- 1/4-inch-thick cord (paracord, cotton cord, twisted nylon, etc.) in two colors
- Scissors
- Large barrel beads (glass, wood, ceramic, metal, etc.)
Instructions
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Square Hanging Lanyard
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1
Cut two cords about four times as long as you want your finished cord to be. Choose two different colors for this project; it gives your work interest and helps prevent you from getting confused. In the following steps, red and blue are cited, but you could use any colors you like.
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2
Stretch the red cord out horizontally. Lay the blue cord perpendicular to the red cord.
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3
Bring the bottom arm of the blue cord up so the blue cord lies in a U shape over the red cord. Bring the right arm of the red cord over the curve in the blue U to create a red, sideways U shape.
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4
Fold the left arm of the blue U down over the red cord. The blue cord should form an S shape as it weaves in and out of the red cord.
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5
Fold the bottom arm of the red U to the right. Feed the end of the red cord through the right curve in the blue S. Pull all the cords tight.
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6
Continue weaving square knots in this manner until you reach the ends of the cords. Gather the ends of the cords together and tie them in a knot so they look like a tassel.
Wishbone Hanging Lanyard
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7
Measure out two cords for the wishbone knot about twice as long as you want your finished cord to be. Gather both cords together and fold them in half.
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8
Pinch the fold, bend it down over the cords to create a loop, and push the fold through the loop. Pull tight to finish your first knot.
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9
Separate the cords into two center cords and two outer cords. Slide a bead onto the center cords, pushing it into the loop knot.
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10
Bring the left and right outer cords to the center and slide a bead onto them. Continue alternating cords this way to the end of the cords.
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11
Pinch the ends of the cords together and tie them as you did the loop at the top of the cords. Hang the finished piece from a nail using that loop.
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1
Tips & Warnings
You may hang cords singly or combine them on spring-loaded curtain rods to create door curtains and room dividers.
Add bells to your lanyards to create macramé wind chimes for your porch.
Create several macramé cords and use metal jump rings to attach them to the edges of regular plant pots and small round tabletops to create hanging planters and tables.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
