I’ve always loved macramé. I remember my mom decorating with it when I was a kid in the 1980s (a throwback to the 1970s, no doubt), and even then it felt fresh and fun compared with how other people’s homes looked. Recently I spotted a few macramé plant hangers and, inspired by their simple, handmade charm, decided to try a DIY macramé plant hanger of my own.
Even if you’ve never worked with macramé before, this project is approachable and should take only a couple of hours. The design uses a small set of basic knots, so it’s a great first project that won’t leave you frustrated or overwhelmed.
DIY Macrame Plant Hanger
Hanging planters are one of my favorite ways to introduce greenery into a room. They sway gently with a breeze, save valuable floor space, and keep potentially toxic plants out of reach of curious children and pets. A macramé hanger adds an earthy, handmade touch to that greenery—stylish and slightly bohemian at the same time.
For a low-maintenance hanging planter, choose hardy plants with trailing foliage, like spider plants or ivy. These varieties tolerate occasional neglect, don’t need frequent watering, and require only occasional pruning—perfect for a hands-off hanging display.
If you’re brand-new to macramé, practice a simple wall hanging or another small project first, but you don’t need a long list of knots to make a beautiful hanger. In this design you’ll primarily use a square knot (and a spiral variation), a lark’s head, and some basic gathering knots. Once you’ve mastered those, you can vary spacing and knot patterns to create lots of different looks.
Feel free to improvise as you go—change knot order, spacing, or lengths to make a set of hangers that are similar but not identical.
Supplies
- 3 mm macramé cord
- Scissors
- Ruler or measuring tape
- Tape
- Potted plant
Directions
This project uses just a few knots: lark’s head (including the vertical lark’s head for covering a ring), the spiral stitch (a twisted form of half-square knots), and the square knot. The spiral stitch and square knot are closely related, so once you grasp the movements, the whole pattern becomes straightforward. Practice each knot briefly before starting the full hanger.
Follow these steps to construct the hanger:
- Cut eight pieces of macramé cord, each 200 inches long.
- Lay all eight cords together and fold the bundle in half so you have 16 working cords and a loop at the top. Measure about 3 inches from the folded loop and secure the cords together with tape.
- To cover the top loop, cut a length of cord about 75 inches long. Fold it in half and attach it with a lark’s head knot at the top of the loop.
- Using the working ends of that covering cord, wrap or tie vertical lark’s head knots around the bundled looped cords to cover the loop completely. Repeat with the opposite side until the loop is neatly covered.
- Cut a 40-inch piece of cord. Remove the tape holding the bundle, wrap the 40-inch cord around the base of the loop to secure it, tie a knot, tuck the ends beneath the wrapping, and trim any excess.
Now begin the hanging body of the macramé:
- Separate the 16 cords into four groups of four. On each group, work a 10-inch section of spiral stitch (half-square knots worked repeatedly) to create a twisted column. Do this for all four groups.
- Leave about 5 inches of unworked space, then tie a simple overhand knot across each group.
- Below that knot, tie a 5-inch section of square knots on each group to form the next decorative band.
- Measure down about 4 inches, then join the groups: make square knots using two cords from one group combined with two cords from the adjacent group. These intergroup knots form the mesh that will cradle the pot. Repeat around so that each adjacent pair of groups is connected.
- If your pot is taller or you want more support, skip 3 inches and repeat a second row of intergroup square knots to further secure the net; omit this step for smaller pots.
- To finish, leave another 3-inch gap, gather all cords together, and tie a final overhand knot to secure the base of the hanger.
- Trim the hanging cords at the bottom so they’re even for a tidy finish.
Once complete, place your potted plant into the woven cradle and hang it from a secure hook. Adjust knot spacing or cord lengths in future hangers to fit different pot sizes or to create varied styles. With a few basic knots and some patience, you can make attractive, durable macramé hangers perfect for any room.