Knotting a Macrame Plant Hanger — Decorative Knotwork

Cut 8 pieces of macrame cord, each approximately 2 metres long (the finished hanger will be roughly 75-90cm — cord length should be 4-5 times the desired finished length because knotting consumes significant material). Fold each cord in half and attach it to the hanging ring using a lark's head knot: place the folded loop behind the ring, pull the two tails through the loop, and tighten. Repeat with all 8 cords. You now have 16 working cords hanging from the ring, arranged in 4 groups of 4 (each pair of cords from one lark's head plus the adjacent pair forms a working group). Hang the ring from a hook, doorknob, or dowel at a comfortable working height.

Working with the first group of 4 cords, tie a series of square knots. A square knot uses the two outer cords (working cords) to tie around the two inner cords (filler cords). Take the left cord over the two fillers and under the right cord. Then take the right cord under the fillers and up through the loop on the left. Pull tight — this is half a square knot. Now reverse: right cord over the fillers and under the left, left cord under the fillers and up through the right loop. Pull tight. This completes one full square knot. Tie 3-5 square knots in a row (called a sennit) in each group of 4 cords. Leave a gap of 5-8cm between the ring and the first knot for the top section of the hanger.

Leave a gap of 3-5cm below the sennits, then create the net (cradle) that will hold the pot. Take 2 cords from one group and 2 cords from the adjacent group and tie them together with a single square knot. This alternating pattern creates a diamond-shaped net. Continue around all 4 groups, joining each to its neighbour. Leave another 3-5cm gap and repeat the alternating pattern for a second row, again joining cords from adjacent groups. Two or three rows of alternating square knots create a sturdy net that conforms to a round pot. The gaps between knots should be sized so the pot sits securely without slipping through — test-fit the pot as you work.

After the final row of alternating knots, gather all 16 cords together and tie a gathering knot (also called a wrap knot) approximately 5-8cm below the last row. To tie a gathering knot: lay a separate short cord alongside the bundle in a U-shape (the loop pointing down), wrap the long end tightly around the entire bundle 8-10 times working downward, then thread the wrapping end through the loop and pull the top end to draw the loop up inside the wraps, locking everything in place. Trim the wrapping cord ends. This gathering knot creates a secure base that carries the weight of the pot. Pull and adjust the net to ensure even spacing.

Below the gathering knot, trim all cord ends to an even length for a clean fringe (typically 10-15cm). For a decorative finish, unravel the cord plies below the cut to create a brushed-out tassel effect — use a fine-toothed comb or stiff brush to separate the fibres. Place the pot in the net cradle, adjusting the knots so the pot sits level and secure. Hang from the ring on a sturdy ceiling hook rated for the combined weight of the hanger, pot, soil, and water (which can be 5-10 kg for a medium pot). The macrame plant hanger holds the pot securely because the weight is distributed through the knotted net structure — each knot locks under tension, so the hanger actually becomes more secure as weight increases.