Create a beautiful boho-style plant hanger using simple knots! This project takes about 1-2 hours and requires no prior macramé experience. Perfect for anyone wanting to add handmade charm to their home while learning a new craft.
Set up a comfortable workspace with good lighting. Hang your wooden ring or dowel from a sturdy hook, curtain rod, or door handle at about chest height. This makes knotting much easier than working flat on a table.
Using scissors, cut eight pieces of macramé cord, each measuring 10 feet (3 meters) long. It's better to have extra cord than run short. Lay them out side by side to keep them organized.
Fold each cord in half to find the center point. Place the folded center behind the wooden ring, pull the loop over the front of the ring, then thread both cord ends through the loop and pull tight. This creates a lark's head knot. Repeat for all 8 cords so you have 16 strands hanging down.
Separate the 16 hanging strands into 4 equal groups of 4 strands each. Space them evenly around the ring. Use small pieces of tape or cord to temporarily mark each group if helpful.
Using your measuring tape, measure down 20 inches (50 cm) from the bottom of the wooden ring on all cords. This creates the top portion of your hanger. You can mark this spot lightly with tape on one cord in each group.
Working with one group of 4 strands at the 20-inch mark: the two outer strands are your working cords, the two inner strands are filler cords. Take the left outer cord, pass it over the two middle cords and under the right outer cord. Take the right cord, pass it under the middle cords and up through the loop on the left. Pull tight. Then reverse: right cord over middle and under left, left cord under middle and up through the right loop. This completes one square knot. Repeat this same square knot on the other 3 groups.
From the bottom of your first row of square knots, measure down 4 inches (10 cm) on all groups. This spacing creates the classic macramé plant hanger look.
Now you'll combine strands from adjacent groups. Take the 2 right strands from group 1 and the 2 left strands from group 2. Tie these 4 strands together with a square knot at the 4-inch mark. Repeat around the hanger: right strands of group 2 + left strands of group 3, right strands of group 3 + left strands of group 4, and finally right strands of group 4 + left strands of group 1. You now have 4 new square knots connecting everything in a diamond pattern.
Measure down another 4 inches (10 cm) from your second row of knots. Repeat the basket weave: combine 2 right strands from one knot with 2 left strands from the adjacent knot, creating square knots all around. This forms the cradle that will hold your plant pot.
Measure down about 6 inches (15 cm) from the last row of knots. Gather all 16 strands together in one hand, holding them tightly at this point. This will be where you create the bottom gathering knot.
Take one extra piece of cord about 20 inches long. Create a loop with it and place it against the bundle of 16 cords with the loop pointing down. Wrap the long end of this cord tightly around all 16 strands and over the top part of the loop, making 8-10 tight wraps going downward. Thread the wrapping end through the bottom loop, then pull the top tail to bring the loop and end up inside the wraps. Trim both tails close to the wraps.
Below the gathering knot, trim all 16 cord ends to your desired tassel length—typically 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) looks nice. You can cut them straight across or at angles for different looks. Unravel the twisted cords slightly if you want a fluffier tassel effect.
Place a plant pot (4-6 inch diameter works best) into the macramé cradle to test the fit. The pot should sit securely in the woven section. If it's too loose or tight, you can gently adjust the knots before final use. Make sure the wooden ring is secure.
Hang your completed plant hanger from a ceiling hook, wall bracket, or curtain rod. Add your favorite potted plant, making sure the pot fits securely in the cradle. Adjust the height and position until you're happy with the display.