Are your square knots coming out looking wonky, misshapen, or uneven? Well you’ve come to the right place! The information to follow will help you learn how to tie square knots like a pro so your macramé projects come out deserving of display in the most magazine-worthy homes.
Whether the goal is to be able to sell your macramé pieces or to make personal projects that you can be proud of, the following tips will have your square knots looking straight, perfectly-shaped, and uniform.
What is a square knot?
A square knot is one of the most common knots you will come across in macramé. While people argue over which knots are classed as “basic macramé knots,” there is simply no argument that square knots have a rightful place in this category.
Tying a square knot involves two steps; creating a half square knot, and then repeating the process the opposite way.
You might find it helpful to print out a copy of my Basic Macramé Knot Cheat Sheet. It includes brief instructions and photographs on how to tie each of the basic macramé knots.
Getting started
Before you start, you’ll need to be aware of the following terms for the instructions to make sense:
Filler cord/s: The cord/s that knots are tied around. i.e. filler cords can be found inside square knots and clove hitch knots.
Working cord/s: The cord/s actively used to tie the knots in a macramé project.
The beauty of macramé is that it’s possible to learn as you go. So if you’re learning how to tie a square knot while completing a project, you’ll need the appropriate lengths of cord for that project.
However, if you simply want to have a practice before starting a project, you’ll need two lengths of cord approximately 1.2m long. Preferably the cord will be 5mm, 3-ply because this size is easy to grab hold of to knot and untie. This amount of cord will give you enough space to practice tying a decent number of square knots before you get started.
Not sure what the difference is between 1-ply and 3-ply? You can learn about the basics of macramé in the Beginner’s Guide to Macramé.
How to tie a square knot
The following instructions will teach you how to tie a square knot starting with the left side. The square knot can also be tied starting on the right by completing the steps below in a different order (steps 6-8 followed by steps 2-4).
It’s advisable to decide which way feels more natural to you to tie a square knot and stick with that as the main method. That way your body will develop muscle memory to tie square knots. The square knots will appear consistent and you don’t run the risk of accidentally mixing up the ways you tie the square knots in your macrame project.
1. You will need 4 strands to work with to make a square knot. In this case, I used two lengths of cord folded in half and attached using Lark’s Head Knots.
2. Take the cord on the left and bring it over the middle two (filler) cords, then under the cord on the right.
3. Take the cord on the right and thread it under the two middle cords, then over the cord on the left so it comes out the loop created by the previous step.
4. Pull these two working cords tight while keeping tension on the two middle (filler) cords.
You have created a Half Square Knot.
NOTE: In some projects you could keep creating these to form beautiful twisted spirals.
5. Now take the cord on the right and bring it over the middle two (filler) cords, then under the cord on the left.
6. Take the cord on the left and thread it under the two middle cords, then over the cord on the right so it comes out the loop created by the previous step.
7. Pull these two working cords tight while keeping tension on the two middle (filler) cords.
8. You have now created a Square Knot!
Tips to tie the perfect square knot
So you know the process…..then why are things still going awry? Keep reading to discover my 8 best tips to learn how to tie a square knot like a pro!
Tip #1: Choose a side to start that feels good to you
We’re all unique. Some of us write with our right hand and some of us write with our left hand; so why should macramé be any different?
The square knot can be tied beginning on the left side and it can also be tied beginning on the right side. Have a go at each and decide which way feels most natural to you; then stick with it.
This reel demonstrates the difference between square knots starting from the left and square knots starting from the right.
Tip #2: Twist the cord to keep it's shape
If you look at macramé cords they’re held together by a twist in the fibres. (Well except for braided cords…which are obviously…braided!)
The 3-ply cords consist of 3 individual sections of fibres twisted together, and then these 3 sections are twisted around each other to form the cord. The 1-ply cord consists of a single section of fibres twisted together, and is more prone to unravelling during the knotting process.
To ensure the cord holds it’s shape when tying square knots, gently rotate the cord to tighten the twist as you tie each knot. This technique can be used when working with both 1-ply and 3-ply, but it’s more pertinent when working with 1-ply macramé cord.
The goal is for the twist to tighten, so if you rotate the cord and the fibres unravel it’s a sign you’re twisting the cord the wrong way. It’s important to find balance here as if you over-twist the cord it will look unnatural.
Tip #3: Regularly check the shape is complete
You may have noticed in the instructions on how to tie a square knot that at the half-way point a half square knot is created. If only the first half of the method is followed and you don’t complete the square knot, the half square knots will begin to form a spiral.
This spiral-shape can be beautiful if that is your intention. However, if you unknowingly tie some half square knots and some full square knots, the result will be less-than-perfect.
To ensure each square knot is complete, regularly check the shape of the square knots to make sure the cord at the front loops from the left to the right and back to the left (or vise versa).
Regularly checking this allows you to identify early on if you’ve not finished one of the square knots correctly. The earlier mistakes are identified, the less time they eat up and the less knots you have to undo to correct the mistake.
Tip #4: Keep tension on the filler (middle) cords
This tip can be a game-changer for those of you who are struggling with wonky-looking square knots! The filler (middle) cords need to be held straight for the square knots to be created in a perfectly-straight column.
The most important point to consider here is that your project is anchored correctly to be able to apply pressure (i.e. keep tension) on the filler cords. For larger projects, such as plant hangers and wall hangings, this may mean securing it to a portable clothes rack, towel rack, door, or other secure point with S-hook/s or extra lengths of cord. In the case of small projects, such as keychains, this may mean securing it using a corkboard and pins or a clipboard.
Once your project is anchored correctly, hold the filler (middle) cords so they are straight while the square knot is being tied. Apply a moderate amount of pressure downwards. Once the square knot is complete, give the filler cords another gentle tug to ensure they aren’t curled up at all.
Tip #5: Measure the distance between square knots
Depending on the project, square knots may be tied immediately below each other, or they can be a set distance apart to create a more open pattern. If it’s the latter, I highly recommend using a metal rule or measuring tape to measure this distance, rather than just gauging it by eyesight alone.
A tiny 5mm difference in the distance between square knots can have a huge impact towards the end of your project if there are multiple rows of square knots being tied. The larger the distance between the square knots, the larger your project will be once complete. This could even mean you run out of cord before the project is finished.
Using a metal rule or measuring tape ensures the distances between the square knots are exact and even.
Tip #6: Count the square knots (short distances)
There are 2 methods for measuring the lengths that columns of square knots cover in your projects. This is useful when creating wall hangings with 2 columns of square knots that meet in the middle or macramé shelves where the square knot columns on each side need to be even.
When tying square knots over short distances I recommend counting the square knots. Each square knot consists of a cord that loops from the left around to the right and back to the left (or vice versa). So each loop around and back is counted as 1 square knot. For instance, you might create 5 rows of square knots on each side, so you would need to count 5 on each side to check they are even.
Tip #7: Measure the square knots (long distances)
However, when creating longer columns of square knots it may not be feasible to count each individual square knot. (Imagine attempting to count 53 square knots…and you get up to row 45 and lose count!)
Another factor to consider is that over longer distances there may be small differences in the size of the square knots you’re tying, which may then cause differences in the total length of the columns.
So in this case, it’s easier to use a metal rule or measuring tape to measure the distance the square knots cover. The square knot count may be slightly uneven, but the overall length on both sides would be identical.
Tip #8: Mirror square knots in some projects
Certain projects may require you to create some square knots starting from the left and some square knots starting from the right in order for the design to look correct. I tend to always start my square knots by crossing the left cord over first, but in some circumstances I begin by crossing the right cord over first to make the design symmetrical.
A good example is the butterfly design on the macramé shelf below. The left wing has a square knot starting from the left and the right wing has a square knot starting from the right. As the knots in this case pull a fair few filler cords together in the middle, it’s blatantly obvious if the designs on each wing don’t mirror each other.
For a video tutorial on how to tie square knots beginning from the different sides, watch the reel already mentioned above.
What macramé projects can be made using square knots?
The square knot is one of the most versatile macramé knots and is super-simple to tie once you have some practice. Many beginner projects include square knots as the main knot in the project. There can be dramatic differences in the look of a project simply by changing the distance between the square knots.
Some macramé projects that include square knots are:
- Plant hangers (like this beaded plant hanger)
- Fruit hangers and hammocks
- Keychains (like this mermaid keychain)
- Document holders
- Market bags
- Purses
- Wall hangings (like this ruffled square wall hanging)
Conclusion
So that’s it for my 8 best tips on how to tie square knots like a pro!
Have you struggled with your square knots being wonky, misshapen, or uneven? Let me know what you’ve been struggling with in the comments below, and if the tips in this post have helped you up-level your square knot game!
Want to learn more about each of the knots used in macramé? The My Mum the Dreamer Macramé Knot Guide will be available soon! Join my email list to be informed when the knot guide is released.
