It’s super-common to see macrame plant hangers started by hanging cords from a wooden or metal ring. But can you start a macrame plant hanger without a ring? Yes! And it’s easier than you may think!
Why start a macrame plant hanger without a ring?
“Why would I want to learn how to start a macrame plant hanger without a ring?” you ask. There are a few main reasons:
- Variety: To create a range of different macrame plant hangers
- Integrity: Uncertainty about the integrity of a wooden ring, especially when supporting double plant hangers
- Lack of supplies: Not having wooden/metal rings on hand
- Shipping concerns: Wanting to ship products overseas without risking wooden items being held up in customs
Where do I find free macrame plant hanger patterns?
The 5 ways to start a macrame plant hanger without a ring are designed to be used instead of a wooden or metal ring. They’re not complete patterns – only the pattern for the loop.
If you don’t already have a macrame plant hanger pattern you want to make, you can find some great-looking free ones:
- At the library: Many libraries have a decent stock of macrame books. Two of my favourite books for plant hangers are “Macrame Techniques and Projects for the Complete Beginner” by Tansy Wilson and Sian Hamilton, and “Macrame for Beginners and Beyond” by Amy Mullins and Marnia Ryan-Raison.
- On YouTube: There are some brilliant videos showing how to make macrame plant hangers. I like the Macrame Plant Hanger for Beginners by Marching North.
Knots & Knowledge Needed
The knots and knowledge needed in this project include:
- Square knot
- Wrap knot
- Lark’s Head knot
- Half hitch knot (this is the first half of a Clove Hitch)
- Overhand knot: The basic knot that most people know. Here’s a YouTube video by Knot Calm if you need a refresher!
- Plait/braid: Another common piece of knowledge. For instructions on how to create 3-strand and 4-strand braids, watch this video by Lots of Knots Canada.
I’ve included a few photos in each section to show how to tie these knots, but if you’re a complete beginner it would be best to read my blog post Basic Macrame Knots: The 5 knots beginners need to know. The post covers the 5 basic knots in much more depth.
You might also find it handy to print out my free printable Basic Macrame Knot Cheat Sheet to have a one-page reminder of how to tie each knot.
5 Easy Ways to Start a Macrame Plant Hanger Without a Ring
As mentioned before, the instructions below are for the loop only, so you’ll still need a pattern for a plant hanger to work out the measurements for the main cords. (I’ve included some guidance about where to find free macrame plant hanger patterns in the paragraph above.)
I recommend adding 20cm onto each of the main plant hanger cords the first time you try it. Although, depending on the pattern, you may be fine just using the original lengths given.
If you don’t already follow me on Facebook or Instagram, I’ve posted reels showing some of the techniques used below on both accounts.
1. Square Knots
Materials required: 2200mm cord for square knots plus 750mm for wrap knot
- Gather together the cords needed to make the plant hanger and find the middle of the cords
- Start about 90mm before the centre as the knotted section will cover approximately 180mm (this ensures the knotted section is centred)
- Find the middle of the 2200mm cord and hold it behind the gathered cords at the start point (1)
- Bring the left cord over the gathered cords and under the right cord (2)
- Take the right cord under the gathered cords and over the cord on the left so it comes out the loop created by the previous step. This is a half square knot (3)
- Bring the right cord over the gathered cords and under the cord on the left (4)
- Take the left cord under the gathered cords and over the cord on the right so it comes out the loop created by the previous step. Pull to tighten the first square knot (5)
- Continue until there are 12 square knots around the middle section of the gathered cords (6)
- Fold the square knot section in half to form the loop
- Secure the loop by using the 750mm cord to tie a wrap knot at the base of the square knots (7)
- Cut and glue the loose ends of the wrap knot and square knots to prevent fraying and slippage (8)
2. Wrapping
Materials required: 2500mm cord for wrapping plus 750mm for wrap knot
- Gather together the cords needed to make the plant hanger and find the middle of the cords
- Start about 90mm before the centre as the wrapped section will cover approximately 180mm (this ensures the knotted section is centred)
- Take one end of the 2500mm cord and tie an overhand knot (the normal type of knot) around the gathered cords at the start point (1)
- Now simply wind the cord around the middle section of the gathered cords until 180mm is covered. Ensure the cord is wound quite tightly to minimise the risk of it loosening over time (2) (3)
- To finish the wrapped section, tie another overhand knot (4)
- Fold the wrapped section in half to form the loop. Place the 750mm cord where the two wrapped sections meet (5)
- Secure the loop by using a wrap knot at the base of the wrapped (6) (7)
- Cut and glue the loose ends of the wrap knot and wrapped cord to prevent fraying and slippage (8)
3. Larks Head Knots
Materials required: 2500mm cord for Lark’s Head knots plus 750mm for wrap knot
- Gather together the cords needed to make the plant hanger and find the middle of the cords
- Start about 90mm before the centre as the knotted section will cover approximately 180mm (this ensures the knotted section is centred)
- Take one end of the 2500mm cord and hold it in front the gathered cords at the start point (1)
- Wrap the long end around the back and over the short end (2)
- Loop the cord down and, while holding the loop, take the long end of the cord around the back and thread it through the loop created (3)
- Pull firmly to tighten the first Lark’s Head knot (4)
- Repeat steps (2), (3), and (4) until there are 18 Lark’s Head knots (5)
- Fold the Lark’s Head knot section in half to form the loop, keeping the decorative edge facing out (6)
- Secure the loop by using the 750mm cord to tie a wrap knot at the base of the Lark’s Head knots (7)
- Cut and glue the loose ends of the wrap knot and Lark’s Head knots to prevent fraying and slippage (8)
4. Plait/braid
Materials required: 750mm for wrap knot
- Gather together the cords needed to make the plant hanger and find the middle of the cords
- Start about 90mm before the centre as the plaited section will cover approximately 180mm (this ensures the plaited section is centred)
- At the start point, separate the cords into 3 even groups (1)
- Form a plait by taking the cord on the right and placing it over the middle cord, then taking the cord on the left and placing it over the new middle cord. Repeat (2) (3)
- Plait the cords until 180mm is plaited (4)
- Fold the plaited section in half to form the loop (5)
- Secure the loop by using the 750mm cord to tie a wrap knot at the base of the plaits (6) (7)
- Cut and glue the loose ends of the wrap knot to prevent fraying and slippage (8)
5. Half Hitch Spiral Knots (half of a clove hitch)
Materials required: 2500mm cord for half hitch knots plus 750mm for wrap knot
- Gather together the cords needed to make the plant hanger and find the middle of the cords
- Start about 90mm before the centre as the knotted section will cover approximately 180mm (this ensures the knotted section is centred)
- Hold one end of the 2500mm cord to the right of the gathered cords. Bring the long end behind the gathered cords and around the front to form a “4.” Then wrap it around the back and thread it through the loop created to create the first half hitch knot (1) (2)
- Continue tying half hitch knots around the middle section of the gathered cords until 180mm is covered (I tied 37 half hitch knots) (3) (4) (5)
- Fold the half hitch knot section in half to form the loop (6)
- Secure the loop by using the 750mm cord to tie a wrap knot at the base of the half hitch knots (7)
- Cut and glue the loose ends of the wrap knot and half hitch knots to prevent fraying and slippage (8)
Conclusion
I hope you found this tutorial on 5 easy ways to start a macrame plant hanger helpful. It really doesn’t take that much more effort than attaching the cords to a wooden or metal ring!
Leave a comment below and let me know which option you’ve tried. I’d love to hear how you went.
