Macrame Wall Hanging Patterns, from Easy to Large
Say “macrame” and most people picture a wall hanging: a wooden dowel, rows of knots and a long, soft fringe. It is the piece almost everyone wants to make, and it is easier than it looks. Most wall hangings use only a few basic knots, repeated in different ways.
Macrame School has more than 70 wall hanging tutorials, each with a step-by-step video. Many are free for everyone, and the ones marked Members are for our YouTube channel members. Here is a hand-picked selection, grouped by style, from a small first piece to a large statement piece for above the sofa.
Which wall hanging should you make first?
- Never tied a macrame knot? Start with simple Knotting Projects or Learn Knots and Make a Macrame Wall Hanging. The wall hanging video teaches the knots as you go, and you finish with a real piece for your wall.
- Short on time or cord? Try the Half Sun Mini Wall Hanging. Small, quick and a good test of your tension.
- Love flowers? The circles and mandalas below are a Macrame School favorite, and the easiest ones are made with only a few knots.
- Want something big? Jump to the large statement pieces once the basic knots feel comfortable.
- Making gifts? The Christmas wall hangings at the end make lovely handmade presents.
Easy wall hangings for beginners
These use the square knot, half hitches and the lark’s head knot, the same few knots you will use in almost every pattern. If you are new to macrame, watch this one first: it shows every knot step by step while you make your first wall hanging.
Not sure about the knots yet? Our guide to the basic macrame knots explains each one with a video.
Leaves, trees and nature
Leaves are made with double half hitches tied along a holding cord, and once you can make one, you can make a whole branch. These patterns bring a bit of the garden indoors: leaves, a tree of life, soft waves and a butterfly.
Circles, mandalas and dream catchers
Round wall hangings are what Macrame School is best known for. The cords are tied onto a metal or wooden ring and knotted toward the center, so the piece grows like a flower. Check the video for the ring size each pattern uses. Swipe to see them all.
Large statement pieces
A large wall hanging takes more cord and more time, but the knots are the same. Long dowels, deep fringe and repeating patterns make a real feature wall. One of them even has a little shelf for a plant or a candle.
Owls, fish and other fun designs
Not every wall hanging has to be serious. The owl is one of the most loved macrame designs of all time, and the fish, seashells and corals are perfect for a beach house or a bathroom.
Christmas wall hangings
Macrame Christmas trees, a snowflake wreath and an angel: quick to make in natural or white cord, and they look lovely on a door or a wall. For smaller pieces to hang on the tree, see our macrame Christmas ornaments.
See them on a wall
Wondering how a wall hanging looks in a real room? Look around this boho living room with macrame wall hangings.
What you need
- Macrame cord. A 3–5 mm single-strand cotton cord is the most popular choice for wall hangings: soft, easy to undo and it makes a beautiful fringe. Our macrame cord guide explains the different kinds.
- Something to hang it on. A wooden dowel, a piece of driftwood or a branch for straight pieces, a metal or wooden ring for circles.
- Sharp scissors and a tape measure. You will cut many cords to the same length.
- A comb or a pet brush. For brushing out a fluffy fringe at the end.
- A place to hang it while you work. A clothes rack, a door hook or two nails in the wall, so the piece hangs at a comfortable height.
How much cord? It depends on the size of the piece and how many knots it has. The cord calculator in our cord guide works it out for you.
Tips for a neat wall hanging
- Hang it while you work. Knotting on a hanging piece shows you straight away if a row is slanting.
- Keep the tension even. Pull every knot the same way. Even knots matter more than speed.
- Leave the trimming for last. Brush out the fringe, let it hang for a while, then cut it straight or in a V, curve or angle.
- Mark the middle. On a symmetrical pattern, a small piece of tape on the middle of the dowel helps keep both sides the same.
Questions people ask
Is a macrame wall hanging hard for a beginner?
No. Most wall hangings use only the square knot, the half hitch and the lark’s head knot. A small piece is a great first project, and the videos show every step.
How long does it take to make one?
A mini wall hanging can be finished in an evening. A large piece with a lot of knots can take a weekend or more. Every tutorial shows the whole piece, so you can see how big it is before you start.
What size cord is best for a wall hanging?
Most people use 3–5 mm cord. Thinner cord shows fine detail, thicker cord grows quickly and looks bold. For your first piece, a medium 3–4 mm cord is a safe choice.
You will find all our wall hanging tutorials on the macrame wall hangings page. Curious where it all started? Read Macrame Wall Hangings: From Ancient Craft to Modern Boho Chic. And if you are completely new, start with the three steps on New to macrame?.