Macrame Christmas Ornaments: 30+ Patterns with Video Tutorials
Handmade ornaments make a Christmas tree feel like yours. Macrame ones are light, they never break, and most of them take an evening or less. Make one for your own tree, a whole set for the window, or a few as gifts.
Here are all the Christmas tutorials from Macrame School, more than 30 of them, grouped by kind: snowflakes, stars, trees, angels, gnomes and bells, wall decor and gifts. Every one has a step-by-step video. Some are free for everyone, and the ones marked Members are for our YouTube channel members.
Which ornament should you make first?
- Never tried macrame? Start with an easy snowflake. Snowflakes are small, use little cord and teach the basic knots.
- Only one evening? A star or a small Christmas tree is quick, and you can hang it on the tree the same night.
- Something for children to help with? The rope gnomes are easy and fun, and they always make people smile.
- Want a bigger piece? Try the snowflake wreath or the Christmas tree wall hanging for a door or a wall.
- Looking for gifts? Jump to the coasters and candle holders at the end.
Want to see many ideas at once? This video shows 15 easy ornaments.
Macrame snowflakes
Snowflakes are the most loved macrame ornament, and no two patterns are the same. Some are made on a small ring, others only from knots. White or natural cord looks like real snow, and a few of them together on a branch or in a window make a beautiful winter display.
Tip: to keep a snowflake flat and crisp, brush it with fabric stiffener or with white glue mixed with a little water, pin it flat on a board and let it dry overnight.
Stars and Christmas flowers
A star for the top of the tree, a few small ones for the branches, and a red Christmas flower for the table. Wooden beads add a warm touch.
Christmas trees
Little macrame trees to hang on the big tree, on a door handle or on a gift. The one with a cinnamon stick even smells like Christmas.
Angels
Angels are quick to make and need only a little cord. They look lovely on the tree and as a small gift.
Gnomes, bells and more
Fun ornaments for the whole family: fluffy gnomes with long beards, a gnome on a ring and hanging bells.
Christmas wall decor and wreaths
For the door or the wall: a snowflake wreath and an elegant Christmas tree wall hanging. More big pieces are in our macrame wall hanging patterns.
This round flower wreath is one of our favorites: a ring of macrame flowers that looks beautiful on a festive table or door.
Handmade Christmas gifts
A set of coasters or a candle holder is a gift people really use. Make them in the colors of the friend’s home, tie them with a ribbon, and add a small ornament on top.
A plan for the Christmas weeks
No need to make everything at once. One kind of ornament a week, and by Christmas the tree is full:
- Week 1: snowflakes. Make a set of three to five in white cord.
- Week 2: stars and trees. Quick pieces to fill the branches.
- Week 3: angels and gnomes. The ones everybody asks about.
- Week 4: gifts. Coasters or a candle holder, wrapped and ready.
What you need
- Thin macrame cord. Most ornaments use cord of about 2–3 mm, so the details stay small and neat. White, natural, red and green are the classic Christmas colors. Our macrame cord guide explains the different kinds.
- Small rings and beads. Wooden or metal rings for snowflakes and wreaths, wooden beads for heads, stars and trees.
- Sharp scissors, a comb and a tape measure. For cutting the cords and brushing out fluffy ends.
- Something to hang them with. A loop of cord, a ribbon or a little hook.
- For snowflakes: fabric stiffener or white glue, a board and some pins.
Questions people ask
How do you make a macrame snowflake stiff?
Brush it with fabric stiffener, or with white glue mixed with a little water, pin it flat on a board and let it dry completely. It stays flat and keeps its shape on the tree.
What cord is best for macrame ornaments?
A soft cotton cord of about 2–3 mm works for most ornaments. Thicker cord makes bigger, chunkier pieces, which is nice for a door wreath or a wall hanging.
Are macrame ornaments good for beginners?
Yes. They are small, so you need little cord, and you see the result quickly. Most use only a few basic knots. If a knot is new to you, our guide to the basic macrame knots shows each one with a video.
How do you store macrame ornaments?
Lay them flat in a box with some tissue paper between them, so the fringes and snowflake points do not get crushed. Next year they come out looking like new.
You will find all our Christmas tutorials on the macrame Christmas page. New to macrame? Start with the three steps on New to macrame?. Merry Christmas and happy knotting!