Easy DIY Macrame Plant Hanger

potted plant in macrame hanger
  • 1 hours
  • Beginner
  • 5-50
What You'll Need
Macrame rope/cord
Scissors
Pot with tray
Hanging ring
What You'll Need
Macrame rope/cord
Scissors
Pot with tray
Hanging ring

Those of you who’ve been around long enough to remember interior design trends from the 1970s may be surprised at the exceptional return in popularity of something we all had in our homes—macrame plant hangers.

Of course, yours doesn’t have to be avocado green or mustard yellow like those from the era, but somehow the basic macrame design still serves the purpose well.

Making your own macrame plant hanger is an easy project that requires few supplies and a basic technique.

Step 1 - Pick Your Planter

In order to make your macrame plant hanger the right size, you’ll want to first know what size planter it is required to hold.

Plastic planters are lighter, but your plant holder can handle metal, wood, or ceramic planters too.

Just make sure your drain tray is sufficient to keep water from running onto the ground.

Give your planter a fresh coat of paint if needed. Then go ahead and place your plant into the pot with good soil.

macrame plant hanger

Step 2 - Cut the Macrame Cord

You can choose from a variety of thicknesses for your natural macrame cord.

The 3mm thickness will hold up well, but you can go ultra-durable with a four, five, or six millimeter thickness.

Just make sure the roll you buy at the local craft store or online is at least 100 feet long.

Cut your macrame cord into eight, ten-foot strands. You can get away with shorter strands for smaller pots.

Step 3 - Begin the Process

macrame strands

To start, loop the strands over the edge of the ring. This will provide you with 16 strands hanging down.

Take an additional piece of cord that’s a few feet long and wind it around the group of strands directly below the ring where they overlap.

Tie it into a macrame wrapped knot.

Step 4 - Divide Your Strands

With the ring mount secure, you will now separate the 16 strands into four groups. Each of these groups will run down the four sides of the planter, meeting underneath.

Step 5 - Make Square Knots

From your wrapped knot, measure down each group of four strands and mark a spot about 20 inches down.

At this spot, use the two outside strands to tie a square knot over the two inside strands. Make a second square knot next to the first.

Step 6 - Make Next Round of Square Knots

hand tying macrame knot

Measure down from the bottom of the square knots you just made. Mark a spot around four to six inches down on all of the 16 strands so the next knots are even.

Choose a length that makes sense for your planter size.

From there, create four more square knots, by taking the center and left strands from one group and tying them to the center and right strands of the adjacent group.

Tie a second set of square knots directly below the first.

Step 7 - Make a Final Knot

macrame knots

Once you have all of your square knots completed, gather together the bottoms of the strand groups and tie them all into one knot five to eight inches below the last knots.

Trim up any uneven strands at the bottom and you’re done.

Step 8 - Insert Plant and Hang

Now comes the rewarding part. Your hanger is complete, so it’s time to display your plant.

If you don’t already have a plant hook in the ceiling, install one now.

For drywall, be sure to use a hook with a bracket that expands on the other side. Otherwise, insert your hook into a stud.

Place your planter inside the macrame hanger with the big knot directly below the bottom of the planter and the four knotted strands going up the sides.

Rearrange the leaves or branches so they are evenly spaced around the hanger straps.

Using a securely placed ladder or step stool, hang your plant hanger from the ceiling hook and sit back to enjoy your efforts.

Tip: If you want your hanger to hang lower, add an S-hook of any length to the top of the ring. You can also simply use macrame cord tied around the top of the ring as well as the ceiling hook.