How to Macrame a Curtain

I saw a really cool macrame curtain online, and was inspired to create one of my own! Mine wasn't as cool as the one I saw, but it was pretty darn close and I was happy with what I made! I wanted to share what I did in hopes of inspiring someone else! Creating something like this is really satisfying!

1. 225 Yards of 4mm. Macramé Cord
2. 1 - 27" Curtain Rod
3. Some sort of rack to hang your work while creating
4. 2 ‘S’ hooks
5. Scissors
6. Yard Stick or Ruler
7. Paper Towel Holder (optional)

This curtain is mainly created using one simple knot – the Double Half Hitch!

To begin, you will need a place hang your project as you work on it. Some people use hooks on a wall, but I found a simple clothes rack that worked great! It is affordable, lightweight, portable and adjustable as the project grows longer.

This rack worked great for this project. I could sit in a chair to do my work, carry the entire rack and project from room to room or even outside! As the project grew, I could easily open the flip locks on the sides, to make the rack taller.

I then suspended a curtain rod (I used a 27" spring tension rod) from the top rod of the rack, using 2 large 3.5” ‘S’ hooks.

Here are links to show exactly what I purchased on Amazon, but you can use whatever works for you!

Portable Clothes Rack

3 1/2" 'S' Hooks

I created a rough sketch of a design I wanted to create. My final design came 'fairly' close. I would tweak or change direction as I created the curtain – whatever felt right at the time. So, other than the top left corner, my final design ended up looking a lot different.

Next I cut my strands. For a 27” wide x 47” tall wide window, I cut 45 strands of 4mm Macrame Cord. Each cord was 5 yards long. I had a lot of cord left when I was done, it all depends on how long you want your design to be. I decided to stop when I got to where I like it, and left long fringe of cords hanging down from the bottom of the design. If you wanted the fringes to hang to the floor, or you wanted to create a design longer than what I did, you would use 45 strands, each 6 yards long. This is the exact cord I used: 4MM Macrame Cord

TIP: I found this tip later ... if you use a standing paper towel holder similar to the one above, you can put your spool of cord on the stand and the string will unravel super easy! I didn't know this little trick, so when I unwound the cord, the spool rolled all around the floor. I am going to try using this holder next time!

You will be attaching all 45 strands of cord to your curtain rod, which should be suspended from the 2 'S' hooks at this point. (See image above)

When your pieces are cut, fold each strand in half.You will make a simple ‘Lark’s Head’ (also known as “Cow Hitch”) knot to attach the strands to the rod.

Watch the video above to see how to make the Larks Head Knot. As you see in the 2nd image, the strands you will be using are super long. In the video you will see 2 different methods to create the Larks Head Knot, the 2nd method is easiest when working with long strands of cord - but either method works fine.

In the video above, 'White Owl Knot Macrame' shows very clearly how to make a Double Half Hitch knot. This entire curtain is primarily made using this knot. You will either be going from left to right, or from right to left. The image above illustrates how to switch depending on which direction you are going in. Once I got the knot down, I was able to proceed pretty quickly!

The video above shows you how to create one leaf, a pattern you will use throughout the design. Next I will show you how to use this pattern to create a full vine with leaves.

The curtain is pretty much Vines with Leaves on it, going every which way. The video above shows how i created the first row of 'leaves on a vine'.

Now you will continue, creating the bottom half of the vine. This video shows how to proceed and connect the leaves, stems and vine.

As you go, you may decide to remove a row of knots if they are too close, to far apart, or just ‘knot’ right! Believe me - its easier to tear out a row and redo it, rather than try and figure out what you did and try to fix the knot.

I first tried taking them apart one by one until I figured out an easier way. The video above shows you an easy way to untie/tear out a row of knots. This saved me A LOT of time!

Just keep going until you get the look you want. I wanted mine a little asymmetrical, so I didn’t have to worry about being perfect.Sometimes there are going to be gaps between the leaves when you connect one row to the next – don't stress about it! It just adds to the handmade character of the design.

When I was done, I decided to leave my strands long to cover the length of the window. To 'dress up' the strands a bit, I did a ‘Barrel Knot’ at random intervals on some of the strands. You can then cut off the strands even with the window sill, or let them hang to the floor.

The video above shows how to do a 'Barrel Knot'. I show how to do a 3-Knot Barrel Knot, but you can also do it using only 2 knots, or even 4 knots!

I found this project to be very therapeutic and relaxing – once I got the knot technique down. Because the rack was portable, I worked on this while watching TV, sitting on my porch swing and even sitting outside enjoying the summer weather under a big shade tree!

If you try it, have fun with it! It will be a 'one of a kind' creation you will be proud of!