I did it! I made a macrame tree. I was inspired by the macrame landscape piece I recently created.
I planned a pattern based on the landscape project. I had a rough idea of how I would create the tree gradient, but I totally winged it because I wasn’t sure how much cord to use for each column. I eventually figured out that each square knot would need about 7-8″ of cord (when using 4mm cord). Even if you run out though, you can use multiple pieces of the same color cord to complete the column.
Materials:
- 1 12″ dowel
- 18 strands of 22″ natural cord (for the base)
- 9 strands of natural cord in varying lengths for the “background” (see below recipe for lengths)
- 9 strands of green cord in varying lengths for the tree (see below recipe for lengths)
- 3 strands of 24” brown/copper cord for tree trunk
- 1 strand 18″ natural cord (for the hanging string)
- Yellow felt (for star)
- Sewing needles
- Sewing thread
- Battery operated string of lights (optional)
- Fabric scissors
- Tapestry needle
- 2 S hooks
- Somewhere to hang your piece while you work
Create the base with the 18 strands of 22″ natural cord. Attach each cord to the dowel using a reverse lark’s head knot. Use the below pattern to create the tree image. Square knots are added by using 4 base cords at a time as the anchor cord and the below cords as the working cords. I started from the center and worked my way outwards, but you can create your columns in any order.
- Natural: 18 square knots (144″) / Green: 4 square knots (32″) / Natural: 4 square knots (32″)
- Natural: 12 (96″)/ Green: 9 (72″) / Natural: 4 (32″)
- Natural: 7 (56″) / Green: 14 (112″) / Natural: 4 (32″)
- Natural: 5 (40″) / Green: 17 (136″) / Brown: 2 (16″) / Natural: 2 (16″)
- Natural: 3 (24″) / Green: 18 (144″) / Brown: 2 (16″) / Natural: 2 (16″)
- Natural: 5 (40″) / Green: 17 (136″) / Brown: 2 (16″) / Natural: 2 (16″)
- Natural: 7 (56″) / Green: 14 (112″) / Natural: 4 (32″)
- Natural: 12 (96″)/ Green: 9 (72″) / Natural: 4 (32″)
- Natural: 18 (144″) / Green: 4 (32″) / Natural: 4 (32″)
Use a tapestry needle to clean up the back of the piece. Sew any loose cords up or down and trim excess. Add a hanging cord; attach with double knots on each side of your piece. Cut a star out of felt and sew onto the top of the tree.
Add twinkle lights buy “sewing” a string of lights through the entire piece.
Light it up!
What do you think? Christmas tree for small space living? 🙂