Surprisingly easy macrame pipa knot wall hanging tutorial
The macrame Pipa Knot looks complicated but is surprisingly easy to make. I made a large version with thick, soft cotton rope for our hallway, and it has become one of my favorite pieces in the house. This knot is also known as a teardrop knot and is based on a traditional Chinese figure-eight shape. I can’t wait to show you how easy it is.
What is the macrame Pipa Knot?
The Pipa Knot is a unique Chinese knot that is based on the Figure 8 shape. The figure 8 is also the infinity symbol and not only in Chinese culture. It is universally known as a symbol of eternity because the two circles of the eight have no ending and no beginning. The pattern continues forever.
Also, the Pipa, a Chinese musical instrument similar to the Lute, has a pear-shaped body like this unique knot. People also call the Pipa the ‘Chinese Lute.’ The Pipa Knot symbolizes bringing Harmony into a home. So who wouldn’t like a unique piece of wall art that represents eternity and harmony for the home?
There are a lot of other different unique Chinese, Japanese, and Korean knots that would also make great wall hangings.
Supplies needed for Pipa Knot
I used the same type of twisted cotton rope as in my large macrame tassels on a cotton rope garland tutorial from a couple of years ago
- soft 1/2-inch cotton macrame yarn/rope
- sharp scissors
- measuring tape
- comb and brush (optional)
- (also optional are hot glue gun and cardboard backing)
Supplies needed for knob (optional)
You can hang this knot wall hanging from whatever you want. Here are the supplies I used if you want to make something similar to what I made. Check out my video to see how I made the wooden knob.
It might be cheaper for you to buy a hook, knob, or wooden wall peg to hang your Pipa knot art but for me, this was cheaper since I had all the supplies on hand.
- wood slices (from Joann’s but I couldn’t find them online however Michaels also has a great selection)
- 1-inch dowel rod slice
- liquid nails or gorilla glue
- screw and plastic self-drilling anchors (I replaced the screw that comes with the anchor for the same diameter screw but longer. It all depends on the length of the dowel rod piece you are cutting and what wood slice thickness you are using)
- sanding block
If you don’t feel like making a wood knob like mine yourself, you should check out the two options below that I think are very pretty and would work great.
Video tutorial
I always recommend watching my videos to make sure you fully understand what my hands were doing. If the video doesn’t load for you then you can also watch it on my YouTube Channel instead.
Step-by-step macrame Pipa Knot tutorial
Having the right yarn is key for this knot. You must buy thick soft macrame yarn. I originally bought the same thick rope that I used for my macrame tassel on a rope garland and it was way too stiff and tightly wrapped. I was a bit annoyed because the rope for that tutorial was very soft and worked great. The one I bought after that and linked above in the supply list worked out much better.
In the video, I’m showing you a small version of the Pipa knot with 4mm macrame yarn first. Then I move on to the thick rope just to show you the difference.
While forming the loops and leaving the end string, use my measurements as a guide. I have a 7-inch top loop, 10-inch bottom loop, and 28-inch end fringe which I’m showing exactly at the end of the steps.
Forming the Pipa Knot teardrop shape
Start by crossing the rope/yarn as pictured below with the right cord over the left, forming a twist. I left about 34-inch yarn from the crossing point for the piece that will only hang down in the back and that is not used as the continuous loop of the knot.
Then use the right cord aka working cord to form an eight shape.
Looping the center of the teardrop shape
Take the rope/yarn and place it behind the top loop of the 8-shape. Then place it inside the previous bottom loop and then behind the top part of the 8-shape again. Keep repeating the same process over and over again.
Finishing the center of the Pipa Knot
When you have the entire shape of the knot filled with the rope/yarn, it is time to finish the knot’s center.
Take the end of your rope/yarn and insert it into the middle of your knot where the two lopped shapes meet. Pull on the end until it is pulled all the way through.
Then it’s time to smooth out, adjust, and tighten the shape of the Pipa knot to make it look even. You are all done with your macrame Pipa Knot but to turn it into a wall hanging you need some additional steps.
Keep the tension consistent as you loop; too loose and the shape won’t hold, too tight and you won’t be able to fit the rope through. The more loops you add, the fuller and more defined the teardrop shape becomes.”
Adding teardrop-shaped cardboard backing (optional)
If you are having trouble keeping the teardrop shape, you can cut a piece of cardboard in a teardrop shape slightly smaller than your knot. You can hot glue it to the back of your Pipa Knot. Try sliding the tip of the teardrop shape under the top looped part of the knot. That is optional. Just be careful that you don’t get any hot glue on the front of your rope. You won’t be able to get it off.
Here is a view of the back side of my finished Pipa knot wall hanging. I added some extra cord to it as well.
Unraveling cord ends
I unraveled all the ends of the cords that are hanging down from the knot. You can even take it further and comb the unraveled yarn the way I did with so many of my other projects. For this particular wall hanging, I prefer to leave it just unraveled and not combed.
How to make the hook/knob to hang the Pipa Knot wall hanging
You can use the rope to mark a section on the dowel rod to make sure it is wide enough for the top loop of the wall hanging. I used a handsaw to cut the section of the dowel rod and then I used a sanding block to sand the dowel rod pieces edges.
After that, find the center on the larger wooden disk and the dowel rod piece and screw holes into those pieces so you can screw them together with a screw. The part of the screw that is sticking out on the back side should be the right size to fit the plastic anchor.
Use the glue to attach the smaller wooden disk to the center of the screwed-together pieces to hide the screw head. Let the pieces dry. You can slightly hammer the plastic anchor into the wall where you want to hang your wall hanging and then screw in the anchor followed by the dried wooden knob. And you are done.
Photos of finished macrame Pipa Knot wall hanging
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I really love this piece. I know I say that all the time but I mean it. There is something so satisfying about making something for your home that you truly love and that makes you happy when you look at it. That’s how it should be.
Below you can see me standing next to the macrame Pipa wall hanging for size comparison. The knot part is the size of my head but you can change the size by using thicker or thinner rope. As I mentioned before, make sure it is soft rope and not twisted too tightly.
RELATED: I always get a lot of questions about our white walls. I wrote a blog post about using an ultra pure white and other whites. If you keep scrolling to my living room you can see an off-white that I used versus the ultra white where the wall hanging is hanging now.
But my house isn’t all white. I used other colors like my favorite dark green paint colors and terracotta paint colors.
My other macrame pieces in our living area
I had the below pictured combed macrame tassel hanging in this same spot before.
But since I made a larger piece with several combed macrame tassels to replicate a Lomas wall hanging for our living room, I wanted to have something else in that spot in the hallway.
Other projects pictured: The bleached cherry wood desk makeover, where I am showing you how to lighten cherry wood with the boho drawer pulls that I made for the desk using more macrame yarn, as well as my macrame light fixture in the hallway, and the Karndean vinyl plank flooring that I love so much.
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I made this rope wall hanging specifically for the narrow wall in our little hallway between the dining room and living room by the powder room. That didn’t keep me from trying it out in a different spot yet though too just to make sure.
I prefer the modern macrame wall hanging that I made for that spot, though. I do like my new pleated lampshades better than the textured lampshades, too, for this spot. (The lamps were thrifted for $4 from the Salvation Army). I also made the embroidery hoop plant hanger planter in the window.
If you want more ideas, then check out my 10 unique, free, and easy macrame patterns for wall hangings.
Where to buy finished macrame Pipa knot wall hangings
Of course, I have to give you the option to buy a finished piece if you don’t feel like DIYing one yourself. As always Etsy has great options from small businesses even though this is a pretty easy piece to make. (the thumbnail images will take you to the specific shops)
Tschüß,
I’ve never heard of a Pipa Knot before! It’s beautiful. Thank you for sharing your easy instructions, Julia. And I too wear my readers perched on top of my head. Just waiting for this fashion trend to take off 😉
LOL Cynthia, I just descovered the power of readers when I was at Target. I had trouble reading labels and grabbed these to try them. GAME CHANGER! Now I have an appoinment with an eye doctor. I always wear my sunglasses on the top of my head too and forget they are there. And thank you.
Are the loose ends glued between the cardboard and the knot or do they hang outside of the cardboard? Could you show a picture of the finished back?
Hi Elsie, I added an image to my blog post for you so you can see. I hope that helps.