How to make a simple macrame plant hanger the easy way

Step 1: Mark measurements on the metal ring

Detach the plastic hanger part and measure on the ring where the macramé will eventually get tied onto evenly. For my 8-inch ring, it was about 7ish inches distance between marks.

I marked the spots with some painter’s tape but you could also use a permanent marker. Then put the ring aside for later.

Step 2: Determine how you want to start your macrame plant hanger

Securely hang your hook or wooden ring to something like a doorknob, clothing rack, or horizontally placed broomstick. Whatever works for you.

Step 3: Cut the macrame cord

How much cord and the desired length of the strings used are determined by how low you want the planter to hang. Mine hangs down about 31 inches from the rod. I wanted mine to hang a lot longer than the provided plastic pieces. You also need some extra length to be able to tie the tassels at the end.

I cut my pieces of cord five times as long as I wanted the planter to hang to be sure. You need two strings for each arm. Folded in half which actually makes 4 strings hanging down for each arm.

Step 4: Attach the macrame cord to your hook

Attach the macrame yarn to the plastic hook openings with basic knots called Lark’s Head knots (How to make a Lark’s Head knot is also shown in my video) by folding the string in half, laying it over the back of the plastic part, then pulling the ends through the loop and tightening everything.

I opted to keep the long arms that attach to the pot. You definitely do not have to do that! I wanted to because it keeps the top structured and stiff when I take the plant off to water it. Just personal preference. And you don’t see the pieces because they are hidden inside of the row of knots.

You can just cut the plastic arms/sticks off right after the hoop and use the hook like the wooden ring to make the planter.

You would loop the Lark’s Head knots on the small ring instead of my plastic planter hook.

Step 5: Knot three strands of Spiral Knots

How to tie spiral knots for the hanging planter

This is such a simple knot and all you have to do is lay the right cord over the 2 center cords, then lay the left cord over the right and thread the left cord behind the 2 center cords through the loop of the right cord, and pull tight. Now repeat the same thing over and over again which will create a spiral. This is also called a Half Square Knot.

For my planter, I gathered my two center strings and included the plastic strand in that bunch.

Spiral Knots are Half Square Knots stacked on top of each other. The important thing is to always use the same cord over the center cords.

When you stack Square Knots in comparison, you always have to make sure to alternate the outside cords that get passed over the center string.

Using the Half Square Knots creates a spiral which is why it is also called a Spiral Knot. Square Knots create a flat pattern that somewhat resembles a square. The basic Square Knots and Spiral Knots start out with 4 strands of macrame but you can also add more strings to the center than two if you want a thicker look. I added the plastic arm to my center strings.

In my macrame garland and macrame earrings tutorials, I use the Square Knots but offset in the next row. They are such simple knots!

Step 6: Attach Spiral Knot strands to the metal ring

Now it is time to tie the last knots of the spirals to the metal ring which is as simple as using a standard overhand knot on each strand to all three marked spots. This is where you could add the craft glue to the metal ring to make sure the ends of the cord stay in place. I actually chose not to.

This is also the point where I added the planter to the hanger to make sure everything is hanging straight and even.

Step 7: Add Macrame tassels

Having macrame tassels on your macrame hanging planter is, of course, optional but they are a great way of ending the strings that remain hanging down. And you all know how much I love tassels. As a matter of fact, they are made the same way I made them in my previous tutorials. All you need to do is check out my tassel video below.

You could actually use a different color to tie the tassel together as I did on my macrame bracelet tassels with the gathering knot method.

I cut six 15-inch long strands of macrame cord for each tassel, folded them in half, and tied them to the dangling strands on the metal ring. Then I finished the tassels with the gathering-knot-method or also called Wrapped Knot again as shown in the above photo and in my tassel video.

Unravel the tassel yarn and comb it. Then you can use some fabric stiffener as I like using in most of my macrame tutorials but this step is optional and not necessary if you like the look.

Make sure to trim the tassels all the same length and you are done.

Tschüß,