# How to Make Macrame Feathers and Leaves

Source: https://cordandknot.com/blog/how-to-make-macrame-feathers
Published: 2026-10-01
Publisher: Cord and Knot

**Short answer:** A macrame feather is one folded spine cord with pairs of short side cords knotted along it, then combed out, stiffened and trimmed. Published tutorials cut the spine at 20 to 32 in (50 to 80 cm) and the side cords at 9 to 14 in (23 to 36 cm) in 4 or 5 mm single strand cotton. Fabric stiffener, dried flat for at least a couple of hours, keeps it from drooping.

Feathers and leaves are the same piece. The trim decides which one you get: a long narrow point for a feather, a wider oval for a leaf. Two things decide whether it turns out crisp or floppy. The first is the cord. Single strand cotton combs out soft and straight, 3 ply combs out wavy and braided cord does not comb out at all, as explained in [macrame cord types](https://cordandknot.com/blog/macrame-cord-types). The second is the finish: a feather that is combed but not stiffened sags as soon as it hangs. The lengths below come from two named tutorials.

## Macrame leaf pattern: cord lengths for small, medium and large

Each knot uses two side cords, so cut them in pairs. A side cord gives a little under half its length as fringe on each side of the spine. The spine folded in half sets the longest feather you can make: a 20 in spine gives up to about 10 in (25 cm) including the tail. Lengths are ranges, since the final size depends on how far you trim.

The large feather uses 328 to 400 in of cord in total, about **9 to 11 yards** (8.3 to 10.2 m). To tie a pattern in another thickness, multiply every length by your cord size divided by the pattern size, as in the [cord conversion chart](https://cordandknot.com/tools/macrame-cord-conversion-chart).

| Size | Cord | Spine cord | Side cords | Taken from |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Small | 3 mm single strand | about 19 in (48 cm) | 6 to 8.5 in (15 to 22 cm) | Large pattern x 0.6 |
| Medium | 4 mm single strand | 20 in (51 cm) | 9 to 11 in (23 to 28 cm) | Marching North |
| Large | 5 mm single strand | 32 in (81 cm) | 24 to 30 cords of 14, 12 and 10 in (36, 30 and 25 cm) | Honestly WTF |

Cut lengths from two published tutorials (Marching North, Honestly WTF). The small row is the large pattern scaled by 0.6 for 3 mm cord, not a published pattern.

## How to macrame a leaf shape, step by step

These steps make the medium feather in 4 mm single strand cotton, with the large 5 mm version in brackets. Work flat on a table or a board, not hanging, so the knots can be pushed tight against each other.

1. Cut one spine cord of 20 in (32 in) and side cords of 9 to 11 in. For the large size cut 10 to 12 cords of 14 in, 8 to 10 of 12 in and 6 to 8 of 10 in.
2. Fold the spine in half and tape or pin the loop to the work surface. The 2 strands act as one spine, and the loop becomes the hanger.
3. Fold a side cord in half and slide it under the spine, loop to the left and its 2 ends to the right. Fold a second cord, feed its loop through the first loop and lay it across the top of the spine, pointing right.
4. Pull the 2 ends of the bottom cord up through the loop of the top cord. Then pull both pairs of ends outward until the knot closes snug around the spine.
5. Tie the next knot the other way round, with the first loop to the right. Alternate the starting side on every row and push each knot up against the one before it.
6. Keep knotting down the spine, longest cords at the top. The large pattern has 12 to 15 knots in all. Leave the bare spine below the last knot as the tail.
7. Lay the piece flat, hold the spine down with one hand and comb the side cords from the ends in toward the spine, a little at a time, until no twist is left.
8. Rough trim to a feather or leaf outline, spray with fabric stiffener, let it dry flat for at least a couple of hours, then make the final trim.

## How to comb and trim to shape with a template

Comb in short strokes, starting at the cord ends and working in toward the knots, so tangles come out without dragging on the spine. On a piece this small a fine tooth comb is the safer tool. Many tutorials use a wire pet brush, which is faster but pulls more fiber out of short cords. Combing and straightening are covered in detail on the [fringe page](https://cordandknot.com/blog/how-to-comb-macrame-fringe).

For the shape, fold a sheet of paper in half, draw half a feather or leaf against the fold and cut it out, so both sides match. Lay the template on the combed piece with the fold line on the spine and cut around it with sharp scissors. Cut less than you think you need. The fibers shift when they are sprayed, so the last clean cut comes after the stiffener has dried.

## How to stiffen a macrame feather so it does not droop

Combed cotton has no structure of its own, so an unstiffened feather droops at the edges. Tutorials use fabric stiffener spray, spray starch or hairspray. Hairspray is the lighter hold and suits small pieces. Lay the feather flat on a surface the spray will not harm, comb it into its final position and spray one or two light coats. Let it dry flat for **at least a couple of hours** before lifting it.

Wide feathers in thick cord are the ones that sag, because the fringe is long and heavy. Three things help: trim the sides shorter, spray the back as well once the front is dry, or glue a piece of felt cut slightly smaller than the outline to the back.

## How to tell the feather is finished

Check it before it goes on a wall hanging or a keyring, while it can still be combed and sprayed again. It is done when all of these are true.

- No twisted cord is left. Every side cord is combed out to loose fiber right up to the knots.
- The knots sit tight together and the spine does not show through between them.
- Both sides match the folded template. If one side is wider, trim it to the template again.
- Dry and lifted by the loop, the edges stay flat. They do not curl or hang down.

## How to fix macrame leaves that are floppy or uneven

Most faults can be fixed without starting again, because the knots slide on the spine and stiffener can be applied a second time. Find what you see in the table.

| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Edges droop when it hangs | Not stiffened, or fringe long and heavy | Spray again and dry flat, trim shorter, or back it with felt |
| One side wider or longer | Trimmed by eye | Fold a paper template in half and trim both sides to it |
| Feather curves or leans to one side | Every knot started from the same side | Untie and alternate the starting side on each row |
| Fringe wavy or kinked | 3 ply cord, or cord kinked from the spool | Steam from about 6 in (15 cm), comb while damp, dry flat |
| Gaps along the spine | Knots not pushed together | Slide the knots up the spine and add one or two more below |

Common faults in combed feathers and leaves and the usual fix.

## Macrame knots for leaves and a leaf wall hanging

There is a second kind of macrame leaf that is knotted, not combed. It is built from diagonal double half hitch knots. The anchor cord is angled down and out to make one edge of the leaf, then back in to close it. It works in 3 or 4 mm cord and needs at least 4 times the finished length because the knotting is dense. The knot itself is in the [knots chart](https://cordandknot.com/blog/macrame-knots-chart).

For a macrame leaf wall hanging, make several combed feathers in two or three sizes and tie them by their loops to a dowel, a branch or a hoop at different heights. For the wall itself, see [how to hang a macrame wall hanging](https://cordandknot.com/blog/how-to-hang-a-macrame-wall-hanging).

## Quick answers

Short answers on macrame feathers and leaves, with the numbers from the tutorials used above. Lengths are ranges, since trimming sets the final size.

- **What cord is best for macrame feathers?** Single strand cotton in 3 to 5 mm. It combs out soft and straight. 3 ply combs out wavy and braided cord does not comb out.
- **How long are the cords in a macrame leaf pattern?** A spine of 20 to 32 in and side cords of 9 to 14 in for a medium to large leaf in 4 or 5 mm cord.
- **How to fix macrame leaves that droop?** Spray with fabric stiffener, dry flat for at least a couple of hours and trim the sides shorter.
- **Which macrame knots make leaves?** Combed leaves use pairs of folded cords looped around a spine. Knotted leaves use diagonal double half hitch knots.

## Gear guides for this topic

- https://cordandknot.com/best/best-4mm-macrame-cord
- https://cordandknot.com/best/best-5mm-macrame-cord
- https://cordandknot.com/best/best-3mm-macrame-cord
- https://cordandknot.com/best/best-macrame-rings-and-hoops

## Sources

- [Honestly WTF: DIY Macrame Feathers](https://honestlywtf.com/diy/diy-macrame-feathers/)
- [Marching North: Macrame Feather DIY (3 Different Patterns)](https://www.marchingnorth.com/macrame-feathers/)
- [Bochiknot: Five Macrame Leaf and Vine Patterns](https://bochiknot.com/blogs/macrame-journey-phase-3/macrame-leaf-and-vine-patterns)