Step 1 of the process
Mount and set up
Cords are folded and mounted on a dowel, ring or hoop with a larks head knot, or gathered into a loop for a plant hanger. A support that does not swing keeps the tension even from the first row.
- Mounting knot
- larks head, about two cord widths on the dowel
- Plant hanger ring
- about 2 in (50 mm), wood or welded metal
Most pieces start the same way: each cord is folded in half and tied onto a support with a larks head knot. Wall hangings use a dowel, a branch or a hoop. Plant hangers start on a ring of about 2 inches, or on a loop made from the cords themselves when there is no ring: how to start a plant hanger without a ring shows the usual ways.
Each mounted cord takes about two cord widths along the dowel, so a wide, closely knotted panel needs many cords. Decide the number before cutting, center every cord so both halves hang to the same length, and space the cords evenly: the top row sets the width of everything below it.
Then fix the work where both hands are free. A dowel can hang from two hooks on a clothes rack or a door, and a plant hanger from a hook at about chest height. Small pieces such as bracelets, keychains and feathers are easier pinned flat to a macrame board. Either way the support should not swing or slide while you pull knots tight.
Ready to move on when: Every cord is mounted, the ends hang level and the support stays put when you tug a cord.
Common mistakes at this stage
- Mounting cords off-center, so one half ends up shorter than the other.
- Working on a support that swings, which makes the tension uneven.
- Starting a hanger for a heavy pot on a ring with an open seam.