How to Macramé a Hemp Bracelet

May 7, 2013
Square knot macrame bracelet.
Simple square-knot macrame bracelet.

Growing up in the 1970’s, I predictably spent part of my childhood making macramé. In fact, I spent hours tied to the ends of masses of cording creating the ubiquitous plant hangers that have become an icon of the era. Call me sentimental, but I got a warm and fuzzy feeling when asked to dust off my knotting fingers and make a hemp macramé bracelet for Rings & Things’ Blog.

One of Rings & Things’ most popular online jewelry projects has always been Project #68-002-10 (catchy title, eh?). Well, we decided it was time to give our classic, line-drawing macramé technique sheet some 21st Century pep. Here goes …

First, you’ll want to gather all your materials — and a great thing about hemp bracelets is that they don’t require much!

1mm hemp cord.
Hemp cord comes in a rainbow of colors, on your choice of spools and cards.

Here’s what you’ll need to make one 8-inch bracelet:

  • 100 inches of 1mm hemp cord (just under 3 yards)
  • Beads (see below to make your choices)
  • Tape (good ole’ masking tape works great)
  • Scissors or clippers
  • Glue (any school or craft glue that dries clear will do)
  • Optional: a clipboard, to make your project portable

For the beads, you’ve got a lot of options, but the important thing to keep in mind is that the hole size needs to be large enough to encompass two strands of cord! For 1mm hemp cord, the holes need to be at least 2mm wide (preferably wider).

Beads for macrame bracelets.
6mm beads with 2mm+ large holes work great.

You’ll use 5-8 smaller beads to adorn the knotted bracelet. Options include:

Color changing Mirage Beads.
Mirage Beads™ change color with slight temperature changes, like the mood rings of the 1970’s.

And, you’ll use 1 larger bead (or large-hole button) to create a simple clasp. Options include:

For the bracelet pictured above, I decided to go full retro 1970’s and use barrel Mirage Beads™ since they are reminiscent of the mood rings that were popular back then — the beads actually change color with small temperature changes!

C-Koop enamel beads

I decided to also use artisan-made enameled copper beads because I’ve always liked colorful, enameled components. For the clasp, I chose a matching enameled copper cupped disk which worked perfectly to make a simple button-style clasp.

Plan your pattern ahead of time to see how many beads will fit in the desired bracelet length. You can use just one type of bead, or create a pattern that alternates between 2 or more types/colors of beads. In the bracelet pictured above, I chose to use 7 beads in a simple alternating pattern that is symmetrical and centered, with an enameled “shortie” in the center: M E M E M E M. I also chose to space my beads so that the blue enameled shorties would NOT end up next to the blue enameled clasp (cupped disk).

Line drawing of macrame bracelet.
The bead pattern in our original macrame bracelet project used 8 beads in a symmetrical pattern:
R G Y B B Y G R.

Once you’ve gathered all your supplies, cut your hemp cord into the following measurements:

  • One 10″ piece
  • One 20″ piece
  • One 70″ piece (the remainder)

Find the centers of the 20″ piece and the 70″ piece and place the center loop of one on top of the center of the other.

Line up the centers of your cords.
Line up the centers of your 20″ and 70″ cords.
Connecting cords to begin macrame.
Loop the 10″ cord through the centers of both longer cords.

Then, take the center of your 10” cord and make a half-hitch knot around the center of the longer four strands. Check to make sure the cording is still even and all ends still match up.

Making a half-hitch knot.
Once all cords are even (symmetrical), make a half-hitch knot with the 10″ cord and pull tight.

Now you’ll want to anchor the project, so you can make nice, tight knots. For a short project like a bracelet, a clipboard works great since it makes your project portable. Secure the short (10″) cord into the top clip. Pull the 20″ cords tight and tape them to the bottom of the clipboard. Leave the longest 2 cord ends dangling loosely.

Macrame cords secured to clipboard.
Once your cords are secured, you’re ready to start knotting.

If you don’t have a clipboard, you can anchor your cords to a table top with tape. (When I was a kid, I anchored long projects by tying the anchor cord to my Mom’s cabinet handle and sitting on the center cords to keep them taut).

It’s time to start knotting! This bracelet project uses a single basic knot, called the square knot (a.k.a. half knot). To create a square knot, follow the illustrations below, in which the long (knotting) cord that starts on the right is “A,” the two short (filler) cords in the middle are “B” and the long (knotting) cord that starts on the left is “C”.

  • Start with cord A and bring it behind cords B, forming a loop (about the size of a 50-cent piece) on the right side.
  • Make sure cord C is behind the long length of A (now on the left side).
Starting a square knot.
Start a square knot by taking cord “A” under both cords “B” and over cord “C”.
  • Now, bring cord “C” over cords B and through the loop of cord A.
Completing a square knot.
To complete a square knot, pull cord “C” through the loop formed by cord “A”.
  • Pull tight.
  • Tip: The tighter the cord is pulled, the smaller the knot will be. Find your desired size and pull at that same tightness throughout the project for consistency.
  • Repeat the previous 3 steps, but this time start on the left side with cord “A” to make your 2nd knot.
Image of making a square knot from the left.
Make your second square knot from the left side.

Repeat again, switching back to the right side for the 3rd knot.

Alternate sides for every knot (one knot starting from the left, the next knot starting from the right). Do this for approximately 20 knots. Be sure to create an even number of knots, and remember to pull knots consistently snugly.

Hint: keep track of which side you are working on. After a knot is pulled tight, notice that the side to be worked on next is the side with the cord facing forward, not the cord facing the back.

Square knot macrame pattern.
Once you’ve make about 20 knots, your square knot pattern should look like this.

Note: It you continue knotting from a single side, instead of alternating sides, you will create a half-knot spiral (a.k.a. spiral stitch) instead. The spiral stitch is also really cool and can also be used to make a bracelet. Just keep in mind that it will have more dimension and will not lay flat.

Macrame half-knot spiral stitch.
If you don’t alternate sides, you’ll make a
half-knot spiral (a.k.a. spiral stitch).

Adding beads to your macramé pattern:

  • Tip: to make stringing the beads easier (and help prevent the ends of the B cords from fraying), rub a dab of glue into each B cord end and form each end into a tip. Let the tips dry, then commence stringing.
  • Slide your first bead over both cords B, and push it up close to the last knot (but don’t bunch up the knots). If the bead is difficult to slide over the cord, twist the bead as you push it on.
  • Go around the beads with cords A and C, then make a knot as usual with cord A (starting on the right side, assuming your last knot before adding the bead started on the left).
  • Push the knot up to the bottom of the bead and tighten to the desired consistency.
  • Add 3 more alternating knots.
  • Add 2 more beads the same way (adding 4 knots after each bead).
Square knot pattern with beads.
Square knot pattern with 4 of my 7 beads added.
  • Even if you’ve pre-planned your bead pattern, it’s a good idea at this point to test the length on your wrist (or ankle). Does it go about half way around? If yes, then this is the middle — only add 2 more beads. If no, then continue adding beads (with 4 knots after each bead).
  • Don’t worry if it seems like the project won’t be long enough. That piece of cord hanging back at the beginning makes this project any desired length between 6 and 12 inches.

After adding your last bead, make about 20 more knots (the same number you made at the beginning).

To make a simple clasp: After you’re done knotting, slide your large bead onto all 4 cords — if it fits. For the cupped disk, I improvised since only 3 of the four strands would fit through the disk’s hole. I knotted one of the middle (B) cords snug up against the last square knot, trimmed it flush and added a drop of glue.

Adding a button-style clasp.
Since all 4 cords don’t fit through the cupped disk, I finished one of the “B” cords with a knot and strung the remaining 3 cords through the cupped disk.
Finishing the end of a macrame bracelet.
Then I cut the knotted “B” cord flush and added a drop of glue for security.

Pull all (remaining) cords snugly and tie a knot. Trim the ends and add a dab of glue for extra security. This forms the “button” or “hook” part of your clasp.

To make the “loop” part of your clasp:

  • Measure bracelet on wrist (or anklet on ankle) to find your desired length.
  • On the opposite side of the bracelet (the 10 inch length of cording), tie a knot where you want the bottom of your loop. (Since my wrists are small, I was able to start my loop right next to the macramé section, and did not need to create this first knot).
  • Determine how long the loop needs to be for your “hook” to go through it and hold (about 3/4 of an inch worked for my design). At that spot, tie another knot to complete the loop.
  • Trim excess cord and apply a drop of glue to secure the knots.
Clasp close-up.
Close-up of the finished button-style clasp.

You can alternately use a metal jewelry clasp by tying it to the finished ends of your knotted strand.

Once you’ve got the hang of the square knot, these bracelets are a snap to make, and it won’t be long till you’re coming up with an array of variations!

A variety of macrame bracelets.
Macramé bracelets made with hemp cord. Some use a square knot and others use a spiral knot.

Macramé bracelets make great inexpensive price points for craft fairs and festivals, as well as great gifts for old friends and new. With so many vibrant colors of hemp cord now available, the possibilities are endless for design variation.

Once you’ve mastered this basic square knot bracelet project, check out our Shamballa Bracelet Blog Project and Kumihimo Bracelet Blog Project for more cool knotting designs that use hemp cord. Happy knotting! ~ Melissa

www.rings-things.com/

NEW MACRAME PROJECT

This new macrame project features TierraCast’s Oceans Collection and is perfect for beachside. Visit the Rings & Things Design Gallery for free jewelry-making instructions and to shop for supplies.

Cowrie Micro Macrame Bracelet Tutorial created by Rings & Things designer Michelle Horning

Edited December 2021, to update links.

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26 Comments

  • Reply Patricia August 27, 2013 at 9:02 am

    Great instructions 🙂
    I put a link to this page on my blog.
    Thank You!!

  • Reply Melissa September 23, 2013 at 4:04 pm

    Hi Patricia, thanks for sharing our blog! 🙂
    Glad you found it useful.

  • Reply Nancy October 22, 2013 at 8:29 am

    Can’t wait to try this! I’m going to a 70’s theme halloween paraty and this will be a perfect addition to my costume. thanks so much

  • Reply Tammie November 2, 2013 at 7:26 pm

    In the photo with the multiple bracelets, is there a tutorial for the yellow and brown one? It looks like there are 3 spiral strands coming off each side. Would love to know how to do that. Thanks!!

    • Reply Polly November 4, 2013 at 3:31 pm

      Hi Tammie,
      We don’t have one yet, but the designer is writing up an explanation, and we’ll post it here as soon as it’s ready.
      ~Polly

  • Reply Melissa November 4, 2013 at 3:45 pm

    Hi Tammie, I didn’t make that particular bracelet, so I asked the designer who did. She said it was basically the result of a happy accident. 🙂 Below is what she told me about her process. ~ Melissa
    “I started out making a brown bracelet, but I wound up with much longer threads than I needed. Instead of cutting the hemp shorter, I just kept going. I made a loop for the button then started a 2nd spiral going back around the bracelet the other way. Once knotted, the 2 spirals naturally nestled into each other. I realized at that point that I still had enough of my center threads to make a 3rd spiral. I decided to introduce another color into the mix. I tied yellow L and R threads onto the center threads then knotted a 3rd spiral. When I got back to where all 3 strands meet, I used the remaining length of my yellow threads to make a whip stitch around the bare loop. This made the loop more sturdy and attractive.”

  • Reply louise edwards November 14, 2013 at 1:51 pm

    Hi I tried to get tutoial for leather macrame bracelet. I could not ge it. Can you please send me one and email it to me please. Thank you so much Louise Edwards

  • Reply Melissa December 2, 2013 at 1:49 pm

    Hi Louise, we do not have a separate tutorial for making macrame with leather. You can use these same instructions, but in most cases you will want to cut longer lengths of cord than indicated above since a thicker cord will take up more length per knot.
    Most of our leather cord is 2mm or thicker in diameter:
    http://www.rings-things.com/Products/Leather-Cord-and-Leather-Strips/
    We do carry a few colors of 1mm thick “goat skin” leather cord:
    http://www.rings-things.com/Products/Goat-Skin-Leather-Cord/
    Even with 1mm leather, it’s best to cut your cords a bit longer, as leather knots may not pull quite as tight as hemp. Happy knotting!

  • Reply helen February 5, 2014 at 7:35 am

    Made these in high school with waxed and unwaxed dental floss

    • Reply Melissa February 11, 2014 at 5:19 pm

      That sounds like a fun variation, Helen.

  • Reply scripture bracelets August 29, 2014 at 10:08 am

    Thanks for the step by step guidance on how to create this bracelet. It looked really complicated when I just browsed the pictures but it is much simpler now.

  • Reply Teri Wallis August 17, 2016 at 9:10 am

    You did a very good job of how to make the knots for the bracelet. Thank you for sharing your hobby and skill. I will copy what you did and see how it turns out. – hobbiescraftsandmore.com

  • Reply Jackie November 1, 2016 at 10:31 am

    In the 70s, when I made plant hangers, I’d tie the top to my big toe!

  • Reply Jeni Kay December 30, 2017 at 4:01 pm

    Thank you for your site. I am interested in making anklets out of cord and puka shells. I was just going to do a regular braid in between (b/c I like how this looks). Do you think I should order hemp cord, or will this stretch too much if it were to get wet? Or do you recommend getting waxed cord b/c it would not stretch as much, and might be less scratchy on skin? Thank you so much for your experienced input. Jeni Kay

  • Reply Kari December 10, 2018 at 9:21 am

    This was very helpful. I even posted this on my blogger page. And it got over 1.3 likes !!!!
    Thank you so much !!!!!!

  • Reply Penny Thomas September 15, 2019 at 10:06 pm

    I would love to learn how to make the pink bracelet with the beautiful crystal in the middle. Can someone direct me to a tutorial that shows how to make that? I’d be so appreciative. I think it is adorable!

    • Reply Polly September 16, 2019 at 4:06 pm

      Hi Penny,
      The pink bracelet above uses the clear purple-lined cube beads from this Toho color mix: https://www.rings-things.com/Products/TOHO-reg-Seed-Bead-Mixes/TOHO-Seed-Bead-Cocktails-trade-Grape-Ape.html (and if you click into the bead link, you’ll find a picture of just the pink bracelet by itself … it’s technically a long wrap bracelet with 2 other colors but you can of course make it normal length).
      And it’s done with spiral knotting which is still half knots like above, but instead of alternating left half knots and right half knots to make a series of square knots, you just keep doing either left half knots OR right half knots all the way down. See picture #16 above, for a photo and explanation of the spiral knotting.

  • Reply Jennette Knasiak January 17, 2020 at 9:13 pm

    Great instructions and correlating photos! I had zero problems (which is a 1st!) making this beautiful bracelet with some beads I’ve been looking to use somehow. I used a button as the end bead, as I figured it would slip off less with it AND it’s the best I could come up with while looking through my craft supplies. Thank you and please keep the great instructions on beautiful pieces coming! ♡♡♡

  • Reply Carolyn April 25, 2021 at 4:02 pm

    Are there instructions for making an adjustable bracelet (the type where the knot slides to take it on and off) rather than a clasp?

  • Reply Michele May 15, 2021 at 8:31 pm

    Hi,
    Is there a tutorial for a macrame bracelet with the beads only on one side of the bracelet?
    Thanks!
    Michele

    • Reply Polly May 17, 2021 at 2:06 pm

      Hi Michele,
      We don’t have one, but you would be surprised how easy it is to make variants. Try putting the beads on just one side, but otherwise knot exactly the same as the original macrame instructions — just don’t pull your knots too tight, so if you don’t quite like it, you can take it apart and try another variant. I have a feeling that doing something on just one side, with out matching beads on the other side, is very likely to cause the bracelet to spiral or curve interestingly. I’m fairly sure you won’t be able to make it lay flat. Let me know how it goes!
      –Polly

  • Reply 27+ Cool Designs for Hemp Bracelets | Guide Patterns July 5, 2021 at 11:04 am

    […] 2. How to Make a Macramé Hemp Bracelet  […]

  • Reply EmJay August 3, 2021 at 2:57 am

    Hello, I bought one already made but it become undone. For the life of me, i couldn’t get the pattern until i found your page. The one think i do not know is how to finish it off? This bracelet does not have any beads. It looks like the other end finishes off with the tips burnt. Can you share how to finish it off without beads please?

    • Reply Polly August 9, 2021 at 3:36 pm

      Hi EmJay,

      Finishing the ends is always a challenge – basically you just have a make a series of knots that work to hold it together, but don’t look too big and ugly, and when you’re sure it’s secure, you trim the ends. If a macrame bracelet or necklace comes undone, personally I find it impossible to repair it, because the ends have already been cut, so I don’t have enough to hold onto, to even knot as much as the previous person knotted it — which wasn’t enough (or it wouldn’t have come undone). Maybe if you use tweezers to hold the short ends, you can do it, but it will be very fiddly, and you’ll definitely need to glue it, to get it to hold for even a few more wearings.
      Sorry for the bad news — I have a favorite necklace / triple wrap bracelet at home that has the same problem. I’ll have to completely take it apart, salvage the beads, and start over with new cord – since there just really isn’t enough cord left on it, to securely knot the ends.

      –Polly

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