DIY Macrame Coasters
These macrame coasters are SO CUTE and they’re the perfect project for a macrame beginner. Made with only 2 simple knots, these DIY coasters are really easy to put together.
Macrame coasters adds such a fun bohemian vibe to any room they’re placed in. Make a set for yourself, use them on a holiday dinner table, or make coasters to give away as homemade gifts!
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How to Make Macrame Coasters
Materials:
- ~25feet3mm Macrame cord
- Super glue
Equipment:
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Fine tooth comb(or wire pet brush)
Check Out The Video Tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
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Gather your materials and supplies.
Step 2: Form the center of the coaster
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Cut one length of cord to 60 inches. Cut five more cords to 32 inches.
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Make a rounded loop (around 3 inches wide) with one end of the 60 inch cord.
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Attach the first of the 32 inch cords to the circle with a lark’s head knot.To do this, fold the 32 inch cord in half. Put the loop under the circle, put the tails through the loop, pull through, and pull tight.
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Repeat, adding the next 4 cords to the circle with a lark’s head knot.
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Pull both ends of the 60 inch cord tightly.
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Pull until the cords form as tight a circle as possible. This will be the center of the coaster.
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Cut off the short tail of the 60 inch cord and tuck it under the center (we won’t be using this end of the cord).
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Tape a couple of the cords to your working surface with scotch tape (you’ll need to keep moving the tape as you work your way around the coaster).If you have a cork board or macrame board you can also pin the center of the coaster in place.
Step 3: Start knotting
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To make the coaster we’ll be using double half hitch knots, all tied around the 60 inch cord.To begin, take the 60 inch cord (cord 1) and put it over the cord to its right (cord 2).
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Tie cord 2 around cord 1, pulling it to the top (but not too tight). Now tie cord 2 around cord 1 for a second time.
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Tie cord 3 around cord 1 twice.
Step 4: Add extra cord
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Continue moving to the right, tying knots around cord 1 until you can see a large gap between the two cords.
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Cut a new cord, double the length of the last cord you knotted around cord 1. (In other words: if the last strand you knotted around cord 1 is 12 inches, cut a cord 24 inches long.)
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Attach the new cord to cord 1 with a lark’s head knot. This will help fill the gap.
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Tie the next cord around cord 1 two times.
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Continue tying knots and adding a new cord to cord 1 whenever a gap appears.
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Continue the pattern until you’re happy with the size of the coaster. We did 6 – 7 full rings on our coasters.
Step 5: Finish off the coaster
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To finish off the coaster, take the end of cord 1 and tuck it through any gap in the coaster and pull it through the back, making sure that it’s pulled tight.
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Cut off the end of the first short cord (the one we tucked under the center at the beginning).
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Cut the end of cord 1 and add a drop of super glue to the end of it, to ensure that it won’t unravel.
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Cut off the cords around the coaster to a little bit longer than you want your fringe to be.
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Comb out the cords with a fine tooth comb or a wire pet brush.
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Trim the fringe to your desired length.
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Your macrame coaster is complete!
What size cord for macrame coasters?
We used a 3 mmcotton macrame rope to make these coasters. I’d suggest using a similar size cord, with a maximum of about 5 mm. You could probably use a smaller 2 mm cord, but you would need to use longer cords and knot more rings.
Where can I buy macrame cord?
Amazon is a great place to buy macrame cord, and so is Etsy. Michaels and other local craft stores also sell a smaller selection of macrame supplies.
Macrame for Beginners has a great article about where to buy macrame cord, with shops from all over the world listed.
Why is my macrame coaster not flat?
If your macrame coaster isn’t flat, you:
- May be tying your knots too tight
- Might be pulling too hard on the 60 inch cord (cord 1)
- May not be adding enough extra cords in areas with gaps
To fix it you can try to pull on the edges of the coaster to loosen the tension of the strands, or you can place something heavy (like a jar of peanut butter) on the coaster — but unfortunately once the middle is too tight you will generally have to unknot the coaster and try again.
How do you keep a macrame coaster flat?
To keep a macrame coaster flat:
- Keep your knots fairly loose
- Make sure you add a few strands (in the gaps) for each row that you knot
- Try to add the new strands in a different place on each row
If you keep these tips in mind, your DIY coaster should be nice and flat!
Can you wash macrame coasters?
To remove surface dirt and dust from your coaster, use a lint roller or a circle of tape. Then spot wash the coaster with a mild detergent (without bleach) and let it dry in an area with good air circulation. Try to keep the macrame coaster out of direct sunlight as it dries, as heat can shrink the fibres.
For tougher stains, you can put the coaster in the washing machine. Make sure you put it in a wash bag or a closed pillow case, use warm water, and put the washer on delicate cycle. Air dry the coaster, as recommended above, and brush out the fringe again.
What scissors do you recommend using for macrame cord?
We definitely recommend using fabric scissors for any macrame project. We misplaced our fabric scissors while making these coasters, and it was a lot harder to cut the cord with regular scissors.
Fabric scissors are sharper than regular scissors, and are made for cutting through thicker material. You’ll definitely appreciate having a pair of fabric scissors for projects like macrame!
DIY macrame coasters take a bit of time to put together (45 minutes to an hour each), but it’s a really relaxing and repetitive craft. It really feels worth putting the time in when you end up with a functional object that can be used every day!
And these coasters aren’t just great for your coffee cup – they also look amazing with a mason jar candle placed on them!
Here’s even more macrame craft ideas:
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books- A- Million | Indiebound | Indigo | Amazon Canada
