Macrame Mermaid Craft
Bring a touch of ocean enchantment into your home with a macrame mermaid! This mermaid doll is SO CUTE and really easy to make.
You only need a few supplies and you’ll have this macrame doll created in no time! Choose the colours for your mermaid and personalize them however you’d like. Let’s dive into this magical crafting adventure!
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How to Make a Macrame Mermaid
Materials:
- Macrame cord(2mm; colour of choice)
- 4mm Natural macrame cord
- Natural braided macrame cord(8mm)
- Large wooden bead(1 inch)
- White glue
- Fine tipped black marker
Equipment:
- Fine tooth comb(or wire pet brush)
Check Out The Video Tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Separate the coloured cord
- Cut 32 pieces of 2mm macrame cord to be 12 inches long. This will be the mermaid’s body and tail, so use the colour of your choice.Set 2 of the cords aside for later.
- Use your fingers to unravel/twist the strands apart, separating each of them into 3 thinner strands.
- Repeat until all 30 strands are separated.
Step 3: Make the mermaid’s body
- Cut 1 piece of 4mm natural cord to be 8 inches long.Set it perpendicular to the other cords, across the center.(This piece should be the same colour as the mermaid’s hair, so cut a different yarn or cord if needed.)
- Cut another 4mm cord to be 5 inches long. Tie a knot in each end.
- Place this cord right below the other.
- Fold the long cords in half, down over the natural cords.Then use a fine tooth comb to gently smooth out the strands, separating them further.
- Gather the natural cords up at the top and wrap one of the leftover 12 inch coloured cords around the bundle, about 1 inch below the fold.
- Wrap the strand around several times, and then tie the cord in a double knot to secure it. The knot will be on the back of the mermaid.
- Separate the ends of this strand (like you did with the rest), and then comb them into the rest of the bundle.
- Wrap the last 12 inch cord around the bundle, about 2-1/2 inches below the first cord.Tie it into a double knot on the back, and again separate and brush the strands into the rest of the cords.
Step 4: Attach the head and hair
- Bring the unknotted natural cord ends up and thread them through a wooden bead. Push the bead down against the coloured cord.
- Cut 3 pieces of braided macrame rope (8mm) to be 11 inches each. Unravel the braids, separating each strand into 3.Don’t comb these strands – you want them to be thick and wavy.
- Grab one of the cord ends that the bead is attached to and bring it down towards the head.Set the middle of the 11 inch cords on top of the other cord (the one pointing up).
- Tie the 4mm cords around the hair in a double knot. Make sure the knot is towards the back of the head, so it doesn’t show.
Step 5: Cut the mermaid’s tail and add final details
- Cut a wide upside-down “V” at the bottom of the coloured cords to create the mermaid’s tail.
- Give the mermaid a haircut, trimming the cords to be even. Cut the cords a little shorter at the sides for a layered look.
- Add a dot of white glue to the front of the wooden bead.
- Spread the glue into a thin layer with your finger or a paintbrush.Allow the glue to dry. This allows you to draw on the bead without the marker bleeding into the wood.
- Use a fine tip black marker to draw the mermaid’s face. We drew only eyes with eyelashes, but you can also add a mouth if you’d like.
- Your macrame mermaid is complete!
Helpful Tips:
- This is a great project for using leftover cord from your other macrame crafts, like a macrame owl or macrame plant hanger!
- If you make your mermaid’s hair a different colour, be sure to cut the 8 inch strand that goes through the bead from the same cord or yarn. Otherwise the colour will show when you tie it around the long hair pieces.
What type of cord do I need to make a macrame mermaid?
We used 2mm cord for the mermaid’s body, natural 4mm cord for the arms, and natural 8mm cord for the hair. But you can definitely change up the sizes and colours of these cords.
Since the cords for the body get unraveled you can use whichever size you have handy. And you can even use yarn to make your mermaid, especially for the hair
What other details can I add to my macrame mermaid?
You can attach an accessory to the mermaid’s hands, like a seashell or a doll sized hairbrush. Or make a small version of the flower from our macrame cactus craft for the mermaid to hold!
You can also attach beads to the mermaid’s “belt”, or tie a bow and add it to the mermaid’s hair. The possibilities are almost endless for all the cute ways you can personalize your mermaid doll!
Can I give my macrame mermaid a braided tail?
Yes, you can easily make a simple braid in the mermaid’s tail before tying the bottom cord on. Or you can use macrame knots to create an adorable fish tail. Check out the instructions for our macrame keychain to learn how to make a macrame fish tail!
This macrame mermaid is so sweet and charming! It’s really fun to make your own handmade doll, and it’s so easy to make your mermaid one-of-a-kind!
Plus, this craft is a great introduction to working with macrame cord. You’ll definitely be tempted to try another fun and easy macrame craft!
Here’s even more ocean 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!
