We’re knot kidding — this macrame heart coaster is full of charm! Whether you’re a seasoned macrame artist or new to macrame crafts, this Valentine’s DIY is sure to tug at your heartstrings. With just 2 simple knots (which we’ll teach you below) and a bit of time, you’ll create cozy, heart-shaped coasters. They make the perfect handmade addition to your coffee table or a gift for someone special!
Use these DIY coasters to add a sweet, boho touch to your decor, or pair them with a mug and some tea or coffee for a thoughtful Valentine’s gift. However you use them, these lovely macrame coasters are bound to tie into to your space nicely!
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a small commission which helps us run this website.
How to Make a Macrame Heart Coaster
Materials:
- Macrame cord (2mm)
Equipment:
- Wooden dowel (5mm wide; or pencil)
- Painter’s tape (or masking tape)
Watch the step-by-step video tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Attach the cords to the dowel
- Tape a dowel to your working surface on either end. You’ll need to push cords under it, so be sure not to tape it too tight.
- Cut a piece of 2mm macrame cord to be 32 inches long.
- Fold the cord in half.
- Attach the cord to the center of the dowel with a lark’s head knot. To tie a lark’s head knot, slide the folded loop under the dowel coming towards you, then insert the cord ends into the loop. Pull the knot tight.
- Repeat, attaching 17 more cords of the same length to the dowel. (There should now be 18 cords in total attached, creating 36 cords.)
Step 3: Make the square knot
- Divide the cords to work with the 2 center bundles (cords 17 to 20).
- Begin making a square knot: put the leftmost cord of the bundle over the middle 2 and under the rightmost cord. Keep a loop at the left.
- Now bring the right cord under the middle cords and up through the loop made from the left cord.
- Pull the outer cords, bringing the knot close to the lark’s head knot, but not tight against it.
- To make the second half of the square knot, put the rightmost cord over the middle 2 cords and under the leftmost cord.Then put the left cord under the middle 2 cords and up through the right loop.
- Pull the knot tight against the previous one. This completes your first square knot, which will form the bottom of the heart.
Step 4: Continue making the bottom part of the heart
- Take the bundle to the left of the cords just used (cords 15 and 16).
- Make a square knot with these cords and the 2 cords coming from the left of the previous square knot (cords 17 and 18). This square knot should naturally form below and to the left of the previous knot.
- Repeat the same knot on the right. Take the 2 cords to the right of the first square knot and make a square knot with cords 19 to 22.
- Make another square knot to the left, using cords 13 to 16. You can see that this knot is also staggered, going below the last knots and creating a new row.
- Create 2 more square knots, one from the center cords (17 to 20) and one to the right (21 to 24). This completes the 3rd row of knots.
- Continue this pattern of staggered square knots until all cords are included. This should create 9 rows of knots in total, with each row adding one more square knot to it (by including 2 more bundles; 1 on each side).
Step 5: Knot the middle of the heart
- Exclude the leftmost cords (1 and 2) and make a square knot using cords 3 to 6.
- Work your way to the right, making 7 more knots (for a total of 8 knots to complete the row).There will be 2 cords on each side of the heart not included in the knots.
- Make another full row of square knots, starting with cords 1 to 4. There will be 9 knots in this row.
- Make another row of 8 square knots (excluding cords 1, 2, 35, and 36).Then make the next row including all cords (9 square knots), followed by another row of 8 square knots.
Step 6: Make the top of the heart
- For the next row, skip the first 4 cords and make a square knot with cords 5 to 8.
- Make 2 more alternating square knots using cords 9 to 12 and 13 to 16, for a total of 3 knots in the row.
- Now make a row of 2 square knots under the previous 3. Use cords 7 to 10 for the first knot, and cords 11 to 14 for the second. This will be the top of the heart.
- Repeat this pattern on the right side: make a row of 3 square knots (where 4 cords are excluded on the right, and 1 knot is skipped in the middle).Then make a row of 2 square knots below the last ones.
Step 6: Cut a fringed edge
- Remove the heart from the dowel.
- Cut the cords around the heart to 3 to 4 inches long.
- Save 4 of the longer cords or, if needed, cut new cords about 6 inches long. Fold 1 cord in half.
- Attach the folded cord to the side of the heart, where there’s a gap with no cords sticking out.Make a lark’s head knot, putting the loop down through the side of the square knot and bringing the cord ends down through the loop.
- Repeat, attaching the other 3 cords to the gaps on the sides (2 on each side).
- Use a fine tooth comb to make a fringe around the heart.
- Cut the fringe to an even length, about 1 inch long.
- Your macrame heart coaster is complete!
Helpful Tips:
- If your macrame heart coaster gets dirty, try spot washing where it’s soiled. If this doesn’t work, hand wash with mild dish detergent and then air dry out of direct sunlight.
- Macrame cord comes in lots of different colours. You can make a set of macrame heart coasters in a single colour, using various Valentine shades, or you can even make a set of rainbow coloured heart coasters!
Do I have to use 2mm macrame cord for my macrame heart coaster?
No, you can also use thicker cords to make your macrame hearts. If you use a thicker cord, you may not need to add the extra cords on the sides of the heart.
You may also have to adjust the pattern, because thicker cord will make a bigger coaster. You can even use the bigger coaster as a mat for a teapot or serving dish!
What else can I do with this macrame heart pattern?
You don’t have to use these macrame hearts as coasters — you can use them in lots of other ways, too! Leave the dowel in to create a heart wall hanging – but be sure to start at the top of the heart and work in reverse order!
You can also create 2 braids from the top of the heart, tie them together, and hang your macrame heart coaster from a doorknob or on the wall. You can even arrange macrame hearts in a shadow box for a piece of wall art.
When hanging these macrame coasters vertically, you may want to stiffen the fringe to help it keep its shape. You can use Aileen’s Stiffen-Quick fabric stiffening spray, or use spray starch or even hairspray to give the fringe some stiffness.
Where can I buy macrame cord?
Many craft stores, such as Michaels, sell a small amount of macrame cord, but not in every size and colour. There are also a lot of macrame specialty shops and websites.
Try Googling “macrame cord your city name here” to find a local store! Etsy and Amazon are great online options to buy macrame cord.
This macrame heart coaster is a sweet way to show some love with your decor! Soft, stylish, and handmade with care, it’s a thoughtful craft that makes any cup of coffee or tea feel a little more special.
Give one of these DIY coasters as a present, or keep it on display to add some cozy charm to your space all year round!
Here’s even more DIY coaster 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 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 | Amazon Canada
Leave a Reply