How to Make a Macrame Butterfly

Form this cute macrame butterfly using simple knots and a metal keyring. This beginner-friendly macrame tutorial is easy to follow, and you'll be able to make a whole flight of butterflies in no time at all!

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Yield: macrame butterfly

Author: Debbie Chapman

Cost: $2

Equipment

Materials

Split ring keyring
Macrame cord
Elmer's Glue-All (or white glue, tacky glue, fabric glue)

Instructions

Step 1: Find what you need

Gather your supplies and materials.

Step 2: Attach cords for the top wings

To make your butterfly you'll need a 1 inch ring. We're using a split key ring, but you can also use a wooden or plastic ring.
Cut 8 pieces of macrame cord, each at least 3 feet (36 inches) long.
Fold one of the cord ends in about 7 inches.
Attach this folded section to the ring using a lark's head knot. To do this, bring the loop down through the ring and back out. Pull the cords down through the loop.
Pull the cord ends so the knot is tight on the ring. Then arrange the cords so the longer one is at the top and the shorter one is closer to you.
Fold a second cord the same way (the fold can be an inch or so shorter) and attach it with a lark's head knot below the first cord.
Again, the short cord should be on the bottom.
Repeat on the opposite side so you have 4 cords attached, with 4 short ends.
Attach the ring to your working surface with a piece of tape. This will allow you to make the knots neatly without the ring moving.

Step 3: Knot the first part of the butterfly

The butterfly wings will be made from chains of vertical lark's head knots.
We're going to begin by making the center of the top right wing, using the bottom right two cords. The knots will be tied around the bottom (shorter) cord.
Begin by bringing the top cord over the short cord.
Bring the long cord around the short cord, back to the right and up through the loop.
Hold the short cord and pull the knot tight, so it's up against the ring.
Working with the same cords, to complete the vertical lark's head knot you need to bring the long cord under the short cord.
Then bring the long cord back over the short cord to the right and up through the loop. Pull the knot tight next the previous one.
This completes your first vertical lark's head knot.
To make the next vertical lark's head knot you'll repeat the same process. Make the first knot with the long cord starting over the short cord. Then the next knot will start under.
Repeat the alternating sequence until you have a chain of 9 vertical lark's head knots.

Step 4: Continue to form the top of the butterfly

Repeat the exact same knots with the 2 cords on the top right, this time making 15 knots.
Again, make all the knots around the shorter cord. Start by going over the short cord, with the 2nd half of the knot going under.
Now we're going to make the same chain of knots with the lower 2 cords on the left. It's the exact same process, with the longer cord tied around the short, alternating over and under. Make 9 knots with these cords.
Finish up with the top left cords. Make 15 vertical lark's head knots.

Step 5: Tie knots for the bottom of the butterfly

Now we're going to attach the rest of the cords to the ring. This time attach the cords so the short cord is above the long cord (further away from you).
Begin by working with the bottom 2 cords on the right. This first chain will be the outside of the bottom wings. Make 11 vertical lark's head knots.
Use the 2 remaining cords on the right to make 7 vertical lark's head knots.
Repeat on the left side, making 11 knots with the bottom 2 cords and 7 with the top 2.

Step 6: Make the antennae

Cut a piece of cord off your longest cord, at least 5 inches long.
Fold it in half and attach it to the top center of your ring with a lark's head knot.
Make knots in each cord, placing each about 1/2 to 3/4 inch above the ring.

Step 7: Form the butterfly shape

Now we're going to shape the butterfly wings. Begin with the first chain you knotted -- the inside of the top right wing. Bring the end of the chain in to the ring.
To secure the wing section, you're going to tie a knot with the short cord while holding the chain in place. Bring the short cord down through the ring. Bring it around the outside of the ring, back down through the center of the chain, and back up through the ring. Don't pull this too tight.
Now bring the short cord back through the loop you just made, going down through the center of the chain. Pull tight.
Attach the top right chain in the same way, forming it around the smaller one. These two chains will make up the top right wing.
Repeat around, attaching all the ends to the ring, connecting the inner wings first. Note that the bottom wings will go up to connect, so that all the ends will be beside each other on the back.
As more cords are wrapped around the keychain it may get a little snug. Just smush the others together so that you have room to work.

Step 8: Finish the butterfly

Now we're going to finish off the ends so that the butterfly looks pretty. Start by trimming the antennae just above the knots you made.
Turn the butterfly over so you can see the ends. Cut the excess cord off very close to the knots, leaving about 1/8 inch.
Add glue on top of the knots. Use the nozzle of the bottle (or your fingertip) to spread the glue into a thin layer. Allow to dry.
Your macrame butterfly is complete!

Video

Notes

Looking for more macrame patterns? Here's a few of our favourites:

Macrame Flower Keychain

Macrame Heart Coaster

Fishtail Macrame Keychain