DIY Macramé Chair

Measure and Cut the Dowels

Using your measuring tape and hand saw, cut all 3 of the 1 1/4 inch dowels so they are 30 inches in length each.

Measure and cut both of the 5/8 inch dowels so they are 36 inches long. Sit these aside for now.

Measure for the Screw Holes

Take one of your 1 1/4 inch dowels and place a piece of masking tape the length of the dowel. This will help you keep your holes nice and even with each other. Make marks 2 inches and 3 1/2 inches from each end of the dowel. Repeat with a second 1 1/4 inch dowel.

Grab the third 1 1/4 inch dowel, add a strip of masking tape, and make marks 3 1/2 inches from each end. Set this dowel over to the side, you won’t need it until later.

After you’re finished marking, remove the masking tape.

Drill the Screw Holes

Take your drill and drill holes at the marks you made on the dowels. You may want to start with a small drill bit and then work your way up to a 5/8-inch drill bit to make the final holes. The hole will need to go all the way through the dowel so the macrame ropes can be attached.

Sand the Holes and Ends

Take your sandpaper and sand the holes as well as the end of the dowels if needed. Make sure to remove any splintered wood or other imperfections that may have happened when you were drilling.

Create the Frame

Take the two 1 1/4-inch dowel rods that have four holes and set them parallel to each other on a flat surface. Take your two 5/8-inch dowels and thread them through the outside holes to create a four-sided rectangular frame.

Leave 1 inch of the smaller dowels sticking out from both the top and bottom.

Screw the Frame Together

Now that you’ve created the frame for the macrame chair, drill a small pilot hole where the dowels meet each other. Using your wood screws, secure the two pieces together. Repeat with the other 3 holes. Make sure that the frame is securely screwed together, this is what supports the whole chair.

Temporarily Hang the Frame

Before you start on your macramé, you need to hang the frame so you can work on it. For example, use some rope to hang it from a fence. This is a temporary location and doesn’t need to be where you plan to hang the chair. It should be somewhere comfortable, where you can easily reach up and down when tying the macrame knots.

Cut Your Macramé Cord

Cut 16 pieces of macramé cord that are 26 feet long. Macrame cord comes in all kinds of fun colors including this natural colored cord that we’re using for the project.

Make Lark’s Head Knots

Take one of your pieces of macramé cord and fold it in half. Loop it around the top dowel and tie a Lark’s Head knot by pulling the two cord ends through the loop. Repeat with the other pieces of macramé cord. You’ll now have 32 cords to work with. Make sure that all the cords are even, with the knots in the same places. You’ll want to start with a good foundation so your other knots will stay straight and in place.

Make the First Row of Square Knots

Take your first 4 cords and create a left-facing square knot with the 2 outside cords. Repeat tying the square knots for each set of 4 cords. Pull these knots tight, up to the top of the frame.

Start Your Pattern

Skip the first two ropes. Take the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth cords and make a left-facing square knot. Making the knots in an offset pattern will make it more secure and give it a net-like appearance. Repeat the knots all the way across. Keep these knots 3 inches away from the row above.

Continue Your Pattern

Time for the third row! Use the first four cords to create a left-facing square knot. Continue making the square knots until you reach the end. Continue making the macramé knots, alternating between starting with the first cord and starting with the third cord. Remember to keep 3 inches away from the row above.

Finish Your Pattern

Keep making left-facing square knots until your macramé creation is 45 inches long. It should hang below the bottom dowel.

Secure with Knots

Take groups of 4 cords and tie them around the bottom dowel using a basic knot. Make a second knot to secure. Tie these knots as tightly as you can.

Trim Your Macramé Cord

Measure the macramé cord 12 inches from the bottom knots, and cut all the way across.

Cut Your Rope

Take your 1/2 inch rope and cut a piece that is 120 inches long. Fold in half and knot a large loop in the center. This is the loop that will be used to hang your chair.

Also, cut two pieces of rope that are 65 inches each. Set these aside.

Attach the Rope to the Hanger

Thread the two ends of the long piece of rope through the two outside holes on the dowel rod that you haven’t used. Leave about 20 inches between the loop and the dowel. Tie basic knots underneath the dowel to secure.

Attach the Rope to the Top of Chair

With the same piece of rope, thread it through the remaining holes on top of the chair. Knot in place with a basic knot. You should have about a 30 inch gap between the top of the chair and the dowel that’s used for hanging. Keep this knot loose in case you need to adjust it later.

Attach the Rope to the Bottom of the Chair

Take one of the shorter pieces of rope and starting from the bottom of the frame, thread your rope up through one of the empty holes and tie a basic knot.

Finish the Hanger

Continue threading the rope up all the way through the hanger dowel. Wrap the rope around this dowel and tie a knot, leaving 60 inches between the hanger dowel and the bottom dowel.

Hang Your Chair

Using a hanging chair mounting kit or a strong hook, you can attach your macramé chair to the ceiling if you’d like to hang it inside or on a porch. Outside, you can hang it by a tree branch. Secure all knots once you have the chair in the position you want.

Be careful when first using this chair! You may find that you need to adjust knots before it can be used.