How to Make a Macrame Lantern Garland
Prepare to celebrate Diwali with a beautiful macramé lantern garland that adds perfect decoration to your home. Using a few simple knots, you'll be able to make this garland in an afternoon – you could even get the kids involved and make each lantern together.
The tutorial takes you through the materials you'll need and offers a step-by-step of the making process. You'll have a lovely decoration ready for the festival of lights in no time.
Please note: Only battery-operated LED tea lights should be used within this garland.
Project and instructions by Hobbycraft Artisan Magdalena Okroj.
You will need
Pattern Notes
Make seven wire hoops - diameter 9cm each.
Cut the cord to the needed length:
Sage cord:
For the bunting:
1 x 4m
1 x 16m
For one lantern:
Hanging:
2 x 1.5m
2 x 2m
Gathering knots:
2 x 0.5m
Body:
16 x 1m
Crown:
4 x 1.2m
Mustard cord:
For two lanterns:
Hanging:
4 x 1.5m
4 x 2m
Gathering knots:
4 x 0.5m
Body:
32 x 1m
Crown:
8 x 1.2m
Terracotta cord:
For four lanterns:
Hanging:
8 x 1.5m
8x 2m
Gathering knots:
8 x 0.5m
Body:
64 x 1m
Crown:
16 x 1.2m
Using aluminium wire,scissors and pliers make seven hoops.
Make sure all are approx. 9cm in diameter.
Fold sage bunting strings in half and attach it to the wooden ring. Make one square knot using shorter strings as a core.
Fold hanging strings in half and place them perpendicular to the bunting.
Hold all the strings together and tie a gathering knot.
Place your gathering knot right at the top.
Gathering knot should be 2cm wide.
Pull up to close the knot. Cut off the tails carefully.
Divide strings to the left and to the right of work into two sets of four (2 short + 2 long). Make ten square knots with each set.
Place all the strings in the hoop.
Working from right to left make double half hitch knot with the first string.
Pull it close to the last square knot.
Make four double half hitch knots to attach the hanging to the hoop.
Repeat on the other side.
Attach sixteen body strings to the hoop, using reverse lark's head knot.
Place them evenly - four on each side of the hanging.
Leave two spaces for the crowns.
Use crown strings, make two square knots on one of them folded in half.
Pull the bottom square knot up to form the crown shape.
Start attaching the crown from the inside of the hoop.
Working from right to left make double half hitch knot with the first string.
Make four double half hitch knots to attach the crown to the hoop.
Repeat on the other side.
To make the body, make first round of square knots underneath the hoop.
Work your way around dividing crown strings in half for symmetry.
Make second round approx.1.5cm below.
Work around alternating square knots.
Repeat round one.
Repeat round two.
Using the four strings of the last square knot, make eight half square knots twisting to the right.
Continue around alternating twist knots (left and right twist).
Finish when twelve twist knots are ready and the same length.
Hold all the knots together and tie gathering knot directly underneath. Trim the tassel at 8cm.
To move to the next lantern, make 28 square knots with bunting strings.
Repeat steps 4-20 to make seven lanterns on the bunting.
The colour sequence is: Terracotta, Mustard, Terracotta, Sage, Terracotta, Mustard, Terracotta.
Finish off with one square knot at the end and attach second wooden ring using tight gathering knot.