Beginner Macrame Fringed Table Runner DIY

Our fringed macrame table runner DIY is probably the easiest pattern you’ll find anywhere. It’s all square knots, and the fringes are integral to the design. A win for sure.

The reason I can guarantee this pattern as beginner easy?

After forty years of no knotting, this table runner was a success. My friend asked for a runner without big “holey” places, and smooth enough so her table décor could sit straight without toppling over.

So if your requirements are similar, this one’s for you.

Beginner Macrame Table Runner DIY

Supplies:

3 mm cotton macrame cord*
tape measure, scissors, tape
Rod to secure your project. If you do a lot of large projects, invest in this rack* to ease your knotty problems.

(Items with an * are affiliate links.)

Directions:

The finished length of the table runner is 6′ with the fringes. In most cases, a project needs cords 4 times the length of the finished product. The runner has the same knot used throughout, alternating the knots on different strings, so we can go down to 2.5 times the length. This pattern makes the best use of cord lengths of any pattern I’ve seen. We ended up with almost the same lengths left over, except for 2 extra long cords, second from each end.

We plan to fold each cord in half and attach to a rod to stabilize the runner while tying the knots,. For this, you double the required length of cord. If your finished project is 6 feet, you need 15 feet lengths. To fold for stabilizing on a rod, cut the lengths 30 feet. But keep in mind that since you are cutting double lengths, you need half as many cords.

The size of the cord also makes a difference. If you decide to use bigger cord than 3 mm, add roughly 2 feet for every mm in width. We chose 3 mm because our friend wanted a smooth surface. Wider cord also means fewer cord lengths to get the same width of project. Cut 2 fewer cords for every mm of cord width.

So for this project:

Cut 20 lengths of cord, each 30 feet long. Mark the center of each length, or knot to a stabilizing rod as soon as you cut each length. Using a clothes rack* is perfect for keeping the long strings from tangling too much.
Attach each cord to the stabilizer rod with a larks head knot. We show you how to tie a larks head knot here.

1. First Angled Row of Knots:

Start your first knot about 8″ down from the stabilizer rod. Find the center 4 cords and tie a square knot.
Row 2: Pick 2 cords to the left of the first knot and the left 2 cords of the square knot, and tie a square knot. With the right two cords of the first square knot, and 2 cords to the right of it, tie another square knot in line with the first knot in the second row. There are no knots to the right of the left side of each row of knots, until you get to the right side of each row.

2. Second Angled Row of Knots:

Row 4 to 14: Pick up 2 cords to the left and 2 cords to the right on each succeeding row, until all the cords are tied into a knot.
Row 8 and 9: Tie square knots with the center 4 cords.

3. Macrame Table Runner First Center Diamond:

Row 8 and 9: Tie square knots with the center 4 cords.
Row 10: Tie a square knot with 2 cords to the left of the center knot and the left 2 cords of the center square knot. Tie a square knot beside it with the right 2 cords of row 10’s square knot and the 2 cords to the right of that knot. The left 2 cords and the right 2 cords will drop down an inch from the angled row of knots above.
Row 11 to 18: Tie each row adding 2 cords from the left and right of each succeeding row, tying knots all across each row between the left and right knots. Each row will be 4 cords wider: the 2 on the left and the 2 on the right.
Row 19 to 26: Reverse rows 10 to 18. Drop 2 cords from the left and right of each succeeding row of knots.
Row 27 and 28: Tie square knots with the center 4 cords.

4. Left Side Diamond:

We worked these knots downward from the left below the center diamond.

Row 22: Square knot with the 4 extreme left cords, 1″ below the knots of the center diamond. The space between Row 18 and Row 22 is 3 knots long (Cord 1 and 2). Cord 3 and 4 will be 1″ (2 knots) long between the knot and the center diamond.
Row 23: Skip the 2 extreme left cords, and tie a square knot with cords 3,4,5 and 6. The 5th and 6th cord will be 1″ below the knots of the Center Diamond.
Row 24: Start at the extreme left and tie cord 1 to 4 in a square knot. Tie cords 5 to 8 in a row with the first knot. Cord 7 and 8 will be 1″ below the knots of the Center Diamond.
Row 25: Like row 23, but with 3 knots in a row.
Rows 26 to 29: Repeat the above alternating rows, with another knot on each row as you get toward the center knot.
Rows 30 to 36: Reverse the above rows, dropping 2 cords with each row of knots.

5. Right Side Diamond:

Row 22 will begin with the 4 cords on the extreme right side of the runner. Tie the left side of the extreme right knot 1 inch below the knots in the center diamond. The 2 extreme right cords will be about 3 knot heights below the right side of the Center Diamond.

Row 22: Square knot with the 4 extreme right cords, 1″ below the knots of the center diamond.
Row 23: Skip the 2 extreme right cords, then tie a square knot with cords 37, 38 39 and 40. The 37th and 38th cord will be 1″ below the knots of the Center Diamond.
Row 24: Start at the extreme right and tie cord 37 through 40 in a square knot. Tie cords 33 to 36 in a row with the first knot. Cord 33 and 34 will be 1″ below the knots of the Center Diamond.
Row 25: Like row 23, but with 3 knots in a row.
Rows 26 to 29: Repeat the above alternating rows, with another knot on each row as you get toward the center knot. The 29th row will be a row of knots all across the width of the table runner.
Rows 30 to 36: Reverse the above rows, dropping 2 cords with each row of knots.

6. Macrame Table Runner Next Center Diamond:

Repeat the directions for the first Center Diamond, again with a 1″ row between the Left and Right Side Diamonds and your new Center Diamond.

Row 30 and 31: Make a square knot with the center 4 cords.
Row 32 through 40: Follow the directions for rows 10 to 18 in Section 3 above, directions for the first Center Diamond. Then reverse the order to finish the second Center Diamond.

7. Continuing the Table Runner:

Repeat the Left and Right Side Diamonds (directions 4 and 5) and the Center Diamond (direction 2) until you have 4 Center Diamonds.

Repeat directions 1 and 2 above in reverse order for the end of the table runner.

8. Finishing the Macrame Table Runner DIY:

Cut the cords off the stabilizing rod.

Measure 6 to 8 inches from the last angled rows of knots on each end of the runner.

Cut the cord ends as evenly as possible. Some macrame artists tape the cords to a table where they plan to cut.

Tie knots at the ends of the fringes if you wish, to keep them from unravelling.

Beginner Macrame Fringed Table Runner DIY