Macrame is back! Here's how to DIY the retro craft that has the design world in knots

Macrame is back, and if the latest design blogs and design shows are any indication, it looks as though it's here to stay. This knot tying technique is straight out of the '70s but is popping up everywhere these days. It's been popular as wall hangings and plant holders for a while now, but lately, it can be found on statement pieces like ottomans and pillows. And instead of scouring your local shops for designer pieces, Steven Sabados showed us how to DIY an ottoman in need of a little oomph and a pillow to match – using some mopheads!

Macrame ottoman

The thickness of the mophead means that it's built for durability so using them in on a high traffic piece like an ottoman is a great idea.

Here's what you'll need:

• An old ottoman
• Fabric to reupholster if necessary
• Mopheads
• Sewing needle and thread or a staple gun or hot glue gun
• Beads and adornments
• Scissors

Here's how to do it:

1. Our first step is to stitch our mopheads. Take your mophead and pull it apart to end up with long strands of rope. Using your needle (or hot glue or staple gun – whatever works best for you) attach the ends of the rope to the ottoman. Leave 4 to 6" between each rope depending on how large your ottoman is. You'll want to attach them closer if your ottoman is smaller.

2. Now take your two pieces that you've just stitched and tie them into a knot. Continue along the outside of the ottoman. We used a standard knot, but you can get creative if you're a knot master!

3. Our third step is to adorn. This is the step you can have fun with. For example, Steven created a bunch of tassels to add around the top of the ottoman. See instructions below!

4. Attach a macrame border and shag fringe to your ottoman – details are below. You can add some texture to the shag by tying additional knots.

Adornments

How to make a simple tassel:

Here's what you'll need:

• Mophead pieces – use 6 to 10 mophead pieces depending on how large you want your tassels to be
• Zip ties (one for each tassel)
• Scissors
• Glue gun and glue

Here's how to do it:

1. Pull apart the ends of the mophead pieces to create frayed ends.

2. Fold the mophead pieces over to create a loop.  

3. Use a zip tie to seal the loop.

4. Cover the zip tie with another piece of rope.

5. Use a separate mophead piece to string through your loop to attach.

How to make the macrame border:

Create a detailed macrame border to cover any unsightly attachments or to add texture and another piece of detail to your ottoman.

1. Use a simple Reverse Larks Head Knot (see video below for instructions) to attach your rope.

2. Use the square knot to create the macrame pattern. Be sure not to twist your rope. You'll want the macrame piece to lie flat against the ottoman.

How to make a Reverse Larks Head Knot:

1. Attach your rope to a dowel with a Reverse Larks Head Knot. To do this, fold the rope in half.

2. Place the looped cord under your dowel.

3. Pull the loop over the dowel and then the cords through the loop creating a pretzel shape. Pull tight to secure.

4. Begin with the Square Knot. To create the square knot you'll need 4 ropes in total (two Reverse Larks Head Knots).

5. You will be using the two outer cords to do the knotting and the two inner cords will be the knot bearing cords. The knot bearing cords do not move.

6. Take your left knotting rope (the rope furthest to the left) and place it to the right over the two knot bearing ropes and under the right hand knotting rope (the rope furthest to the right).

7. Take your right knotting rope and place it to the left under the two knot bearing ropes and over the left knotting rope.

8. Pull tight to create the knot. To continue the knot, do the reverse.

9. Take your right knotting rope and place it to the left, over the two knot bearing ropes and under the left knotting rope.

10. Take your left knotting rope and place it to the right, under the two knot bearing cords and over the right knotting rope.

11. Pull tight to secure your knot. Repeat steps 1-8 until you've reached your desired length. You can also use beads and anything else that you can find to attach!

How to make the shag fringe:

1. Cut the mophead apart until you have a length long enough to dust the floor when it's wrapped around the ottoman.

2. Attach the mophead to the ottoman with glue or a staple gun.

Macrame pillow

This pillow uses the same knotting concept as step 2 from our ottoman. See above for more details!

Here's what you'll need:

• Pillow
• Mophead
• Materials required to make tassels (see section above)
• Beads

Here's how to do it:

1. Attach a pair of your mophead pieces to the top of your pillow. Each pair should be 3 to 4 inches apart, depending on the size of your pillow – make sure you are using an even number of mophead pieces.

2. Take the 2 pairs on the left hand side of the pillow and knot them together. Continue along using the next two pairs until you've reached the end of your pillow.

3. Take the first pair and attach it to the side of your pillow.

4. Knot the second and third pair the same as step 2. Continue along until all but the last pair have been knotted.

5. Attach the last pair to the side of the pillow.

6. Repeat step 2 to 5 until you've reached the bottom of your pillow.

7. Attach all of the pairs to the bottom of your pillow the same as you did for the top.

8. Create large tassels (see instructions in tassel section above).

9. Adorn your tassels with beads.

10. Using your loop, attach the tassels to the middle of the pillow.