What’s better than wearable macrame? Create your own earrings, necklaces, bracelets and more with these lovely macrame jewellery ideas.
Macrame has a rich and varied history, according to TSCPL: Macrame’s knot-tying origins can be traced back to 13th-century Arabic decorative weavers who used the knots to secure loose ends of woven textiles, like towels and shawls. Since then it has made its way around the world, and become embedded into a variety of cultures, fashion trends and lots more.
Macrame is a versatile technique which makes it the perfect choice for jewellery making. It can create various styles from chunky and statement right through to micro and delicate pieces.
We’ve got a mixture of projects for you to choose from, most of which are suitable for beginners. We’ve noted that a certain project might be a little more complex too! Every tutorial included here is free, and lots of them even have a video tutorial to follow along with.
A great place to start with macrame jewellery making is learning the basic macrame knots, as this is the basis for creating a huge variety of jewellery.
Main image: Super stylish earrings by Macrame for Beginners
Make your own macrame jewellery: 16 ideas to start today
1. Rainbow macrame earrings
Bold, bright and beautiful! Make an impact with these rainbow macrame earrings designed by Happiness is Homemade. These earrings are super simple to make and you can adjust your macrame cord colour to suit your style. Make sure you check out the pastel rainbow version too – dreamy!
You’ll need to start this project with a pair of wooden earring findings, which you can either make or buy (find out more about this over at Happiness is Homemade). Your chosen cord is then knotted around the findings – that's all there is to it.
2. Macrame rings
Create statement rings with this micro macrame project! Using waxed thread and beads, you can knot your way to these chic rings in your perfect colour. Follow along with the easy-to-follow video from Tutoriales Temuco on Pinterest.
This one is intricate, so it would be best for those who already have some experience in macrame, or a beginner looking for a challenge.
3. Chunky macrame bracelet
One for new macrame artists. This project uses a nice chunky cord which can be easily knotted. We’ll walk you through step-by-step how to knot this stylish bracelet. This project works up quickly and would make an affordable and handmade gift for a fashionable friend.
4. DIY fringe necklace
Simple and understated, this lovely fridge necklace will complement any outfit. The fabulous thing about this project is that it’s so quick to make. You’ll start with a metal hoop and knot your cord in place. Once finished you can trim the tails into a neat triangle.
Get the full tutorial from Brooklyn Craft Company, and they’ll even tell you where they found their hoops.
5. Silver heart earring tutorial
A slightly more complex macrame tutorial, these beautiful heart earrings will be a fabulous challenge for macrame fans. Macramotiv has helpfully broken down this pattern into detailed photo steps, which makes following along much easier.
6. Chunky macrame earrings
Make super stylish earrings with this simple tutorial by Macrame for Beginners. As the name suggests it will be suitable for even those brand new to macrame.
With three basic knots, you’ll be able to create a multitude of macrame earring designs, and this tutorial will show you how to do just that!
7. Make your own chunky necklace
Make Sally Wilson’s knotted statement macrame necklace, and create a stylish accessory in your favourite colours. This one is simple to knot, and for that reason would make a fab last-minute handmade gift for a friend.
8. Macrame feather earrings
Create classic feather earrings with Crafting on the Fly’s simple tutorial. Choose your favourite shade or a mixture of colours and follow along with their video tutorial.
Once you’ve mastered the technique, feathers can be used for all sorts of jewellery too.
Looking for more macrame projects?
Browse picks of the best macrame tutorials for beginners.
9. Simple DIY Macrame necklace
A beautiful necklace tutorial by Lia Griffiths, this delicate design is suitable for beginners and will complement any outfit. Made up of a series of square knots (the easiest of macrame knots), you’ll have this whipped up in no time at all.
Thanks to its beautifully modern style, it would make a very special gift for a friend or family member.
10. Macrame keychain
We know it’s not really jewellery, but we couldn't resist including this lovely macrame keychain from Fish and Bull. Using only three knots, this is a perfect project for beginners. Its small size makes it easy to start over if you make any mistakes.
11. Stylish macrame bracelet
This type of macrame bracelet works particularly well as a friendship bracelet. You can add a charm to the centre too, which adds an extra personal touch to the design.
The tutorial over at Shmuck Blog has a helpful illustrated diagram of how to create the main knot involved in the project. Once you’ve got that down, the bracelet will work up quickly.
12. Macrame crystal necklace
Do you love crystals? This is the macrame necklace for you! You will find out how to create a small macrame net pendant, in which you can store your favourite crystals.
The wonderful thing about this project is that the crystals are interchangeable, so you could wear a different crystal every day, or match it to your mood.
13. Macrame stacking rings
You can create one of these charming macrame rings in just five steps. Wear them alone or create a few in different colours and stack them! These cute little rings also make unique friendship rings, if you prefer them over a bracelet.
14. Macrame hairpin tutorial
Create something a little bit different with this sweet hairpin tutorial by Crafting on the Fly. For this tutorial, you can either dye your own macrame cord (which you will be shown in the guide) or use a coloured cord.
This chic accessory will add the finishing touch to any relaxed outfit.
15. DIY dyed macrame necklace
As long as you know how to make a square knot, this project is as easy as pie! And if you’re not sure, check out our guide to macrame knots before starting. This stylish dip-dyed necklace will add that extra something to your outfit this summer, perfect for festivals and beach days.
16. Rustic macrame necklace
Are you looking for something a little more rustic-looking? This lovely necklace will feed your wild side! With its sprawling tails and wooden beads, it’s the perfect way to complement a relaxed outfit. Follow along with the simple tutorial from My French Twist.
Starting your macrame jewellery adventure with Gathered
Once you knot you can’t stop! Macrame is such a lovely craft which you can spend hours in a soft chair relaxing into a project. Not only is it a satisfying craft, but it is hugely versatile, not only in jewellery making but in a wider context too.
Try more macrame projects
Part of the joy of macrame is that you can transfer your knowledge from one item to another. All of the basic knots are the same through many projects, and once you have them down it becomes much easier to try something new or perhaps more challenging.
You can make items you might not have even thought about, and try out this macrame garden chair to add a homemade element to your garden this summer!
