DIY, Interiors

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

Before we dive in to the DIY Macrame curtain tie backs tutorial, I need to take a second to rave about my most favourite craft supply purchase. It’s probably not what you’re thinking though, no fancy expensive gadget! It’s just a simple roll of twine.

It cost only a couple of pounds for an enormous roll and I have used it on so many projects. This garlandtied round a jar, tied round a napkin! I can’t get enough of it. If you love that rustic, vintage vibe you need to get yourself a roll, trust me.

Right, now I’ve finished raving about a roll of twine (I’m not crazy, I promise) let’s move on to the tutorial. If you’ve never tried macrame before, don’t panic. I hadn’t either before making this! I only used one type of knot to create the whole pattern, so it’s not difficult at all. To create both tie backs, it shouldn’t take more than 2-3 hours and it gets quicker as you get the hang of the knot.

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

You will need:

  • Twine
  • Curtain ring (I sprayed mine gold)
  • Scissors
  • Clipboard

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

1# Cut four pieces of twine 3 meters long. Fold them in half and attach all of them to the curtain ring using a larks head knot: pass the fold through the curtain ring and the thread both ends through the loop.

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

2# Clip the ring on to the clipboard (as I spray painted mine I used a post it note to protect it) so that you are able to pull the string taut. You will mostly be working with the four strings on the right and left separately. You can also use the clip to keep the unused strings out of the way.

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

3# The knot you’ll be using for the entire pattern is a diagonal double half hitch knot. So lets look at the knot in detail first, once you master this the rest is easy!

Diagonal double half-hitch knot

  • Take your filler string (aka the one you’ll be using to tie the knots on) and hold it diagonally across the other strings. For a left facing knot, hold the string diagonally to the left and a right facing knot hold diagonally to the right.
  • Take the string next to it, pass it over the top of it filler string and pull through to secure the knot (but not too tight).
  • Repeat the process – over the top and pull through gently but firmly.

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

Just remember to pull the knot taut, but not too tight – then you can always go back and correct it if you need to.

Got it? Great – let’s get get going!

Starting with first the string on the left as your filler, pull it diagonally to the right. Take the string next to it and complete your first right-facing diagonal double half hitch (let’s call it an RFHK otherwise I will be typing until my fingers bleed).

Take the next string along and complete another RFHK. Finally take the 4th string and complete a RFHK. Your first row is done!

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

Now take the string on the far left and do another row of RFHK exactly the same. Repeat until you have completed 4 rows of RFHK.

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

4# OK, it’s time do it all again in reverse. Take the string on the far right and use it as the filler. This time pull the string diagonally to the left.

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

Now you’re going to do three left facing diagonal double half hitch knots or LFHK as we’ll call them from now on. Complete four rows.

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

5# This time you need to continue the row of LFHK all the way over to the far left.

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

Keep the two strings on the far left slightly slack, to create the curved shape.

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

Then take the fourth string from the left and begin another row of LFHK working from the centre towards the left hand side. Repeat twice more, completing four rows of LFHK in total.

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

6# You guessed it, now it’s time to repeat the process on the right hand side. Grab the string 4th from right and complete a row of RFHK working towards the outside, creating a cross shape. Don’t forget to leave a little slack on the two outer strings to make that curved shape. Try to make it as symmetrical as possible. Then a further three rows of RFHK starting from the 4th string in from the right each time.

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

7# Pull the string on the far right diagonally left and complete a row of three LFHK. Again leave them a little slack for the curved shape inside.

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

Repeat this with the far left string and RFHK, but do one extra RFHK to secure the centre strings.

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

8# Now the pattern repeats. Simply go back to the beginning and repeat all the steps and continue until you have reached your desired length.

9# Tie a knot at the end of the pattern and then trim your twine to the desired length.

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

DIY Macrame Curtain Tie Backs Tutorial

Liked this DIY macrame tutorial? Why not check out some more cool DIY projects over here

I’m so pleased with how this project turned out, especially given that they cost me absolutely nothing. Even if you do need to buy the supplies it won’t cost you more than a few bucks.

The other reason I like them is that you can adjust them to different widths, so they are perfect for my extremely thin and floaty Ikea office curtains.

Have you ever tried DIY macrame? What should I make next? Let me know in the comments!

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Easy DIY macrame curtain tie backs. A simple step-by-step tutorial, that's perfect for beginners as it only uses one macrame knot.

 

 

 

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6 Comment

  1. Lauretta Wright
    March 17, 2017 at 11:39 am

    Very unique & innovative! These are fab!

    1. Caroline
      March 17, 2017 at 6:33 pm

      Thanks Lauretta. My office is really starting to come together now! x

  2. Anne Marie
    March 18, 2017 at 12:35 am

    I love how detailed your instructions are and so many photos!!!

    1. Caroline
      March 18, 2017 at 8:33 am

      Ah thanks Anne, I wanted it to be as clear as possible. Although I did slightly regret that when it came to editing all the photos!

      1. Shdonna Bolden
        June 21, 2021 at 11:58 pm

        The curtain tie is very beautiful and gorgeous to me

  3. Anne Marie
    March 18, 2017 at 9:21 am

    No, you shouldn’t regret that. It looks great!

Comments are closed.