Macrame earrings are light, fast and a fun way to use up leftover cord. Crystal Martin of Marching North on YouTube shows three pairs in one sitting: fluffy feather earrings, an easy half circle fringe pair and a crown knot tassel. Each pair takes a handful of short cords, two earring hooks and two jump rings. Make all three and you have gifts for three friends.
How to make macrame earrings: the short version
- Attach a jump ring to each earring hook with jewelry pliers.
- Feather: lark's head two center cords, tie five rows of short cords across, brush and trim.
- Half circle: lark's head four cords onto a wooden frame, add a hook, trim.
- Crown knot: tie five crown knots on a jump ring, wrap the base with jute, trim the tassel.
Picking the cord
Use single strand cotton cord, not 3-ply rope. Single strand brushes out into soft, fluffy fringe. Rope stays twisted and stiff. Crystal used 3mm cord for the feathers and 4mm for the other two pairs. Either size works for all three. Thinner cord makes daintier earrings. Thicker cord makes bolder ones that weigh a little more.
Cord lengths at a glance
- Feather pair: two 8 inch cords for the centers and twenty 5 inch cords for the fringe.
- Half circle pair: eight 6 inch cords and two wooden half circle frames.
- Crown knot pair: four 12 inch cords per earring and two 12 inch pieces of jute twine.
Brushing and trimming
A pet slicker brush is the secret to a soft feather. Brush both sides until every strand untwists. Lay the earring flat and trim in small snips, working toward a leaf shape. Match the second earring to the first by laying them side by side. A light mist of fabric stiffener keeps feathers from drooping.
Keeping them comfortable
Cotton cord is light, so even large feathers will not pull on your ears. If metal bothers you, swap in hypoallergenic or sterling silver hooks. Close every jump ring all the way so the earring cannot slip off.
Common problems
- Feather rows slide apart. Push each knot up snug against the one above before you tie the next.
- Crown knots twist sideways. Keep going in the same direction every time.
- The jute will not pull through. Use a large eye needle and grip it with pliers.
- Uneven fringe. Trim a little at a time and compare the pair often.
Ideas for gifting
Pin each pair to a small kraft card with two holes punched for the hooks. Match colors to a friend's favorite outfit, or make a set in school colors for a teen. Holiday red and green feathers make a cheerful stocking stuffer.
More macrame and earring projects
New to knots? Start with how to macrame. Try a bigger macrame feather for the wall or a macrame keychain from the same cord. For a different earring look, see how to make wire wrapped earrings.