Macrame Christmas Wreath Ornament With Holly: Free Pattern
A small ring, two knotted leaves and three raised berries: this free macrame Christmas wreath ornament pattern shows you how to make a holly wreath you can hang on your tree or tie onto a gift.
I’ll take you through the ring covering first, then the leaves and berries, before we bring everything together. Use the 13 illustrated steps below alongside the video whenever you want a closer look at the cord placement.
Your Holly Wreath At A Glance
| Skill Level | Advanced beginner; practice double half hitch and berry knots first. |
|---|---|
| Finished Size | Approximately 2.5 inches wide × 5 inches long (6.4 × 12.7 cm), as listed in the original pattern. |
| Making Time | Approximately 2 hours, depending on experience. |
| Main Supplies | 2mm single-strand cotton cord in three colours and one 2-inch wooden ring. |
| Cord Total | 13 pieces totalling 6.6 metres. |
| Holly Details | Two leaves and three knotted berries. |
Materials And Tools You Will Need
Use the same cord thickness throughout the wreath, leaves and berries. The original colour scheme is a neutral ring, green leaves and cream berries; choose shades you enjoy while keeping the 2mm size.
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- 2mm single-strand cotton cord: Three colours; 6.6 metres in total, divided as shown below.
- One 2-inch wooden ring: The ring supports the wrapped wreath base.
- Scissors: For cutting and trimming.
- Measuring tape: Measure each cord before cutting.
- Crochet hook: For drawing cord through the berry knots; a weaving needle can also be used.
- Hot glue gun: For sealing the trimmed ends during finishing.
Cord Cutting List For One Wreath
Separate your three colours before cutting. The long ring cord also forms the hanging loop, so no separate hanger cord is listed.
| Colour / Purpose | Quantity × Length | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Wreath Base And Hanger | 1 × 240 cm (about 95 in) | 2.4 m |
| Two Holly Leaves | 6 × 40 cm (about 16 in); three per leaf | 2.4 m |
| Three Berries | 6 × 30 cm (about 12 in); two per berry | 1.8 m |
Total: 6.6 metres across 13 pieces. Measure in centimetres for the closest match; inch conversions are rounded. These lengths are for 2mm cord and a 2-inch ring. Changing either may require a new cutting list.
Knots To Practice Before Making The Wreath
- Lark’s Head And Vertical Lark’s Head: attach the berry cords and cover the ring. Review the Lark’s Head knot, then watch Step 1 for the vertical version around a ring.
- Double Half Hitch (DHH): shape the pointed leaves. Practice with the double half hitch tutorial.
- Berry Knot: creates the raised holly berries. Review the berry knot tutorial before working with the short cords.
- Overhand Knot: forms the hanger and attaches the holly to the wreath.
Your anchor cord is the strand you hold in place; your working cord ties around it. Notice when those roles change in the last leaf row. If you are new to knotting, start with our beginner’s guide to macrame.
A REFERENCE BESIDE YOUR CORD
Keep Your Next Knot Within Reach.
Use the free 50 Macrame Knots & Sennits guide when a pattern introduces a technique you want to practice.
Watch The Macrame Holly Wreath Tutorial
Watch the ring wrapping at 03:26, the leaf shaping at 06:17 and the first berry at 12:16. Each written step below includes a link to its place in the video.
How To Make A Macrame Wreath Ornament With Holly
Work in three stages: cover the ring, make the holly, then attach it. Keep the leaf ends intact until the finishing steps so you can use them to secure the pieces.
Step 1: Cover The Wooden Ring
Leave 5–6 inches (about 13–15 cm) at one end of the 240 cm cord. Use the longer end to tie consecutive vertical Lark’s Head knots around the ring. Keep the knot ridge facing the same direction as you work.
Step 2: Make The Hanging Loop
Use both ends of the ring cord to tie two Overhand knots, forming the hanging handle. Check the loop before tightening the knots completely.
Step 3: Start The First Holly Leaf
Take three 40 cm cords. Use one as the anchor and attach the other two at its middle with Double Half Hitch knots. Compare the six ends with the photo before moving on.
Step 4: Fold And Shape The Top
Fold the right end over to the left and tie two DHH knots. Keep the cords in the same order as the photo so the leaf begins to take shape.
Step 5: Build The Leaf Rows
With the bottom two vertical cords, make a diagonal DHH knot towards the left. Add another row of DHH knots on the right and left sides. Keep the anchor angle steady as you tighten each knot.
Step 6: Narrow The Last Row
Begin the final row with a regular DHH knot. For the next DHH knot, include the previous working cord together with the anchor cord. Repeat this change on the other side. The video shows exactly which strands join together.
Step 7: Close The Leaf
Take one anchor cord from each side and tie a diagonal DHH knot towards the left. This joins the two sides at the bottom of the leaf.
Step 8: Make The Second Leaf
Repeat Steps 3–7 with the remaining three 40 cm cords. Place the leaves beside each other and check their shape before making the berries.
Step 9: Attach The First Berry Cords
Take two 30 cm cords and fold each about one-third of the way down, leaving approximately 10 cm on the short side. Attach them with Lark’s Head knots to one vertical cord underneath a leaf. Keep the shorter ends in the middle.
Step 10: Form A Raised Berry
Tie a Berry knot with the attached cords. Use the crochet hook or weaving needle to help draw the cord through the knotwork as shown. Follow the video for the roll-through and tightening sequence; the finished berry should project from the leaf.
Step 11: Add The Other Two Berries
Use the remaining four 30 cm cords to make two berries on the other leaf pattern. Attach two cords for each berry in the same way as Step 9, then repeat the Berry knot.
Step 12: Trim And Seal The Ends
Trim the excess berry cord and seal the ends with glue. Trim the inner cords of the leaf patterns as shown, keeping the attachment cords needed for the final step. Allow the glue to set before handling the finished details.
Step 13: Attach The Holly To The Wreath
Arrange the two leaves and three berries on the covered ring. Use Overhand knots to attach the leaf patterns to the wreath. Check the position from the front, then finish the remaining ends following the video.
Troubleshooting Your Holly Wreath
| What You Notice | What To Check |
|---|---|
| Gaps Around The Ring | Slide neighbouring knots together and even out the tension before finishing the hanger. |
| Leaves Look Uneven | Compare the anchor angles and the order of the DHH rows. Check Step 6, where a working cord joins the anchor. |
| A Berry Looks Flat | Revisit Step 10 and check the roll-through before tightening. Avoid pulling the rounded part flat against the leaf. |
| Short Cord Ends | Check the original cut lengths and the one-third fold used for berry cords. Delay trimming until Step 12. |
| Holly Sits At An Awkward Angle | Arrange both leaves on the ring before tightening the attachment knots. Check the front between adjustments. |
Make Your Wreath Your Own
Keep the ring and cord sizes consistent while you experiment with colour. Cream berries give a quiet winter look; a contrasting berry colour makes the holly more prominent. Hang your wreath on the tree, attach it to a parcel, or make a coordinated set.
For more designs using a ring base, explore our four macrame Christmas wreath ornaments. Store your finished piece dry and avoid flattening the raised berries beneath heavier decorations.
Macrame Holly Wreath Ornament FAQs
Is This Macrame Christmas Wreath Pattern Free?
Yes. The written pattern, cutting list, step photos and YouTube tutorial are free to follow. You supply the cord, ring and tools.
Can A Beginner Make This Holly Wreath?
The original pattern is rated advanced beginner. The ring covering is repetitive, while the leaves and berries need more attention to cord placement. Practice DHH and Berry knots first.
How Much Cord Do I Need?
Cut one 240 cm cord, six 40 cm cords and six 30 cm cords: 6.6 metres in total. Divide these among the ring, leaves and berries as shown in the cutting list.
What Size Ring And Cord Should I Use?
Use one 2-inch wooden ring and 2mm single-strand cotton cord. A different ring size or cord thickness may require different lengths.
How Many Leaves And Berries Are In The Pattern?
There are two leaves and three berries. Make one berry on one leaf pattern and two on the other before attaching the holly to the ring.
Do I Need A Separate Hanging Cord?
No separate hanger cord is included in this pattern. The ends of the 240 cm ring cord form the hanging handle in Step 2.
How Long Does It Take To Make?
Allow approximately two hours, depending on your experience. The listed finished size is about 2.5 inches wide by 5 inches long.
Do I Need Glue?
The tutorial uses glue to seal the trimmed berry ends. The leaf patterns attach to the ring with Overhand knots. Follow the finishing sequence before trimming attachment cords.
KEEP LEARNING
More Macrame Christmas Ornaments To Make
Macrame Tree
Ornament
Build a small 3D tree with DHH rows and finish it with a cinnamon-stick trunk.
Make The Tree →
Macrame StarOrnament
Add a different shape to your tree with a knotted star.
Make The Star →
Macrame AngelOn A Ring
Explore another way to shape double half hitch rows and finish soft cotton fringe.
Make The Angel →Find more ideas in our macrame Christmas tutorials, or work through the complete beginner’s guide.
MAKE SOMETHING NEXT MONTH, TOO
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A NOTE FROM YOUR MACRAME TEACHER
Made By You. Shared With Love.
You have wrapped a ring, shaped two leaves and turned flat knots into little berries. Those are techniques you can carry into your next project. Would you keep the berries cream or try another colour? I would love to hear what you make in the comments.
Much love,
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