Macrame Coaster DIY: Give Your Coffee A Handmade Home
Hi, I’m Nicole. A handmade coaster is a small detail you get to enjoy every day. This macrame coaster DIY pairs a textured diamond center with a tidy knotted border and soft cotton fringe.
I’ll guide you through ten steps, from mounting your cords to shaping the final fringe. Keep the photos beside your work, pause when you need to, and let your first coaster teach you the pattern.
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Your Coaster At A Glance
A macrame coaster is a small knotted mat for a cup or glass. This free pattern creates a diamond center with square-knot texture, a double half hitch border and brushed fringe.
- Finished size: approximately 5 × 5 inches (12.7 × 12.7 cm). Final dimensions vary with tension and fringe length.
- Skill level: beginner, with practice in the knots below.
- Time: allow 1–2 hours, depending on experience.
- Cord: ten 110 cm lengths of 3mm single-strand cotton.
- Format: ten written steps, 14 photos and the full video tutorial.
Cord And Materials
Choose 3mm single-strand cotton cord for the demonstrated texture and brushable fringe. Check off each item before you cut.
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Macrame Coaster Cutting List
| Material | Cut | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 3mm cotton cord | 10 × 110 cm (about 43.3 inches each) | 11 m (about 12 yards) |
Fold each piece in half to mount it. Ten folded cords give you 20 hanging ends. The two border anchor cords are taken from long offcuts later in the pattern; keep those pieces when trimming in Step 6.
Making a set? Two coasters use 22 m; four use 44 m before any extra allowance for practice. Thicker cord or looser knots can change the amount needed.
Knots To Practice Before Making The Coaster
You’ll use three foundations, plus the S-shaped square-knot variation shown in the video.
- Lark’s Head Knot: fold and attach the ten cords to the temporary dowel.
- Square Knot: practice the basic motion before adding the extra half knot used for the textured center.
- Double Half Hitch Knot: tie the border around the diamond. The anchor cord sets its direction.
Try one S-shaped unit on spare cord before starting. If your border looks uneven, use these five double half hitch knot tips to check your anchor and tension.
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 Coaster Tutorial
Follow the video’s ten-step sequence below. Each written step links to its matching timestamp, so you can jump straight to the knot or finishing detail you need.
Getting Started · 00:23 · Cord & Materials · 02:26
Watch On YouTube →How To Make A Macrame Coaster: 10 Steps
Follow the photos in order. You can open any photo for a closer look at the full frame.
Step 1: Attach The Cords
Fold each of the ten 110 cm cords in half and attach it to the dowel with a Lark’s Head knot. Secure the dowel with tape. Arrange the 20 hanging ends so you can see and count them easily.
Step 2: Make The First S-Shaped Knot
Leave approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the mounting knots. With the four middle cords, tie a square knot, then add the extra half knot shown in the video to create the S-shaped unit. Keep this first unit centered.
Step 3: Build The Two Diagonal Sides
Repeat the S-shaped units diagonally to the left and right, taking the next group of cords as shown in the photos. Compare the two sides as you go so the top of the diamond develops evenly.
Step 4: Fill The Center
Fill the space between the diagonal sides with the same S-shaped units. Keep each row close to the previous one without pulling so hard that the work puckers.
Step 5: Taper To A Diamond Point
Work four more rows below the filled section, reducing the number of units by one in each row until a single knot remains in the middle. Lay the work flat and check the diamond before adding its border.
Step 6: Add The First Border
Select the two longest cord ends. Leave approximately 3 inches (7.6 cm) of fringe below the knotwork and cut off the excess from those ends. Save both long offcuts. Use one as the anchor for double half hitch knots around the lower edges of the diamond, following the photos. Keep the second offcut for Step 8.
Step 7: Remove The Dowel And Open The Loops
Slide the work off the dowel. Cut through the center of each folded mounting loop to create separate fringe ends at the top. Cut the cord loops—not the dowel—and keep your scissors away from the knotted center.
Step 8: Complete The Opposite Border
Use the second saved offcut as the anchor for double half hitch knots along the remaining edges. Work around the opposite side of the diamond, keeping the border snug and the center flat.
Step 9: Close The Border
Close the border on both sides with a double half hitch knot using the anchor cords. Check that the joins sit neatly against the existing border.
Step 10: Trim And Comb The Fringe
Trim and comb through the fringe to finish the coaster. Work gradually: comb the strands gently, tidy the outline with small cuts, and compare opposite edges before trimming any shorter.
Small Fixes For A Neater Coaster
- The diamond looks uneven: compare the diagonal rows before filling the middle. Undo the affected units rather than trying to hide the difference in the border.
- The coaster curls: ease overly tight border knots and check the anchor direction. Place the piece flat between sections to catch puckering early.
- The border has gaps: snug the first half hitch before tying the second. Move completed knots into place along the anchor.
- The fringe looks ragged: comb it gently before trimming. Take off a little at a time and turn the coaster to compare opposite edges.
- You are running short: pause before cutting the two anchor offcuts. Compare your spacing with the photos and keep usable spare lengths.
What Will You Make Next?
Keep practicing with another useful project, or refine the border technique before making a matching set.
Beaded Macrame Keychain
Use diagonal double half hitch rows to build a small diamond design with bead accents.
Open The Tutorial →
Double Half Hitch Knot Guide
Practice the anchor direction and wrapping motion behind the coaster’s neat border.
Open The Tutorial →Macrame Coaster FAQs
Select a question to expand the answer.
Is This Macrame Coaster Pattern Free?
Yes. The written pattern, step photos and linked YouTube tutorial are free to follow. Cord and tools are separate.
How Much Cord Do I Need For One Coaster?
Cut ten lengths of 110 cm from 3mm single-strand cotton cord: 11 m in total. Keep the two long offcuts from Step 6 for the border anchors.
What Size Is The Finished Coaster?
Approximately 5 × 5 inches (12.7 × 12.7 cm). Your knot tension and final fringe trim affect the finished size.
Can A Beginner Make This Coaster?
Yes, with some knot practice first. Learn the Lark’s Head, square knot and double half hitch, then practice the S-shaped square-knot variation shown in the video.
Can I Use 4mm Cord Instead Of 3mm?
You can experiment, but 4mm cord changes the size and cord consumption. The listed cutting lengths are for 3mm cord; make a sample and allow extra cord rather than assuming the same measurements will work.
Does The Dowel Stay In The Finished Coaster?
No. It is a temporary support. Remove it in Step 7, then cut open the mounting loops and finish the remaining border.
How Long Does It Take?
Allow 1–2 hours. Your first coaster may take longer while you pause the video and practice the knot sequence.
How Do I Care For The Coaster?
Follow the care instructions for your chosen cord. For small spills, blot promptly and let the coaster dry completely before reuse. Avoid leaving damp cotton on a delicate tabletop.
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A NOTE FROM YOUR MACRAME TEACHER
Made By You. Shared With Love.
One coaster is a lovely place to begin. Make another in the same color, try a contrasting set, or wrap one as a small handmade gift. Notice what feels easier the second time—that is your practice taking shape. I’d love to hear which color you chose.
Much love,
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