How to Make a Macrame Dreamcatcher Wall Hanging
A woven web, two macrame petals and a fringe of feathers, built on a 6.5-inch ring. Five knots, twenty steps, and about an hour and a half.
Last updated: August 21, 2026
Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means Bochiknot may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. We only ever link to things we use ourselves.
A Note from Nicole
A dreamcatcher is really three projects stacked on top of each other, which is why it teaches so much in one sitting.
There is the ring, which most tutorials wave past in a sentence and which quietly determines whether the finished piece looks handmade or homemade. There is the web, worked in fine 1.5mm string, delicate and unlike anything else in macrame. And there are the petals — proper double half hitch work, the same skill you would use on a wall hanging.
I have put the ring section first and given it the space it deserves, because it is the part that gets skipped and the part that shows. A well-wrapped ring makes an average dreamcatcher look good. A lumpy one undermines everything you tie afterwards.
Five knots, twenty steps, an hour and a half. Take the ring slowly and the rest follows.
A macrame dreamcatcher wall hanging is a hoop-based fibre art piece combining a woven string web across the centre of a metal or wooden ring with knotted macrame petals worked below it, finished with a fringe and feathers. This pattern uses a 6.5-inch metal ring, 3mm cotton cord and 1.5mm string, and five knots — the Lark's Head, double half hitch, overhand, Berry and gathering knot. It takes about 90 minutes and finishes at roughly 6.5 inches wide by 21 inches long.
Quick Answer
- Skill level: Intermediate ★★★☆☆ — five knots, and a web that rewards patience.
- Time: About 90 minutes.
- Finished size: ~6.5″ wide × 21″ long.
- Ring: 6.5″ metal. The size sets everything else.
- Materials: 3mm cotton cord, 1.5mm string, feathers.
- Knots: Lark's Head, double half hitch, overhand, Berry, gathering.
- Also inside: how to choose and wrap the ring — the step most tutorials skip.
🎥 Watch the video alongside the photos. The web in Steps 4–7 and the RLHPHH in Step 9 both read far more easily watched than written.
What's in this tutorial
- Materials you'll need
- Choosing and wrapping the ring
- Cord cut lengths
- The five knots you'll use
- Project details at a glance
- Watch the video tutorial
- Phase 1: The ring and the web (Steps 1–7)
- Phase 2: The petals (Steps 8–14)
- Phase 3: Joining, fringe and feathers (Steps 15–20)
- Where first attempts usually go wrong
- What to make next month
- FAQ
Materials You'll Need
Two weights of cord, a ring and some feathers. The two cord weights matter — the contrast between fine web and heavier fringe is most of the finished look.
Faux Feathers (60 pcs)
Eight are used here. The pack covers several dreamcatchers.
You'll also want a measuring tape. Not sure which cord? Read the complete guide to selecting macrame cord. Our supplies also ship from the Bochiknot storefronts on Amazon US and Amazon Canada.
Choosing and Wrapping the Ring
Almost every dreamcatcher tutorial covers the ring in half a sentence: "take your ring." Then twenty steps later people wonder why theirs looks homemade rather than handmade, and the answer is usually sitting at the very top of the piece where nobody thought to look.
The ring is the one part of a dreamcatcher you cannot fix later. Everything hangs off it, everything is measured from it, and it is the first thing the eye reaches. So it is worth ten minutes.
Metal or wooden?
| Metal ring | Wooden ring | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Dreamcatchers, webs, anything under tension | Plant hangers, pieces where the ring stays visible |
| Strength | Holds a taut web without flexing | Can bow slightly under a tight web |
| Wrapping | Needs wrapping — bare metal looks unfinished | Optional. Bare wood is a legitimate look |
| Thickness | Thin, so knots sit close and neat | Thicker, so mounted cords sit further apart |
For this pattern, metal. The web in Steps 4–7 pulls against the frame, and a wooden ring of this diameter can flex just enough to pull the web out of round.
What size ring?
Ring diameter drives everything: how many cords fit around it, how wide the finished piece is, and how long the fringe needs to be to stay in proportion.
| Ring | Cords it holds (3mm) | Finished length | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4″ | ~10 | 12–14″ | A small accent piece, or a first attempt |
| 6.5″ | ~16 | 20–22″ | This pattern — the most balanced size |
| 9″ | ~22 | 28–32″ | A statement piece above a bed or console |
| 12″ | ~30 | 36″+ | Large wall art — add cord length generously |
A rule that keeps proportions right: the finished piece wants to be roughly three times the ring diameter in length. A 6.5″ ring reads well at around 21″, which is exactly where this pattern lands.
How to wrap a ring cleanly
Wrapping covers the bare metal and gives your mounted cords something to grip. It is simple, and there are three places it goes wrong.
- Start with a Lark's Head, not a knot you invent. Fold the wrapping cord, place the loop behind the ring, pass the ends through and pull snug.
- Wrap at a consistent angle — roughly 45 degrees — and keep each pass touching the last with no metal showing between. Gaps are the giveaway.
- Keep the tension even, not maximal. Over-tight wrapping bunches and creates ridges; too loose and the whole wrap rotates on the ring the first time you pull a knot against it.
- Finish where you started and tie off with a double overhand knot at the top, where the hanging loop will cover it.
How much cord does a wrap use?
More than people expect. Wrapping consumes roughly eight to ten times the ring's circumference, and circumference is diameter × 3.14.
| Ring | Circumference | Cord to wrap fully |
|---|---|---|
| 4″ | ~12.5″ (32 cm) | 2.5–3 m |
| 6.5″ | ~20″ (52 cm) | 4–5 m |
| 9″ | ~28″ (72 cm) | 6–7 m |
| 12″ | ~38″ (96 cm) | 8–10 m |
💡 A shortcut worth knowing: this pattern does not wrap the full ring, and it does not need to. Cords mount along the bottom half and the web covers the middle, so only the bare top arc is really on show. If you are short on time, wrap the top third and leave the rest — nobody will ever see it, and you will save four metres of cord.
Working out cord for a different ring size? Our free cord calculator handles the fringe and petal lengths once you have settled on a diameter.
Cord Cut Lengths
| Material | Length | Qty | What it's for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3mm cord | 200 cm (79″) | 1 | Hanging loop (Steps 1–2) |
| 3mm cord | 90 cm (35″) | 16 | Mounted along the bottom of the ring (Step 3) |
| 3mm cord | 140 cm (55″) | 8 | The petals (Steps 8–18) |
| 1.5mm string | 200 cm (79″) | 1 | The web (Steps 4–7) |
| 1.5mm string | 25 cm (10″) | 8 | Tying on the feathers (Step 20) |
Roughly 27 m of 3mm cord and 4 m of string, before any ring wrapping.
The Five Knots You'll Use
All five are basic, and four of them turn up in almost every macrame project you will meet afterwards.
Lark's Head Knot
Mounts all 16 cords onto the ring in Step 3, and starts the ring wrap too.
Learn the Lark's Head
Double Half Hitch
Builds both petals across Steps 9 to 18 — the bulk of the knotting in this piece.
Learn the double half hitch
Berry Knot
The raised bobble at the centre, tied once in Step 14. The detail people notice first.
Learn the Berry knot
Gathering Knot
Ties each feather onto its cord in Step 20, holding it without glue.
Learn the gathering knot
Overhand Knot
The simplest knot there is. Forms the hanging loop and anchors the web.
See mounting knotsProject Details at a Glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Skill level | Intermediate ★★★☆☆ |
| Time | About 90 minutes |
| Finished size | ~6.5″ wide × 21″ long |
| Ring | 6.5″ metal |
| Cord | 3mm cotton (~27 m) + 1.5mm string (~4 m) |
| Feathers | 8 |
| Knots | Five — all basic |
| Steps | 20, in three phases |
Watch the Video Tutorial
▶ Watch full-screen on YouTube →
Step-by-Step Photo Tutorial
Twenty steps in three phases. The web comes first, then the petals, then everything gets joined and finished. Read a step, do a step — there is no need to hold the whole thing in your head.
The Ring and the Web
Steps 1-7 set up the frame: the hanging loop, the mounted cords and the fine string web across the middle.
Tie the hanging loop onto the ring
- Take a strand of 200 cm cord and make an Overhand knot onto the ring with one end.
- Then start wrapping around the ring until you have approximately 3" of string left.
Secure the second end
- Make an Overhand knot with the other end.
Mount 16 cords along the bottom
- Attach all 16 cords at 90 cm long on the bottom of the ring using Lark's Head knots.
Start the web
- Take a strand of 200 cm string and make a Double Overhand knot in the bottom middle section of the ring.
Space the first web row
- Skip about 2.5" and make and Overhand knot with the longer end of the string.
- Repeat around the ring.
Anchor the string to the first row
- Take the string and attach it to the center of the first row with an Overhand knot.
- Repeat all around until there is hardly any space left to make the Overhand knots.
Close the web
- Finish with a Double Overhand knot.
The web is done
Seven steps in and the frame and web are finished. Hold it at arm's length and check the web sits even — this is the last easy moment to adjust it.
Petals from here, and they're all one knot.
The Petals
Steps 8-14 build the two petals and the Berry knot at the centre. This is the part people recognise as macrame.
Start the left petal
- Skipping 6 Lark's Head knots from the left, take a strand of 140 cm cord folded in half and attach it onto the ring using a Reverse Lark's Head knot.
Work the first diagonal rows
- Make a diagonal DHH knot to the left. Then take another strand of 140 cm cord and make a RLHPHH knot onto the left cord.
Build the petal outward
- Make 2 rows of DHH knots to the left then 2 rows back over to the right.
Fold the working cord into the anchor group
- For the last row, include the working cord with the anchor cord group for the next DHH knot.
Weave the cord back through the ring
- Take a strand from the anchor cord group and weave it through the ring.
- Tie a Double Overhand knot at the back.
Mirror the petal on the right
- Repeat the same pattern on the right side.
Tie the centre Berry knot
- Make a Berry knot with the middle 4 cords.
Both petals and the Berry knot
The macrame half is done. What's left is joining, fringe and feathers — the quick part.
Six steps to go.
Joining, Fringe and Feathers
Steps 15-20 connect the petals, shape the fringe and attach the feathers.
Draw the two petals together
- Pull the cords from the 2 petals to the centre. With the middle 2 cords make a diagonal DHH knot to the left.
- Then make 3 more.
Shape the lower left
- Use the middle left cord for 2 rows of DHH knots to the left.
- Repeat on the right side.
Close the bottom point
- Take the bottom 2 cords and make one last DHH knot.
Add the outer petals
- Skip 2 Lark's Head knots on the left side and add a left-petal.
- Then repeat on the right-side.
Trim and shape the fringe
- Trim the middle 8 shorter cords to the same length and then trim the bottom fringe into a V-shape.
Attach the feathers
- Take a strand of 25 cm string and use it as a working cord for a Gathering knot onto a feather and a cord.
- Repeat for each of the middle 8 shorter cords.
Hang it where the light catches it
Dreamcatchers look best with something behind them — a window, a lamp, a pale wall. The web only really shows when light passes through it.
Tag #BochiknotDreamcatcher on Instagram — I'd love to see which colours you chose.
Where First Attempts Usually Go Wrong
None of these ruin a dreamcatcher, and most are quick to put right if you catch them in the same phase. Listed roughly in the order they happen.
| What happens | Why, and how to fix it |
|---|---|
| The whole thing hangs crooked | The loop in Step 1 wasn't centred on the ring. Slide it to the top before tightening — once cords are mounted it's very hard to correct. |
| The wrap rotates on the ring | Wrapped too loosely. It needs even, firm tension — enough that the wrap grips the metal, not so much that it bunches into ridges. |
| Metal shows through the wrap | The wrap angle drifted. Keep each pass at roughly 45 degrees and touching the last one; gaps appear the moment the angle flattens. |
| The web looks uneven | The 2.5″ spacing in Step 5 was judged rather than measured. Uneven web spacing is the most visible flaw in a dreamcatcher, and the easiest to avoid. |
| The web pulls the ring out of round | Too much tension on the string, or a wooden ring flexing. Keep the string taut but not tight, and use metal at this diameter. |
| The two petals don't match | The right side was counted independently instead of mirrored. Build the second by copying the first, and check from a distance every few rows. |
| A petal lifts away from the ring | Step 12's weave-back wasn't pulled snug. That step is what anchors the petal flat against the frame. |
| Feathers slip out | The gathering knot in Step 20 is too loose. Wrap firmly and add an extra turn — the knot alone holds them, so it has to grip. |
| The fringe looks ragged | Trimmed flat on a table. Hang it first, comb the fringe, then cut the V — cord falls differently under its own weight. |
What to Make Next
🔗 You can wrap a ring and weave a web now. Here's where that goes:
- Shell dreamcatcher — three shell patterns on the same frame
- Unicorn dreamcatcher — the nursery version, with a mane and horn
- Double half hitch tutorial — the knot doing most of the work here
- Cord calculator — for scaling to a different ring size
🎨 Want PDF patterns? Browse the macrame pattern library.
Prefer to buy finished? Handmade pieces are on our Etsy shop.
What Will You Make Next?
There's a particular moment that arrives about ten minutes after you finish a piece. It's hanging by the window, the light is coming through the web, and you're already wondering what you'd make on a bigger ring.
That moment is worth paying attention to, because it's usually where things stall — and almost never for the reason people assume. It isn't that the interest fades. You've just spent an afternoon proving otherwise. It's that deciding what to make next turns out to be harder than making it. So the cord goes back in the drawer, and three months later it's still in the drawer.
I built the Bochiknot community to close that gap. Every month there's a new pattern and a full video tutorial already waiting for you, alongside everything published before it. The deciding is done. You just turn up and make.
Tier 1: Mini-Macramé Creations
or $6.40 a month paid annually
A new project waiting for you at the start of every month.
- A new #MakingMacrame pattern and full video tutorial, monthly
- The complete pattern archive, open whenever inspiration strikes
- Cancel or change tier at any time
For: makers who simply want to keep going, without spending an evening hunting for what's next.
Tier 2: Mastering Macramé Skills
or $10.40 a month paid annually
The month you stop following patterns and start reading them.
- Everything in Tier 1
- A 300+ video library of lessons, guidance and challenges
- Technique breakdowns that explain why a knot behaves as it does
For: makers who've noticed they can follow a pattern but couldn't yet write one. This is where that changes — and it's the tier most people choose.
Tier 3: Macramé Masterpiece Lite
or $23.20 a month paid annually
Everything above, and the cord arrives at your door.
- Everything in Tier 2
- A curated, ready-to-make kit delivered every third month
- No sourcing, no half-used rolls piling up
For: makers who love the making and have quietly grown tired of the shopping for it.
Which one, honestly?
If what you want is a next project each month, Tier 1 does exactly that and nothing more — and there is nothing wrong with wanting only that.
Tier 2 is for a different itch. If this dreamcatcher left you wondering how you'd design your own web pattern, or scale the petals to a 12-inch ring — that's the beginning of designing rather than following, and the video library is built around exactly that question. It's the tier most people settle on.
Tier 3 is for the maker who has done enough projects to know that sourcing cord is the part they like least.
All three can be paid annually for around 20% less, and Patreon lets you change tier or leave whenever you like — there's nothing to cancel by email and no minimum term.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size ring do I need for a macrame dreamcatcher?
A 6.5-inch metal ring for this pattern, which holds about 16 cords of 3mm and finishes at roughly 21 inches long. As a general rule the finished piece looks right at about three times the ring diameter — so a 4-inch ring wants 12–14 inches of hanging, and a 9-inch ring wants 28–32.
Should I use a metal or wooden ring for a dreamcatcher?
Metal, for anything with a woven web. The web pulls against the frame and a wooden ring at this diameter can flex just enough to pull it out of round. Wooden rings are better suited to plant hangers, or to pieces where you want the ring itself on show.
Do I need to wrap the ring?
With a metal ring, yes — bare metal looks unfinished and gives your cords nothing to grip. The good news is you rarely need to wrap the whole thing. In this pattern the bottom half is covered by mounted cords and the middle by the web, so wrapping the top arc is enough.
How do you wrap a macrame ring neatly?
Start with a Lark's Head rather than an improvised knot, wrap at a consistent angle of about 45 degrees with each pass touching the last, and keep the tension even rather than maximal. Finish where you started and tie off with a double overhand at the top, where the hanging loop will hide it.
How much cord does wrapping a ring use?
Roughly eight to ten times the ring's circumference — and circumference is diameter times 3.14. A 6.5-inch ring is about 20 inches around, so a full wrap takes 4–5 metres. A 12-inch ring takes 8–10.
Why does my ring wrap keep slipping round?
It's wrapped too loosely. The wrap has to grip the metal on its own, so it wants firm, even tension — though not so tight that it bunches into ridges. If it's already slipping, undoing and rewrapping is faster than trying to tighten it in place.
Why is there metal showing between my wraps?
The wrap angle flattened out. Keep every pass at roughly 45 degrees and touching the one before it. Gaps appear the moment the angle drops, and they're the clearest sign of a rushed ring.
What knots do I need for this dreamcatcher?
Five: the Lark's Head, double half hitch, overhand, Berry and gathering knot. All of them are basic, and four turn up in nearly every macrame project you'll make afterwards.
How long does a macrame dreamcatcher take?
About 90 minutes once you've watched the video through. The web takes longer than it looks because the spacing wants measuring, and the petals go faster than they look because they're one knot repeated.
How much cord do I need?
Around 27 metres of 3mm cotton and 4 metres of 1.5mm string, plus 4–5 metres more if you wrap the full ring. That's 1 × 200 cm and 16 × 90 cm and 8 × 140 cm in cord, and 1 × 200 cm and 8 × 25 cm in string.
Why do I need two thicknesses of cord?
The contrast is most of the finished look. The 1.5mm string makes the web look fine and airy; the 3mm cord gives the petals and fringe enough weight to hang properly. Using one weight throughout works, but the piece loses its delicacy.
How do you attach feathers to a dreamcatcher?
A gathering knot tied with a 25 cm length of string around both the feather's stem and the cord it hangs from. No glue needed — but the knot has to grip, so wrap firmly and add an extra turn. Loose knots are why feathers slip out.
Can I use real feathers instead of faux?
Yes, though faux feathers hold their shape better over time and don't shed. If you use real ones, choose feathers with a sturdy stem — very fine quills pull out of a gathering knot no matter how tight you tie it.
Why is my web uneven?
Almost always the spacing at Step 5. Two and a half inches, measured rather than judged. Web spacing is the most visible flaw in a finished dreamcatcher and also the easiest to get right.
My two petals don't match. Can I fix it?
If you catch it within the same phase, untie back to the last matching row and rebuild. Later than that it's usually not worth it. Avoid it by building the second petal as a copy of the first rather than counting independently, and checking from a distance every few rows.
Is this dreamcatcher beginner friendly?
It's an intermediate project. The knots are all beginner-level, but there are five of them, the web needs patience, and the two petals have to mirror each other. If you've made a wall hanging before, you'll be fine.
Can I make this on a bigger ring?
Yes. Scale the cord count with the diameter — roughly 16 cords on a 6.5-inch ring, 22 on a 9-inch, 30 on a 12-inch — and lengthen the cords so the finished piece stays at about three times the ring diameter.
Can I sell macrame dreamcatchers made from this pattern?
Yes. Lark's Head knots, double half hitches, Berry knots and gathering knots are traditional techniques rather than proprietary designs, so anything you make is yours to sell. Please just don't redistribute the tutorial itself.
Where can I buy the ring and cord used here?
The 3mm cord, 1.5mm string, faux feathers, scissors and combs are all on Bochiknot.com. We don't stock a 6.5-inch metal ring, so the one linked in the materials section is the one I use, on Amazon. Our other supplies also ship from the Bochiknot storefronts on Amazon US and Amazon Canada.
Keep Learning with Bochiknot
Shell Dreamcatcher
Three shell patterns worked on the same kind of frame, with a feather fringe. A natural next dreamcatcher.
See the shell pattern
Unicorn Dreamcatcher
The nursery version — mane, horn and pastel cord. Same ring skills, a very different look.
See the unicorn pattern
Double Half Hitch Tutorial
The knot building both petals here, shown horizontal, diagonal and vertical.
Learn the double half hitch
Berry Knot Tutorial
The raised bobble at the centre of this dreamcatcher, tied step by step.
Learn the Berry knot
Gathering Knot Tutorial
What holds each feather in place, and how most macrame pieces are finished.
Learn the gathering knot
Cord Measuring Calculator
Scaling to a 9 or 12-inch ring? This works out every new cut length.
Open the calculatorYou Might Also Be Interested In
3mm Cotton Cord
For the petals and fringe. One roll covers this dreamcatcher several times over.
Shop 3mm cord
1.5mm Macrame String
The fine gauge for the web — 100m, so it lasts across many projects.
Shop 1.5mm string
Faux Feathers (60 pcs)
Eight go into this piece. They hold their shape better than real feathers and don't shed.
Shop faux feathers
About Nicole Woo
Nicole is the founder of Bochiknot and has been teaching macrame for 5+ years to a community of 100,000+ makers across YouTube, Instagram and Patreon. She specialises in beginner-friendly cotton cord projects that feel approachable no matter your skill level.
Join her on Patreon for exclusive patterns, or explore individual ebook patterns.
Leave a comment