Beginner · Knot guide

Square Knot

The Workhorse of Macramé. If you only learn one knot, learn the square knot. It is the foundation of plant hangers, wall hangings, friendship bracelets, hammocks, and roughly half of every macramé pattern published in the last hundred years.

How to tie it

1 Why this knot matters
If you only learn one knot, learn the square knot. It is the foundation of plant hangers, wall hangings, friendship bracelets, hammocks, and roughly half of every macramé pattern published in the last hundred years. Take five minutes to practice it on scrap cord before you start any project that uses it — a clean version of this knot will visibly elevate your finished piece, and a sloppy one will pull the whole project down with it.
2 Step 1
Take four cords. The two outer cords are working cords; the two center cords are filler cords.
3 Step 2
Pass the LEFT working cord over the fillers and under the right working cord.
4 Step 3
Pass the RIGHT working cord under the fillers and up through the loop on the left. Pull tight.
5 Step 4
Now mirror it: pass the RIGHT working cord over the fillers and under the left working cord.
6 Step 5
Pass the LEFT working cord under the fillers and up through the loop on the right. Pull tight.
7 Step 6
That completes one square knot. Repeat for a flat column.
8 Common mistakes
The two most common ways this knot goes wrong: inconsistent tension between knots, and accidentally swapping which cord plays which role. Mark your working cords with a piece of tape until the muscle memory takes over. After a dozen practice repetitions on scrap cord, your hands will know what to do without looking.
9 Where to use it next
Once you have this knot down, every pattern on StitchVault that lists it in its Knots section will feel approachable. Start small — try it in a keychain or coaster project — before scaling up to a wall hanging or curtain. The knot itself is identical at any scale; only the cord length and patience required change.