Create Your Own Anthropologie-Inspired Macrame Table Runner in a Few Easy Steps (Video Tutorial)
This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads
Looking for a new and challenging macrame project? I made this gorgeous Anthropologie-inspired macrame table runner that is perfect for your tablescape in any season! I’m not going to lie: this is a big project that took many hours to complete. But I think the result is totally worth it, and I found the process easy and relaxing. In this post, I’m going to share exactly how I completed this DIY macrame table runner, including a tutorial about how to tie the different knots I used. Follow along and let’s learn the art of macrame together!
When I saw this table runner online at Anthropologie, I knew that I wanted to try my hand at a similar DIY version that would cost me much less than the store-bought one. I picked up some inexpensive poly/cotton clothesline from the home improvement store, watched a video on basic macrame knots, and got to work!
Like I said, this project DOES take a very long time to make. But once you nail down the basic macrame knots, you will see how satisfying making something this beautiful can be!
Macrame Table Runner in a Few Easy Steps
- The Knots You Need
- DIY Macrame Table Runner Tutorial
- Materials
- Create the anchor
- Row 1: Half hitch knot
- Row 2: Diagonal half hitch knots
- Row 3: More half-hitch knots
- Row 4: Full square knots
- Row 5: Staggered square knots
- Row 6: Full square knots
- Row 7: More half hitch knots
- Finish it off
- Watch this video tutorial to learn how to make a DIY macrame table runner
The Knots You Need
I know that some of us learn through watching and some prefer to read, so in this post I’m doing both! There are a few different macrame knots you’ll want to get familiar with to make your own table runner.
Watch this video and start practicing basic macrame knots!
This video is one of the best macrame video tutorials I could find out there, and it does a really good job of clearly showing you how to do each type of knot. If visuals are your thing, I think it will help you! If you would rather read about knots, check out the info below.
Lark’s Head
First, we have the lark’s head knot. Simply fold your cord in half, loop it around your wooden dowel or ring (or curtain rod), and pull the tail ends through the loop, front to back. That’s it!
Straight Half Hitch Knot
To make this knot, take your far left strand (when facing your new project) and loop it over the strand to its immediate right, making a “U” shape. Pull it behind, then pull it in front, then pull it through the loop. Then, grab the next strand in line and do it again, etc.
Diagonal Half Hitch Knot
To make a diagonal pattern, bend your far left strand diagonally over the strand to its immediate right. Hold that diagonal strand in place as your anchor. Then take the other strand from behind your anchor and loop it to create a backwards “D”, ending in front of the guide strand. Use your other hand and pull the tail through the loop of the backwards “D”. Then, pull it tight. Continue this technique and watch the diagonal pattern take shape!
Square knot
Start with a group of 4 cords and place the rightmost cord over the two center cords in a backward “C” shape. Take the leftmost cord, bring it under the two center cords, and then bring it up and through the rightmost cord. Pull gently to tighten. Continue all the way across to make a full row.
DIY Macrame Table Runner Tutorial
Now that you’re familiar with the exact knots you need to make this stunning piece of home decor for your own dining table, let me show you exactly how I made mine! It’s not enough just to know the technique…you also need to put together a winning macrame pattern to create the right effect. The pattern of the knots I chose really gave me the boho chic vibe I wanted from the original Anthropologie inspiration piece.
Materials
No need to get fancy with your macrame materials for this project! I found the perfect yarn at Home Depot: a poly/cotton blend clothesline product. I bought nine packages. You will also need something to anchor your product on while you work. I used the curtain rod in my bedroom, while it was still hanging on the wall! I found it easier to work on an elevated project rather than trying to figure out how to anchor it to a table or something like that.
I read somewhere that you should cut your cord to about eight times the length of what you want your finished piece to be. That seemed like overkill to me, so I used cords that were about six times the length that I had planned. I wanted it to fit my dining room table, so I needed it to be over eight feet long. You can see why it took so long to create!
Create the anchor
I used the lark’s head knot to attach my strands of clothesline to the curtain rod I used as an anchor while I worked. I tied 10 strands to the curtain rod about an inch apart from each other. This gave me 20 strands to work with in total. This was a big project! But instead of feeling intimidated, I chose to think of it as a long haul project to be completed whenever I had a few minutes. That’s the beauty of crafting with macrame: you can walk away and come back without any fear of forgetting where you were!
Row 1: Half hitch knot
After the lark’s head knots, I left a space of 10-12 inches so that I could have a fringe at the end of my table runner when it was time to take it off the curtain rod.
My first set of knots was made up of the half hitch knot straight across. With 20 strands to knot, it might be tempting to get discouraged. But just remember: create one knot, then the second knot, and then the third, and so on. Just keep going!
Row 2: Diagonal half hitch knots
Directly underneath my row of straight half hitch knots, I created a diagonal pattern of half hitch knots. I started this pattern at the exact center of my piece, working down and out toward the outside left edge of my project. I went down a total of eight knots. Then, I started on the outside left and worked my way back in and down on a diagonal until this line met the first one to almost complete a “V” pattern. I connected the two lines with one half hitch knot.
Then, I did the same thing working in the opposite direction, outward to the right from the center. This completed the “V” pattern across the entire row.
Row 3: More half-hitch knots
Next, you’re going to do another straight line of half hitch knots that will sit directly under the bottom of your “V” row of diagonal knots. I started at the far right and used the very outside strand as my tying rope. I worked my way across, all the way to the very left of the piece. I did my best to make this line as straight as possible. But I also think the beauty of macrame is that you don’t HAVE to make it perfect! It can be as exact or as messy as you want, and both create a great effect.
Row 4: Full square knots
Then it was time for a row of full square knots. I began at the left and worked over to the right side, leaving about an inch of space between these new knots and the row above.
Row 5: Staggered square knots
Then, it was time for another row of square knots in the other direction, from right to left. I left the two rightmost strings loose, and started my square knots in a staggered position from the row above. This row is an inch below the previous row.
Row 6: Full square knots
And then, one last row of square knots, from the left side to the right. I started with the leftmost strand, just like the first row, and worked my way across the entire thing.
Row 7: More half hitch knots
One inch down from your last row of full square knots, it’s time to make another row of half hitch knots, starting from the very far right and working left. That’s it!
Repeat
This is your basic pattern for creating your own DIY macrame table runner. All you need to do at this point is repeat the pattern until your runner is the length you choose. It was a great day for me when I finally completed the entire eight feet I needed, believe me!
Finish it off
Once it was the right length, it was time to finish it properly. I used scissors to cut off the anchor lark’s head knots. Then, I tied regular knots in the cords before the first row of half hitch knots and after the last row of straight half hitch knots. This created my fringed ends.
Watch this video tutorial to learn how to make a DIY macrame table runner
And that’s it, my DIY macrame table runner tutorial is complete! I absolutely love how this project turned out. I think it adds such a nice boho touch to my dining room table, and it can be dressed up or down or decorated for any season. Plus, I get the bragging rights of making it myself when my guests ask where I bought it!
Are you ready to tackle your own macrame table runner project? I would love to see it when you’re finished and hear about how long it took to complete! Leave me a comment or tag me @thediymommy when you’re all done.
Happy crafting, everyone!
DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links. When you purchase an item via these links, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Pin Me!
Very cool! My husband was just trying to buy himself a macramé kit last weekend! I think he’d enjoy making a table runner. I’ll have to show him this post!
That’s awesome!
My table is about 7 feet long, so I need about 8 feet for the macrame table runner. How long the clothlines need to be? Thank you!
She said in her tutorial that you should start with rope 6times the length of what you want it to be. Seems like a lot of excess to me not to mention costly. My table is about the same length as yours and that means we need almost 450ft of rope ??♀️
All of the knots do decrease the length of the cord as you go and 6 times the length of Christina’s table is about what hers wound up needing so just to assure you, that is not a typo! There are a few places that you can pick up macrame cord for a reasonable price – I’ll look into some ideas and comment back here for you guys!
Hi all! I just scored 9 cotton ropes at Big Lots for $35.89! Search under “Tan Cotton Rope, (100′)”!
You can use cheap jute cord and it won’t cost so much. Back in the day that’s what we used. All this fancy cord is expensive.
Just bought 984 ft of 3mm macrame cord on Amazon for $15.99! Search macrame cord
Finished mine today! Love it! Thanks for the video. I would love to share a photo of my finished piece!
We’d love to see it! Can you tag Christina on Facebook or Instagram, @thediymommy
It looks awesome. Thanks for sharing this post.
Thank you!!
Do you havr written instructions
Just the video 🙂
Looks great! I remember macrame as a a kid in the 1970s!
Thanks for these tutorials. It’s really easier with video tutorials. It will be perfect if I can make such a macrame table runner.
You’re welcome ?
I love this very informative blog. Thank you for posting your video tutorial. I find it really awesome placing something as nice as that piece. Very easy to make, and can even do it at your free time.
Thank you!!
Hello! Just to clarify how many pieces of cord did you use for the width you made? I think it looks like 16, then making a total of 32 individual strands? Can’t wait to get started!
This is great, we bought a macrame wall hanging for my daughters room and now my wife wants to make a table runner. Thanks so much for the instructional this is perfect!
Yay! Happy crafting
That’s really cool. My wife likes to crochet, and I’m sure she could whip this out quick. I really like the look of that.
As a DIY lover, I really appreciate your DIY tutorial. I never make macrame table runner before but I wanna try. I think your tutorial help my project.
Can you help me with the length? If my table is 5feet do i calculate 5*12=120 inches, then *6 (as you suggested) =360. That’s 30 feet…. can that be right? Haha
Then is that total needed cord? Or for EACH cord before I double them up when I hang them?? I must be way over thinking this.
Was there ever a response for this question? I have the same question about the cord length. Is the times 6 the full length of one cord BEFORE doubling it up?
I used 18 strands of clothesline that were about 36 feet long each for my 6 ft long runner, and then I folded them in half as I attached them via a lark head knot to my curtain rod. This created 36 strands on my rod. The length of the strands will be dependent on how long you want your runner, but cutting them about 6 times the finished length of your piece seems about right.
9 strands makes it very narrow.
Is that correct?
How do you get the fringe on the top end?
Oh, one of the prettiest DIY’s we’ve ever come across!
Awe, thank you!
That’s amazing ! Can you tell me how long is your finished runner and how long you cut the cords ?
I’m not sure how much cord I need to buy to make similar one 🙂
I used 18 strands of clothesline that were about 36 feet long each for my 6 ft long runner, and then I folded them in half as I attached them via a lark head knot to my curtain rod. This created 36 strands on my rod. The length of the strands will be dependent on how long you want your runner, but cutting them about 6 times the finished length of your piece seems about right.
I’m so excited to try this. Headed to the store for supplies soon! Thanks for the video!
Very exciting!!
Hi I’m trying to make this but I have no idea how much rope to cut…. can you help thank you
I used 18 strands of clothesline that were about 36 feet long each for my 6 ft long runner, and then I folded them in half as I attached them via a lark head knot to my curtain rod. This created 36 strands on my rod. The length of the strands will be dependent on how long you want your runner, but cutting them about 6 times the finished length of your piece seems about right.
Hi! I used 18 strands of clothesline that were about 36 feet long each for my 6 ft long runner, and then I folded them in half as I attached them via a lark head knot to my curtain rod. This created 36 strands on my rod. The length of the strands will be dependent on how long you want your runner, but cutting them about 6 times the finished length of your piece seems about right.
Do you recommend using 3mm or 5mm macrame cord for the table runner?
Thanks!
Did the video links disappear?
About how long did it take you to complete this runnner?
I have started this project via your instructions, but your video, which appears to use 36 strands is quite different than your cutting instructions which call for 9 (18 working) strands.
Your video does NOT match your cutting/materials list. Bummer! Last time I follow your project instructions. At the cost of materials required for your actual project, I would be better off buying this at Anthropologie.
Hi Avril, thank you so much for bringing this to my attention and I apologize that the instructions were incorrect. I’ll change that line immediately. Have you checked out your local dollar store or Amazon for cotton clothesline or macrame cord? Sometimes you can find great deals for those there and that would help with the project cost. Thanks again.
I read your article and check out your tutorial video. Really it’s a cool project I’m very hopeful that now I can make a macrame table runner easily by following your tutorial. Thanks for your amazing idea.
I’m going to make the table runner and it will have fringe on both sides I can see how when your finishing it you have fringe at the end of the project but on the other side when you start the table runner how do you put fringe on that side
To make the fringe on top of the runner, she started the design several inches down from the tied ends. Then, after she untied her work, she cut the top loops in half, tied them and trimmed them to make the fringe.
How thick is the cord that you chose?
I absolutely LOVE your macrame table runner ~ Pinned! It looks great on your table, too. I’m so glad you included the videos. I’m adding this to my craft bucket list. I’m visiting from Home Matters Link Party. Do you need any Valentine inspiration? I shared #25 and #26 home decor and printables. Have a great weekend!
Used to do macrame when I was a teenager. It is much easier if you butterfly the strands and tie them with an elastic. You can then lengthen the strands as the work progresses. To butterfly the strands, create an eight figure with the individual strand between your thumb and pinkie
Sooo beautiful! What is that stain on your table?! Lovely!
That is from the Brick: https://www.thebrick.com/products/keswick-dining-table
I love it! I have a specific need to make this, and I’ve never macrameed before. I’m fairly good at following your directions. Your directions are fantastic! For a first macrame project ever, it’s turning out so beautifully, thanks to your video and my iPad and use of the pause button. I watched a couple basic knot videos, and practiced very little in fact, before trying your tutorial. I’m having fun and it’s really turning out gorgeous! I’m learning to relax my knots so they’re not so tight, and that makes a difference in appearance. Thanks so much!
Have fun!
Do you recommend the 3mm or
5 mm rope for the table runner?
How wide did this turn out? Sorry if I missed that somewhere.
I’m about to start this project.and the table I am doing it for is 8 feet long. I cut 18 strand that are 48 feet long each ? Is that correct? I would really appreciate a response asap. Thank you!
Yes, you want 6 times the length of the desired finished project.