How to create a macrame wall hanging with t-shirt fringe. Repurpose those old t-shirts into fringe on a macrame wall hanging in 30 minutes!
New to the art of macrame? Learn to macrame with these 4 basic macrame knots. See how to make a this macrame plant hanger for beginners and try your hand at this simple wall hanging with feathers! Make these easy macrame coasters and this DIY pot scrubby.
After purging my wardrobe of clothes that I just didn’t like or didn’t wear anymore, I couldn’t stand the thought of throwing away some of the t-shirts I had collected over the years.
They didn’t fit anymore (menopause is a cruel joke), but I knew that eventually I would think of a project that would put them to good use. Craft stash is a thing, I know you understand!
Finally it dawned on me! Why not cut them up (that was not an easy thing to bring myself to do btw) and use them in a macrame project?
I thought about actually tying macrame knots with them, but I would have had to sew the strips together and that would take too much time. I’m all about simple.
FRINGE!! I could use them as fringe!!
This is a quick easy wall hanging that ended up being unique with a ton of character.
Let’s get knotting!
Supplies for macrame wall hanging with t-shirt fringe:
- Old t-shirts of you choice
- 4mm twisted natural cotton macrame string
- 1/2 inch dowel rod cut to 2ft long
- scissors
Step 1: Cut t-shirts into strips
I used 3 different t-shirts, but you can use as many different ones as you want. The more the merrier! You will have a bunch of strips leftover to use in other projects.
Cut them into 1 inch wide strips as best you can. If they are uneven it’s okay, it will add to the charm of the wall hanging.
Step 2: Cut your macrame string
Cut 22, 10ft long pieces of 4mm macrame string. Once tied to the dowel rod they will be 5ft long. That is plenty long enough for this project.
I used to measure the string exactly, but I don’t anymore. I pull the string out to arms length which for me is a little over 5ft then again for 10ft. Once I have the first one, I use it as a guide to cut the rest.
Step 3. Attach macrame string to the dowel rod.
Double each macrame string and tie it to the 1/2 inch dowel rod using a LHK.
Learn the most common macrame abbreviations used in macrame patterns and how to tie a lark’s head knot and 3 other basic macrame knots.
Step 4. Tie knots to make the wall hanging.
Start by tying a row of HHKs all the way across. This will give you a little space between the LHKs and the rest of the wall hanging. Then start tying SKs to create the wall hanging.
The pattern is below.
- Row 1: HHKs all the way across
- Row 2: SKs all the way across
- Row 3: Skip 2 strings, then SKs all the way across
- Row 4: Skip 4 strings, then SKs all the way across
- Row 6: Skip 6 strings, then SKs all the way across
- Row 7: Skip 8 strings, then SKs all the way across
- Row 8: Skip 10 strings, then SKs all the way across
- Row 9: Skip 12 strings, then SKs all the way across
- Row 10: Skip 14 strings, then SKs all the way across
- Row 11: Skip 16 strings, then SKs all the way across
- Row 12: Skip 18 strings, then SKs all the way across
- Row 13: Skip 20 strings, then SKs all the way across
- Row 14: Skip 22 strings, then SKs all the way across
- Row 15: Skip 24 strings, then SKs all the way across
- Row 16: Skip 26 strings, then SKs all the way across
- Row 17: Skip 28 strings, then SKs all the way across
- Row 18: Skip 30 strings, then SKs all the way across
- Row 19: Skip 32 strings, then SKs all the way across
- Row 20: Skip 34 strings, then SKs all the way across
- Row 21: Skip 36 strings, then SKs all the way across
- Row 22: no knot
I didn’t like the way the completed triangle was looking so I untied some of the knots on the bottom right of the triangle until it laid better. It is entirely up to you how you want to it to look.
Step 5. Add t-shirt strips
Take the strips you cut from your t-shirts and double them over then tie them to the wall hanging using LHKs.
I put one in each opening down the right diagonal edge of the pattern, alternating the colors. You can add them in any order you want to. Be creative with it and have fun!
I also added some directly in the pattern and cut the fringe off in back. I think it gives it a nice extra dose of color.
Step 6. Cut the fringe and finish
Now you can cut the macrame string fringe to the length you want. I cut mine at the same angle as the triangle the pattern created.
Add a string to the dowel rod to hang it up and your all done!
I wish now I would have left the macrame string fringe a little longer…sigh.
But, I love how it turned out and it looks great on the wall behind my desk!
What color t-shirts do you have to make this project with? I would love to see your wall hanging when it’s done so be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook!
Happy knotting!
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