Easy Macrame Christmas Tree Ornament Instructions

Updated November, 2025 

These macramé Christmas tree ornaments are super easy to whip up, and even though I show you how to make ornaments here, they are make great pendants or earrings if you use smaller cord and beads.  I like to use these handmade tree ornaments as gift toppers. The best part, if you make macramé plant hangers (use the link for a free tutorial), it's the perfect way to use up those smaller scraps of cord that are left over. 

You only need to know one knot - a macramé square knot.  Let's get started!

If you prefer to watch how to make one or aren't sure how to make a square knot, click here for my Macramé Christmas Tree Video Tutorial on YouTube

Christmas Tree Ornament Materials

•  4mm natural color cotton macramé cord 
• one 14mm round wooden bead from a bead assortment
• 18 gauge gold color Parawire to make an ornament hook
• Round nose pliers to bend the hook
• Tacky glue or other clear drying white glue
• Macrame Board (optional)

The center cord is about 20 inches, and the side cord is about 1 yard. I used a 14 mm bead at the top of the tree, but there’s plenty of flexibility, especially with the new variations shown below, where the center cord doesn’t need to pass through the bead at all.

A macramé board is extremely helpful for keeping the cords in place while you knot. I’ve had mine for a while and definitely underused it. It grips cords securely using the edge slots or T-pins pressed into the foam, and it’s lightweight and portable. (It also makes a great holiday gift for any crafter — just saying!)

If you don’t have a macramé board, you can secure the cords to a piece of stiff cardboard using binder clips.

How to Set Up the Cords

Start by threading the shorter cord through your bead, evening out the ends, and using that as your holding cord - the cord your knots will attach around. To anchor the piece to the macramé board, slide a scrap cord through the other side of the bead and secure it in one of the board’s grooves. The board works equally well for thin and thick cords.

Fold the longer cord in half and tie your first square knot just under the bead. This longer cord becomes your working cord, the one that forms all the knots. For a quick refresher on square knots, see the Macramé Christmas Tree Ornament video tutorial.

Tying and Spacing the Knots to Form the Macramé Christmas Tree

To create the tree-shaped loops, continue tying square knots with increasing gaps between them. The board’s grid is handy here — no ruler needed.

• The second square knot sits about ½ inch below the first.
• The third knot is about ¾ inch below that.
• The fourth knot is spaced a little over 1 inch below.

After tying each sequence, slide the knots upward to form graduated loops on each side. 

Adjust the size of the knots slightly by pulling on the loop ends from the sides. This also tightens the knot. The fifth knot is about 1.5 inches below the prior knot. 

Continue tying additional knots, spacing them 1½ inches, then about 2 inches apart. Measurements don’t need to be exact, but keep the spacing even so both sides of the tree match — unless you like a quirky, wonky tree!

Once all the knots are tied, adjust the loops so they taper neatly into a Christmas tree shape.

Trim the cord ends and secure the final knot with tacky glue. You can also apply glue to the ends of the cords if you want to prevent the strands from separating. 

Use a toothpick to work glue into the knot so there is enough to stick, not just absorb into the cords.

Trim the working cords and the center holding cords. If desired, you can fluff them out or separate the threads. A toothpick works well for this too.

Finishing the Christmas Tree Ornament

Create a simple hanging hook with 18-gauge wire. Thread the wire through the bead, leaving a couple inches on one side. 

Use round-nose pliers to make a decorative spiral and fold it down so it sits atop the bead. 

Bend the remaining wire upward and form a large hook for hanging, turning the cut end inward so it won’t snag. 

The hook swivels freely inside the bead, making the ornament easy to hang on a tree or add to a wrapped gift.

The macrame Christmas tree ornament is done and ready to don the holiday tree or add to a holiday package for festive gift giving. 

How to Make Mini Tree Ornaments and Decorated Trees

These macramé Christmas trees can be made in several sizes. The large version is decorated with colorful beads for extra holiday charm.

Here are two ways to customize this design using smaller cords and decorative beads.

Making the Small Macramé Ornaments

The small ornaments pictured above use 1.5mm Chinese knotting cord, eliminate the round bead at the top and have a loop instead where a jump ring and metal star shaped charm or bead can be attached. The materials I used are:

• 1.5mm nylon knotting cord
• 12mm star shaped bead  (I use gold and silver)
• optional: use a star charm (the rhinestone styles are great)
• 1-2 inch headpins in gold and silver
• 8-10 mm jump rings

Instructions:

1. Secure the looped end of your cord to a macramé board with a thumbtack.

2. Make the macramé tree following the instructions above.

3. If using a bead, create a charm by threading it onto a headpin and forming an open loop.

4. Attach the charm to a jump ring, then attach the jump ring to the cord loop at the top of the tree.

   • If using a ready-made charm, simply attach it to the jump ring and then to the cord loop.

5. Add a hanging loop of cord to the jump ring to finish the ornament.

Making the Decorated Large Macramé Tree

I’ve been wanting to add beads to this design for ages, and I finally found the perfect ones in my stash. The red and green millefiori beads look just like tiny ornaments, and pairing them with faceted glass beads in coordinating colors gives the tree a festive, dimensional look. You can use almost any small beads for this variation, so try different shapes and colors to make the tree your own.

Materials:

• Assorted 8mm glass millefiori beads
• 6 mm faceted beads
• 1–2 inch headpins

Instructions:

1. Thread each bead onto a headpin and form an open loop at the top.

2. Attach the ornament beads to the tree by opening the loop, sliding it around the cord, and closing the loop securely.

3. Adjust the placement of the beads until you’re happy with the spacing and balance.

Other Adjustments I Made

For this latest round of ornaments, I skipped the glue entirely. Instead, I added a small knot at the base of the tree—right under the macramé section. This simple step helps keep the square knots above tight and secure. Woven nylon cord naturally holds knots more firmly than silky rattail, so this method works especially well with the materials used here.

If you’re looking for more DIY holiday ideas, be sure to check out my Holiday Ornament Roundup, which includes several macramé, bead, and wire designs you can mix and match with these trees.