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Best Macrame Kit for Beginners (2026): 3 Picks for Your First Knots

A macrame kit gives you the cord, the rings and dowels, and (crucially) a guide, so you can knot your first plant hanger or wall hanging without buying anything separately. The cord is the heart of it: soft 3mm cotton is the beginner standard. Here are three good ones, from a single-project starter to a big multi-project kit with a project book.

HobbyStack EditorialJuly 6, 2026Updated August 19, 20261 min read

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The 30-second verdict
  • A kit bundles the cord, wood rings and dowels, and a guide, so you can make a full piece with nothing else to buy.
  • Soft 3mm cotton cord is the beginner standard: easy to knot, easy to untie mistakes, and it drapes nicely.
  • A written or video guide matters more than you think. A few core knots do almost everything.
  • The cord is the consumable. Once you are hooked, you buy more by the roll.

Macrame is just knotting cord into patterns, and it is one of the calmest, cheapest crafts to pick up. A kit is the ideal start because it puts the three things you need together: the cord itself, the wood rings and dowels that hangings and plant holders are built on, and a guide that teaches the knots. With those you can complete a real plant hanger or wall hanging your first afternoon, rather than buying a roll of cord and then wondering what to do with it.

The cord is the heart of macrame, and the beginner standard is soft 3mm single-strand cotton: it is easy to knot, easy to untie when you make a mistake (and you will), and it drapes beautifully in a finished piece. The other thing that separates a good kit from a frustrating one is the guide. Macrame is built from just a handful of core knots (the square knot and half-hitch do most of the work), so a clear illustrated guide or video tutorials turn it from confusing to relaxing very quickly. The cord is the consumable you restock by the roll.

MAOQIAN 3-in-1 Macrame KitBest budget kit

MAOQIAN 3-in-1 Macrame Kit

$15
Cord3mm cotton, ~220 ydIncludesCord, wood rings, dowelGuideInstruction manualBest forA first plant hanger

A cheap, complete way to knot your first plant hangers. This kit includes a roll of 3mm natural cotton cord (about 220 yards), the wood rings and dowel you build on, and an instruction manual that walks through a few plant-hanger methods. It is simple and no-frills, but it has exactly what you need to complete a real piece and learn the core knots, for very little.

What's good

  • 3mm natural cotton cord (~220 yd)
  • Wood rings and dowel included
  • Instruction manual with methods
  • Very affordable start

What's not

  • Fewer project options
  • Printed manual only (no video)
Check price on Amazon
Ewparts Macrame Kit with Guide + VideosBest for most beginners

Ewparts Macrame Kit with Guide + Videos

$21
Cord3mm cottonIncludesCord, wood, guidebookGuideBook + online videosBest forMost beginners

The kit that actually teaches you as you go. Along with soft 3mm cotton cord and the wood accessories, it comes with a fully illustrated guidebook plus online video tutorials, and enough materials to make at least eight boho-style projects. For a beginner, being shown the knots on video (not just in a diagram) is what makes macrame click. The no-overthinking pick to learn properly.

What's good

  • Illustrated guidebook plus video tutorials
  • Materials for 8+ projects
  • Soft 3mm cotton cord and wood parts
  • Ideal for learning the knots

What's not

  • Costs a bit more than a bare kit
  • You will restock cord for bigger pieces
Check price on Amazon
CULETCRAFT Macrame Kit (15 Projects)Best to grow into

CULETCRAFT Macrame Kit (15 Projects)

$33
CordCotton, ~164 ydIncludes153 pcs, cord, bookGuidePrinted 15-project bookBest forCommitted crafters

The generous kit for someone who already suspects they will love this. CULETCRAFT packs in about 164 yards of cotton cord and 153 pieces of supplies, along with a printed step-by-step book covering 15 projects, so you can work through a whole range of hangings and decorations without a screen. It is more than a first project needs, but if you want to keep making things (or gift them), the variety and the project book make it a kit you grow into.

What's good

  • 164 yd cord and 153 pieces of supplies
  • Printed 15-project instruction book
  • No screen needed to follow along
  • Great for gifting and variety

What's not

  • Premium price for a beginner
  • More than a single project needs
Check price on Amazon
A few knots do almost everything

Macrame looks intricate, but nearly all of it is built from a handful of core knots, above all the square knot and the half-hitch (and their variations). Do not be intimidated by a complex-looking pattern: learn those few knots well from your kit guide or a video, and you can follow almost any beginner project. That is why a clear guide matters more than a huge pile of cord.

Which to buy: just want to make a first plant hanger cheaply? The MAOQIAN kit does it. Want to actually learn the knots with a book and videos? The Ewparts kit is the easy pick for most. Already sure you love it and want a big kit with a 15-project book to work through? The CULETCRAFT kit.

Before you buy

Start with 3mm single cotton cord. It is easy to knot and easy to untie when you make a mistake.

Learn the square knot and half-hitch first. Those two carry most beginner projects.

Follow along with a video the first time. Seeing a knot tied is far clearer than a diagram.

Buy extra cord by the roll once you know your projects. The cord is the main ongoing cost.

Macrame kit questions

What comes in a macrame kit?

A macrame kit includes the cord (usually 3mm cotton), the wood rings and dowels that hangings and plant holders are built on, and a guide (a printed manual or online videos). Better kits include enough cord for several projects and a fuller project book. That combination lets you complete a real piece without buying anything separately.

What cord should a beginner use?

Soft 3mm single-strand cotton cord is the beginner standard. It is easy to knot, easy to untie when you make a mistake, and it drapes nicely in the finished piece. Thicker cords suit chunkier projects and thinner cords suit detailed work, but 3mm is the versatile, forgiving choice to learn on, which is why kits use it.

Is macrame hard to learn?

No, it is very beginner-friendly. Almost all macrame is built from a small number of core knots, mainly the square knot and the half-hitch, so once you learn those you can follow most beginner patterns. A clear guide or video makes it click quickly, and mistakes are easy to untie and redo. It is a calm, forgiving craft.

What can I make as a beginner?

Plant hangers and small wall hangings are the classic first projects, along with keychains and simple decorations. They use just a few knots and give a satisfying finished result quickly. Multi-project kits let you work through several designs, building your skills as the projects get a little more involved.

Why does the guide matter so much?

Because macrame is all about tying the right knots in the right order, and a good guide (especially video tutorials) shows you exactly how, which is far clearer than a static diagram. A beginner with a clear guide learns quickly and enjoys it; a beginner with just a pile of cord and no instructions often gets stuck. Prioritise a kit with a proper guide.

How much cord do projects use?

More than beginners expect: knotting eats length, so a plant hanger can use many yards of cord. That is why kits include long rolls, and why the cord is the main ongoing cost once you are hooked. Follow your pattern for how much to cut, and err on the side of a bit extra, since you cannot easily add length mid-knot.
Bottom line

For most beginners the Ewparts kit is the pick: soft cotton cord, wood accessories, and a guidebook plus video tutorials that actually teach the knots, with enough for several projects. Just want to make a first plant hanger cheaply? The MAOQIAN kit. Want a big kit with a 15-project book to grow into? The CULETCRAFT. Whatever you choose, learn the square knot and half-hitch first.

Not sure macrame is your thing yet?Take the 4-minute quiz
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HobbyStack Editorial· Editorial Team

The HobbyStack editorial team researches each guide using practitioner communities, published resources, and direct input from active hobbyists. Every guide is reviewed for accuracy before publication and updated when practices change.

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