Floral Lace Planter

• 6mm Macrame Cord (389 yards)
• One 2-inch ring
• One 4-inch ring
• One 6-inch ring
• 16mm beads (optional)

Cutting Instructions

• 24 cords, each 9-yards long
• 16 cords, each 4-yards long
• 32 cords, each 3-yards long
• 11 cords, each 36 inches long
• 1 cord, 2 yards long

Top Section

Step 1:  To cover the small ring at the top of the Floral Lace Planter, use the 2-yard cord and fold it in half.  Mount it to the top of the ring with a Larks Head Knot.  Take each end and tie additional Larks Head knots onto the ring, until it is completely covered.   The ends should meet at the bottom. Tie a tight Square Knot with the two ends.

Step 2:  Fold the 9-yard cords in half, and pass them through the ring, so they are balanced.  Make sure you place them over the Square Knot, to cover it so it cannot be seen.

Use a 36-inch cord to make a Wrapped Knot around the entire bundle of long strands.  Make sure the top of it rests against the bottom curve of the ring, and it’s 1.5 to 2 inches long.

Step 3:  Place the 4-inch ring on your work surface. Position the Wrapped Knot so it rests in the center of it, with the long cords fanned out evenly.  Make sure they pass under the ring.

Attach each strand to the ring with a Double Half Hitch.  When you are finished, hang the Floral Lace Planter up by the small ring, to check that the 4-inch ring is level.  If not, adjust the knots as needed.

Step 4: You will find it easier to make the rest of the Floral Lace Planter while it is hanging.  Tie the first row of Alternating Square Knots using groups of 4 strands (two working cords and two fillers).  Tie the knots snugly, so they rest just below the ring.

Alternate the cords by choosing two from one knot and two from the next one over.  Tie the 2nd row of ASK, making sure the knots rest just below the first row, and they are tied snugly.

Continue on, tying 9 additional rows of Alternating Square Knots. This creates the tube-like design at the top of the Floral Lace Planter.

Tie 3 more rows of ASK, so they are a little looser than the others.  They need to be able to stretch out somewhat, when they are attached to the next ring.

Step 5:  Divide the cords into 4 groups consisting of 6 strands.  Attach each cord to the 6-inch ring with a Double Half Hitch. The strands in each of the groups should be close together, with approximately 2 inches of space between the four groups.  Position them so they are evenly spaced in 4 areas of the ring (12 – 6 – 3 – 9 o’clock positions). 

Make sure the ring rests against the last row of ASK tied in the previous step.  Bundle up the cords, since you won’t be using them again until step 15.

Designing the Top Cradle

Step 6:  Fold the 4-yard cords in half, and mount them in the spaces you left on the 6-inch ring.  Attach them with reverse Larks Head Knots, so the heads point inwards. Arrange them so there are 4 cords placed in each space (total of 16). Organize them into four groups.

Step 7:  Since you folded the cords in half, each group will consist of 8 strands.  Mentally number one group 1 thru 8, moving left to right.

a. Tie a Square Knot with cords 1 thru 4, and a second one with cords 5 thru 8. 

b. Just below, tie one SK with cords 3 thru 6.

Step 8:  Repeat step 7 over and over, using the same group of cords, until the sennit measures 15 inches.  Make sure you end on step B (one SK).

Step 9:  Take a 36-inch strand and add it to cords 1 and 2, with a Square Knot.  The best way is to center it under the two strands, making sure it’s centered and the ends are even.  Use the new strand to tie the Square Knot around the existing two cords, which are the fillers.

Repeat this process again, adding another 36-inch strand to cords 7 and 8.

Step 10:  Mentally re-number the cords 1 thru 12.  Tie a Square Knot with cords 3 thru 6 and another one with cords 7 thru 10.

Step 11:  Repeat steps 7 thru 10 using the other three groups of cords you added in step 6.    

Step 12:  To join the four sennits, take cords 1 and 2 from one group and combine them with cords 11 and 12 from the next group over.  Tie one Square Knot.

Repeat this process three more times, to connect the other sennits to one another. This process forms the upper cradle of the Floral Lace Planter.

Step 13:  Tie 3 rows of Alternating Square Knots to enlarge the upper cradle for the Floral Lace Planter.  Place the 8-inch pot inside to see if it is deep enough.  If not, make additional rows.

Step 14: Bring all the ends together, in the center of the cradle.  It needs to rest in the middle of the pot.  Use a 36-inch cord to make a Wrapped Knot around all the strands, making sure it's at least 2 inches long. 

Creating the Long Sennits

Step 15:  Now you will be using the long cords again.  Each of the long sennits in the Floral Lace Planter will be made with 12 strands. Organize the cords into four groups.  Mentally number the cords in one group 1 thru 12. As you tie the following knots, make sure you tighten them firmly, each with the same amount of tension. 

Make the Floral Designs as follows:

Row A: Tie a Square Knot with cords 3 – 6 and with 7 – 10.

Row B:  Tie a Square Knot using cords 1 – 4 and another one with 9 – 12.

Row C: Tie one Square Knot using 4 and 9 as the working cords, and 5 – 8 as the fillers.  Mentally re-number the cords after this knot is tied.

Row D: Tie a Square Knot using cords 1 – 4 and another one with 9 – 12.

Row E: Tie a Square Knot with cords 3 – 6 and with 7 – 10.

Row F:  Tie a Square Knot using cords 5 – 8. 

Step 17: Repeat steps 15 and 16, using the other groups of cords, to make three additional long sennits for the Floral Lace Planter.   It’s a good idea to measure the first sennit, and check to be sure that the other three are the same size.

Designing the Bottom Cradle

Step 18:  Tie a Square Knot with cords 1 – 4, and with 9 – 12.  They should line up with the SK you tied in Row F in the last flower.

Step 19: Tie the next row of Square Knots with cords 3 – 6 and 7 – 10.

Step 20:  Add a 3-yard strand to the first two cords on the left (1 and 2).  Fold it in half and center it under the two strands, making sure the ends are even.  Use the new strand to tie the Square Knot around the existing two cords, which are the fillers.

Add another 3-yard strand to the last two cords on the right (11 and 12).   Both these knots should line up with the ones you tied in step 18.

Step 21: Mentally re-number the cords 1 – 16. Tie the next row of ASK, using cords 3 thru 14 only. Add a 3-yard strand to cords 1 and 2, and another one to cords 15 and 16.  They should line up with the other knots in this row.

Step 22:  Mentally re-number the cords 1 – 20. Tie the next row of ASK, using cords 3 thru 18.   Add two more 3-yard strands, onto cords 1 and 2 as well as 19 and 20.  The knots should all line up.

Step 23:  Mentally re-number the cords 1 – 24.  Tie the next row of ASK with cords 3 thru 22.  Add the last two 3-yard strands, onto cords 1 and 2 as well as 23 and 24.  These knots should all be lined up. 

Step 24: Mentally re-number the cords.  Tie the next row of ASK using cords 3 thru 26. DO NOT add more cords. Instead, tie the final row of ASK using cords 1 thru 28.

Step 25:  Repeat steps 17 thru 24, using the long cords in the other three groups. When you are finished, measure the sennits again, to make sure they are approximately the same size.

Step 26:  Take cords 1 and 2 from one sennit and combine them with cords 27 and 28 from the next sennit over.  Tie a tight Square Knot.

Repeat this process to connect the remaining sennits, forming the cradle for your Floral Lace Planter.

Step 28:  Place the 12-inch pot in the cradle to make sure it fits.  If not, loosen the knots as needed until it does.  The material should rest against the bottom of the pot with no gaps. 

Tie two additional rows of ASK to enlarge the cradle of the Floral Lace Planter.

Step 29:  To tighten the bottom of the cradle, tie a row of ASK, skipping past every other knot.  In other words, you would only use cords 1 - 4, 9 - 12, 17 - 20, and so on. Just pretend like the dropped cords are not there, and push them out of your way. They will not be used again. 

For the next two rows, make the ASK as tight as you can, so the knots are close together. Make sure you don’t use any of the dropped cords.   Place the pot in the cradle to make sure it still fits.  Make any adjustments necessary, and remove the pot.

Step 30:  Bring all the ends together in one bundle. Take a 36-inch cord and use it to tie a Wrapped Knot around the strands.  Make sure it rests against the last row of ASK, and is around 2 inches long.

Finishing Touches

Step 31: Trim the cords so the ends are even. Apply the beads in one or more places along the strands, followed by a Barrel Knot.  Make sure you place a knot at the very tip as well. 

If you prefer not to use beads for your Floral Lace Planter, try tying a Matthew Walker knot or use a Barrel Knot at the tip of each strand.

Step 32:  Go back to the cradle at the top of the Floral Lace Planter, and apply beads to those strands as well (optional).