The macrame lark’s head knot is probably the very first knot you’ll need to learn, considering it’s often the thing that keeps your cord in place!
The good news is that it’s one of the easiest macrame knots to learn, and there are far more applications than just fixing cord to a stick.
Here’s a simple macrame lark’s head knot tutorial with photos to help get you started!
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How to tie a macrame lark’s head knot
For this macrame lark’s head knot tutorial the only thing you need is a long piece of cord and a dowel or ring to attach it to.
You can attach it to another length of cord, but the most common uses for this knot are to start things like wall hangings, plant hangers, bracelets, and other projects that start on a fixed surface.
I’ve used a braided cord from Bobbiny for better visibility, but any cord will do. If you want to learn more, check out our guides to macrame cord and macrame supplies.
Let’s get started!
Step 1
With your cord folded in half, wrap the loop over the top of the dowel or ring.
Step 2
Pull the ends of your cord through the loop.
Step 3
Tighten your cord to finish the knot.
And that’s it! It really is that simple to tie a macrame lark’s heat knot!
Alternative method
However, there are times when you don’t have access to both ends of your cord for whatever reason. That means you can’t just fold it over and pull both ends through.
Here’s how to tie a lark’s head knot with just one end of your macrame cord.
Step 1
Wrap one end of your cord over the top of your dowel and to the left of the other end.
Step 2
Wrap the left cord in front of the hanging cord and underneath the dowel.
Step 3
Bring the working cord down through the loop you’ve created in the front.
Step 4
Tighten your knot. You may need to pull both ends individually for the best results.
Of course, you can also reverse this knot if you want to go from right to left. Just change every instance of left to right in the instructions above.
How to tie a cow hitch knot
One very, very simple variation on the lark’s head knot in macrame is the cow hitch knot, or reverse lark’s head knot.
Before you stress out, it’s exactly the same, but you wrap the cord the other way.
Here’s a quick tutorial with photos.
Step 1
With your cord folded in half, wrap the loop under/behind the dowel or ring.
Step 2
Pull the ends of your cord through the loop.
Step 3
Tighten your cord to finish the knot.
As you can see, it’s virtually identical to the lark’s head knot for macrame projects. The difference is only visual.
The alternative method listed above also works for a cow hitch knot, just start by wrapping the opposite way.
How to tie a continuous lark’s head knot
A continuous macrame lark’s head knot is one of the most interesting variations on the knot, and it’s perfect for macrame jewelry like bracelets, earrings, and necklaces.
For earrings, you’ll likely want to use a metal ring as a base, but for bracelets and necklaces you may want to use something more flexible, like another length of cord.
I’ve used the latter for the continuous macrame lark’s head knot tutorial below.
Step 1
Tie your first lark’s head knot using either of the methods above, leaving one end longer.
Step 2
Bring your right cord up and over your filler cord.
Step 3
Wrap the cord around your filler cord, then through the loop.
Step 4
Tighten your cord until it looks uniform and neat. This will make the next steps easier.
Step 5
Bring your right cord under your filler cord, leaving a small loop at the bottom.
Step 6
Pull the end of your working cord over your filler cord and through the loop you’ve created at the bottom.
Step 7
Tighten your knot until it looks uniform and neat.
Step 8
Repeat the steps as many times as necessary to complete your pattern.
Again, you can reverse the direction of the knot by changing every instance of right to left in the instructions above.
I find that this knot looks best when pulled tightly together. This also causes it to curve slightly, which is ideal for most jewelry.
There is another variation called a vertical lark’s head knot, which often is exactly the same as the above but working down a piece.
And that’s it for our guide to how to tie a macrame lark’s head knot! Any other tips or questions? Drop them in the comments below!
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