Easy Macrame Christmas Tree Decoration: Candy Cane Tutorial

Easy Beginner Macrame Christmas Decorations

This year I’ve thoroughly enjoyed diving into the beginners world of macrame projects. As a spoonie crafter with a list of chronic health conditions larger than my yarn stash (and it’s big 🤣) I’m always looking for simple, low energy, low prep crafts. Macrame is now a firm favourite and macrame candy canes are the ideal easy project.

Candy Cane Macrame Tree Decoration

I volunteer at a community arts and crafts group and wanted a macrame project that would be perfect as a Christmas decoration. I love adding a couple of new Christmas tree decorations each year and homemade ones feel even more special. This candy cane tutorial that I will share with you is an easy macrame project for beginners.

Beginner Macrame Projects

If you are looking for other easy macrame projects for beginners then I would suggest trying this spiral pattern too.

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Further into the post below you will find a super slow (no time lapse) YouTube video tutorial for making the candy cane. There’s also a pdf illustrated set of instructions to make this sweet macrame Christmas tree decorations.

Macrame Christmas Candy Cane: What You Need

You can find the resources I use here.

• Macrame cord – you need two different colours. I’ve done traditional red and white candy cane colours but also explored other colour mixes too.
• Wire – bendable but sturdy enough to hold its shape
• Scissors
• Measuring tape/ ruler

Candy Cane Macrame Cord Lengths

I used 3mm 100% cotton 4 ply macrame cord for the tutorial

• Red – 120cm and 40cm length
• White – 120cm length

If this is the first time you have tried this pattern I would suggest that you use the same colours as I have. It’s much easier to follow the tutorial.

You can also use different thicknesses of cord but for this pattern keep to the same thickness for all colours.

Macrame Cord Pricing

I’m UK based. As a rough guide I look for 3mm macrame cord that is less than £6-£6.50 per 100m. You can find good multiple sets of colours that work out good value.

Macrame Christmas Tree Decoration Candy Cane Video Tutorial

Below you will find the super slow macrame tutorial for the candy cane Christmas tree decoration. What does super slow mean? It means you can follow along and the video isn’t sped up. Join me for the tutorial and a natter whilst learning to create the macrame candy cane. You can save the video to a playlist on YouTube so you can access it when you need it. You can find printed instructions below aswell.

Easy Candy Cane Macrame Instructions

Below you will find a macrame tutorial sheet for the candy cane. The candy cane pattern uses the crown knot for the main part of the candy cane and then a gathering knot to complete the end of the cane. I like to think of points of a compass to help me remember the pattern for doing a macrame crown knot.

Don’t make your knots too tight so that you are able to push the wire in. As I explain in the video tutorial you can place the wire in position after the first couple of knots if you find that easier.

Candy Cane Pattern Change Ideas

Once you have got comfortable with the pattern you can make changes to the macrame candy cane. Here’s some ideas:

• Obviously, you can change your colours. Red and white is traditional but this design looks great in a range of colours. I particularly love a deep purple and white as well as a green and white.
• Make your cane longer. If you’d like to make it longer then increase the two coloured strands that are 120cm. You can keep the 40cm length for the gathering knot the same length.
• A chunkier cane. Instead of 2 x 120cm lengths of cord cut 4 x 120cm lengths of cord; two in each colour. Follow the pattern the same but work with two cords for each colour rather than one. With the gathering length of 40cm increase this to 50cm just so you have enough.
• If you’d rather not have the tassel at the end then there is the option to glue and cut the cords off to get a rounded end.

Macrame Christmas Decoration Kit

More Macrame

If you’d like to discover more macrame projects then check out these posts here and my YouTube macrame playlist here.

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