Macrame Anemone Flower Pattern: A Beginner Tutorial (+ Free PDF Download)
If you’ve ever admired those stunning wall hangings or bouquets made from soft, textured cord and thought “I could never do that” — this tutorial is here to prove you wrong. The macrame anemone flower is one of the most rewarding projects a beginner can tackle. It looks impressively intricate, but once you break it down knot by knot, you’ll find it’s incredibly approachable. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a beautiful, boho-style flower you can use to decorate your home, add to a wreath, build into a wall hanging, or even give as a handmade gift.
Grab your cord, find a comfortable seat, and let’s walk through everything together — from the materials you’ll need to the final finishing touches. And don’t forget to scroll to the bottom for a link to the free printable PDF version of this pattern so you can take it with you wherever you craft.
What Is a Macrame Anemone Flower?
Before we dive into the how, let’s talk about the what. An anemone is a wildflower with broad, rounded petals and a dark, dramatic center. In nature, they come in rich purples, deep reds, soft pinks, and creamy whites. The macrame version captures that same organic, layered look using rope or cord to form petals arranged in a circle around a knotted center.
What makes the macrame anemone so popular right now is its versatility. It works beautifully as a standalone piece, but it also layers wonderfully with other macrame flowers — like the daisy, sunflower, or lotus — to create full floral arrangements. You’ll see them showing up on nursery walls, in boho wedding décor, on Christmas trees, and tucked into dried flower arrangements. Once you know how to make one, you’ll want to make dozens.
Materials You’ll Need
One of the best things about this project is that you don’t need a lot of supplies. Here’s what to gather before you begin.
Macrame cord. For beginners, a 3mm single-strand or 3-ply twisted cotton cord works beautifully. It’s soft, easy to knot, and brushes out well if you want a fluffy, frayed petal look. You’ll need roughly 30–40 meters for a flower that’s about 12–15cm in diameter. If you want a smaller flower, 15–20 meters will be enough.
Scissors. Sharp scissors make a real difference when cutting cord cleanly. Fabric scissors or craft scissors are both fine.
A comb or pet slicker brush. This is used to brush out the ends of the cord to create soft, fringe-style petals. A metal comb works too, though a slicker brush gives the fluffiest result.
A wooden ring or metal ring. For flowers that will be hung or incorporated into a wall hanging, a 6–8cm wooden ring serves as the base. If you’re making a standalone flower with a stem, you can skip the ring and work around a loop of cord instead.
Optional: wire or floral stem. If you want your anemone to stand upright in a vase or be used in a bouquet, a floral wire wrapped in floral tape (or even a wooden skewer) can be attached to the back.
Optional: fabric stiffener or diluted white glue. A light spritz of fabric stiffener on the finished flower helps it hold its shape, especially if you plan to display it without a frame.
Understanding the Knots You’ll Use
This pattern uses only two main knots. If you’ve never done macrame before, don’t worry — these are both easy to learn and are the foundation of almost every macrame project you’ll ever make.
The Lark’s Head Knot. This is how you’ll attach your cord to the ring. Fold a piece of cord in half, place the folded loop over the ring from front to back, and pull both ends of the cord through the loop. Pull snug. That’s it. You’ll use this to mount all your working cords onto the ring.
The Double Half Hitch Knot (also called the DHHK). This is the workhorse of the anemone pattern. To tie it, take a working cord and loop it around a holding cord (or around the ring itself), bringing the tail back through the loop you’ve just created. Do this twice in a row on the same cord and you have a double half hitch. A series of these knots creates ridges, curves, and the structured petal shapes that define the anemone flower.
Take five or ten minutes to practice both of these on a scrap piece of cord before starting the flower. You’ll feel so much more confident once your hands know the motions.
Step-by-Step Macrame Anemone Flower Pattern
Step 1: Cut Your Cord
For a flower approximately 12cm in diameter, cut the following:
For the petals, cut 16 pieces of cord, each 60cm long. These will form the outer petals. Cut another 8 pieces at 40cm long for the inner petals. For the center, cut 4 pieces at 30cm long. If you’re using a contrasting color for the center (a deep brown or black looks stunning and mimics the dark eye of a real anemone), use a different cord for those 4 pieces.
These measurements give you a little extra length to work with and trim down at the end. It’s always better to have too much than too little.
Step 2: Attach Your Cord to the Ring
Take your 16 outer petal cords and attach them to the ring using the lark’s head knot. Space them evenly around the ring. You should have 32 working ends hanging from the ring once all 16 cords are attached.
If you’re working without a ring, create a simple loop with a separate piece of cord and use that as your anchor point instead. You can remove it later or incorporate it into the stem.
Step 3: Create the Outer Petals
Now it’s time to form the petals. You’ll work with groups of four cords at a time (two lark’s head knots placed side by side give you four working ends, which forms one petal).
Take the two inner cords of your group of four. These become your holding cords. Take the two outer cords and tie double half hitch knots onto the holding cords, pulling them upward and outward to create a curved petal shape. The more you angle the knots, the more pronounced the curve of the petal will be.
Once you’ve completed one pass of double half hitches, fold the work back on itself and tie another row going in the opposite direction. This creates a filled, padded petal. Repeat this for each group of four cords around the ring.
You should end up with 8 outer petals. If you want more petals for a fuller flower, you can add more cords to the ring at the start — 20 cords will give you 10 petals, and 24 will give you 12.
Once all petals are formed, trim the cord ends to roughly 2–3cm. You can leave them as neat ends or brush them out with your slicker brush for a soft, fluffy petal effect. Brushing gives the flower a more naturalistic, ethereal look that most people prefer.
Step 4: Add the Inner Petals
Take your 8 shorter cords (40cm each) and attach them to the center of the ring, layering them inside the outer petal ring. These form a second, smaller ring of petals that sits in front of the outer ones, giving the flower its signature layered depth.
Repeat the double half hitch petal technique with these cords, but make the petals slightly shorter and tighter than the outer ring. You want them to nestle in and create contrast without completely hiding the petals behind them.
Trim and brush these ends the same way as the outer petals.
Step 5: Create the Center
The center of the anemone is what really makes it come alive. In real anemones, the center is a tight cluster of dark stamens surrounded by a ring of deeper color. You can recreate this beautifully with macrame.
Take your 4 center cords (ideally in a contrasting color) and fold each one in half. Bundle them together so all 8 ends point outward. Use a separate short length of cord to tightly wrap around the midpoint of the bundle, cinching it together. This creates a little pom-pom style center.
Trim the ends of the center bundle to about 1–2cm. Brush them out vigorously so they fluff up into a small, round cluster. This mimics the look of the anemone’s stamen cluster perfectly.
Attach the center to the middle of the ring by threading the wrapping cord through the back of the ring and tying it off securely. Add a small dot of craft glue to the back if you want extra security.
Step 6: Shape and Adjust
Lay your flower flat and take a good look at the overall shape. Now is the time to adjust. Use your fingers to gently pull petals into position, overlapping them slightly if needed, or separating them if they’re too bunched together.
If some petals look uneven or shorter than others, a very light trim with sharp scissors can even things out. Step back and look at the flower from a little distance — this gives you a better overall sense of the shape than hovering right over it.
If you used fabric stiffener, spray a light, even mist over the front of the flower and allow it to dry completely flat on a piece of parchment paper. This usually takes 30–60 minutes and makes a noticeable difference to how well the petals hold their position.
How to Display Your Macrame Anemone Flower
One of the most joyful parts of finishing a macrame anemone is figuring out all the places you can show it off. Here are a few popular ideas.
Wall art. Glue or wire several flowers to a piece of driftwood, a dowel rod, or a woven base for a stunning wall hanging. Mix different sizes and, if you like, different shades of the same color for a gradient effect.
Wreaths. Attach your anemones to a grapevine or wire wreath base alongside dried flowers, eucalyptus sprigs, and ribbon for a wreath that will last for years.
Bouquets. Add floral wire stems to the back of each flower and arrange them with dried pampas grass, cotton stems, or lavender for a forever bouquet that requires zero maintenance.
Nursery or kids’ room décor. Soft pastel anemones look magical mounted on a canvas or floating on a mobile above a crib.
Gift toppers. A single anemone tied to a wrapped gift with a length of twine is one of those small, thoughtful touches that people remember.
Tips for Getting the Best Results
Tension is everything. The number one thing that separates a polished macrame flower from a messy one is consistent tension. Try to pull each knot with the same amount of force throughout the project. If your first few knots are loose and your last few are tight, the petals will look uneven.
Work in good lighting. It sounds obvious, but macrame cord — especially in light or neutral colors — can be surprisingly hard to see in dim light. A well-lit workspace makes it easier to keep track of which cords you’re working with and see whether your knots are sitting correctly.
Don’t be afraid to undo and redo. Macrame is forgiving. If a petal isn’t sitting right, you can almost always pull the knots out and start that section again. Cotton cord loosens easily and rarely shows signs of being undone, unlike some other craft materials.
Choose your cord wisely. Single-strand cord (also called single-ply or roving cord) brushes out into the softest, most feathery petals. Three-ply twisted cord holds its shape better and gives a slightly more structured look. Both work beautifully for anemones — it’s really a matter of personal preference.
Experiment with color. Traditional anemones come in deep jewel tones — burgundy, navy, violet, and magenta — with a contrasting white or cream petal and dark center. But there’s no rule that says your macrame version has to follow nature’s palette. Soft sage and ivory make a gorgeous neutral version. Terracotta and rust look stunning in fall-themed arrangements. Blush pink is perennially popular for weddings and nurseries.
Variations to Try Once You’ve Mastered the Basic Pattern
Once you’re comfortable with the basic anemone, there are so many fun ways to push the pattern further.
Try adding a fringe border around the outer edge of the petals for extra drama. Simply cut additional short lengths of cord, fold them in half, and attach them to the outermost knots using lark’s head knots, then brush them out.
Make a miniature version using 1mm cord for tiny, delicate flowers perfect for jewelry, hair accessories, or fairy lights decorations.
Try a three-dimensional version by wiring the petals so they curve upward and forward instead of lying flat, giving the flower a lifelike, sculptural quality.
Combine your anemone with other macrame flower patterns — a macrame daisy cluster or a large macrame sunflower — to create a mixed floral arrangement that looks like it belongs in a high-end boutique.
Download the Free PDF Pattern
Everything covered in this tutorial is available as a neatly formatted, printable PDF that you can save to your device, print out, and keep at your crafting station. The PDF includes all the measurements, a materials list, step-by-step instructions, and simple diagrams showing the knot techniques.
To get your free copy, simply sign up for the newsletter using the form below the post. You’ll receive the PDF instantly in your inbox, along with access to the full growing library of free macrame patterns — including the daisy, the sunflower, the lotus, and more.
If you already subscribe, check your welcome email for the library link — the anemone pattern has been added to the collection.
Final Thoughts
The macrame anemone flower is one of those projects that feels a little magical the first time you complete it. You start with a few lengths of plain cotton cord and end up with something that genuinely looks like a flower — textured, layered, and full of character. It’s the kind of craft that surprises you.
If this is your first macrame project, be patient with yourself through the first petal or two. The knots will start to feel natural quickly, and by the time you’re working on your third or fourth petal, you’ll find a rhythm that makes the whole thing feel almost meditative.
Share your finished anemones in the comments below or tag them on Instagram — there’s nothing better than seeing the incredible variety of colors and styles that come out of a single pattern when different makers put their own stamp on it. Happy knotting.
