Macrame Sling Bag (Phone Holder) Tutorial & Video!

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Learn how to make a handy DIY macrame bag that’s perfect for carrying your phone and a few cards or cash in this step by step pattern and video tutorial!

Want to remember this? Post this Macrame Phone Bag tutorial to your favorite DIY Pinterest board!

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This bag pattern only requires a few basic knots, some macrame cord and a little bit of time. You won’t need any wooden handles and the bag is made in one piece, so you won’t have to fumble with different bag pieces.

If you’re looking for some fun and functional DIY projects to work on this summer, this stylish knotted macramé pattern is a great idea!

This handy macrame purse would also make an excellent Christmas gift or birthday present.

You can find macrame rope and supplies for this project either online or at the craft store.

I get all of my rope online and I’ll put a link to my favorite place to purchase macrame cord for a reasonable price down in the supply list below in the supply list.

I would say the skill level for this project is advanced beginner or intermediate.

You just need to know how to tie the larks head knot, square knots, double half hitch knots, the wrapping knot and the barrel knot.

If you’re new to macrame and need to learn the basic macrame knots, be sure to check out my macrame knot tutorial for beginners!

You’ll learn all of the knots needed for this project and more.

Also, be sure to check out my popular eBook 60 Macrame Knots & Knot Patterns!

Supplies You’ll Need

• 3 mm 2 ply cotton macrame rope in the following lengths
  • 1 piece @ 67″ long
  • 14 pieces @ 140″ long
  • 3 pieces @ 134″ long
• 2 lobster keychain clasps (1″ size)
• large eye needle
• scissors
• brush for fringe
• wooden dowel to hold your work (size doesn’t matter, it’s temporary)

Macrame Phone Bag Tutorial

Check out the video for this project over on my YouTube channel, and don’t forget to subscribe!

Step 1: Prepare the holding cord

Take your 67″ piece of cord, find the center, and slide your hands out on either side of the center so you have a space about 10″ across in middle of the cord.

Tie the cord to the dowel in the spots where your hands are with a temporary double knot. This is just to hold the cord in place while you work.

Step 2: Attach the working cords to the holding cord

Take one of your 140″ long pieces of cord, fold it in half, and attach it to the holding cord with a lark’s head knot.

Repeat that with the rest of the 140″ long cords.

Step 3: Tie the first row of square knots

Tie a row of square knots going from left to right. You’ll tie 7 square knots all together

Step 4: Tie the second row of square knots

Tie an alternating row of square knots. Skip the first 2 cords on the left and tie 6 square knots going across to the right. You’ll also skip the last two cords.

Step 5: Tie the rest of the rows of square knots

Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you have 36 rows of square knots all together.

Step 6: Making the first portion of the bag flap

Row 37: tie 3 square knots going across from left to right as usual, then skip the center knot, and tie 3 more square knots across to the right to finish the row.

Row 38: skip the first 2 cords on the left, tie 2 square knots going from left to right, skip the center 8 cords, tie two more square knots on the right side and skip the last 2 cords.

Row 39: tie 2 square knots going across from left to right, then skip the center 12 cords and tie 2 more square knots on the right side.

Row 40: skip the first 2 cords on the left, tie one square knot. Go over to the right side, skip the first 2 cords from the right and tie one square knot.

Step 7: Making the center diamond shape

Take the two center cords, cross the right over the left, and use it as the filler cord to tie 9 double half hitch knots going down and to the left.

Use the first working cord of that row (at the top of the diamond) as the filler cord to tie a row of 8 double half hitch knots going down and to the right.

Now you’re going to take the 16 center cords from the diamond and weave them in a basket weave pattern.

Hold 2 cords together at a time, so you’ll have 8 sections all together.

Starting in the center, take the two center cords on the right and bring them over the two center cords from the left, then under the next 2 cords on the left, over the next 2, and under the last 2 cords on the left.

Then take the next 2 cords on the right and put them under the first 2 cords to the left, over the next 2, under the next 2, and over the last 2 cords on the left.

Repeat that with the last two pairs of cords on the right until they’re all woven together.

Make sure to keep all the cords organized and in order so when you complete the double half hitch knots the basket weave will look right.

Now grab the left filler cord from the first double half hitch row and use it as the filler cord for a row of 8 double half hitch knots going down and to the right.

Use the right filler cord to tie a row of double half hitch knots on the other side going down and to the left.

Tie one last knot in the center going down and to the left to finish off the diamond.

Step 8: Finishing the bag flap

Tie a square knot all the way on the left side, then skip over to the right side and tie a square knot. Both knots will be right under the previous rows of square knots.

Continue tying square knots down the left side and right side, shifting over 2 cords toward the center on each row. This will make an upside down triangle shape pointing down.

Grab the far left cord and use it as the filler cord to tie a row of 13 double half hitch knots going down and to the right.

Use the far right cord as the filler cord to tie a row of 13 double half hitch knots going down and to the left.

Go back and tie one last double half hitch knot going down and to the right to attach the two sides.

Set aside the 6 cords on the far left and 6 cords on the far right. Use the 7th cord on the left as the filler cord to tie a row of 7 double half hitch knots going down and to the right.

Use the 7th cord on the right as the filler cord to tie 8 double half hitch knots going down and to the left.

Step 9: Sew the bag together

Now we’re going to sew the bag together.

Untie the holding cord from the dowel. We’re going to use the ends of the holding cord to sew the sides of the bag.

Fold the bag so the top of the rows of square knots are on the front (make sure the right side is facing the front), and the flap goes up and over the top.

Test fit it with your phone or whatever you’ll be putting inside and make sure it’s lined up the way you want.

Remove the phone and grab your large eye needle.

Thread one of the holding cord sides onto your needle (I started on the right) and sew the side of the bag together going back and forth in a zigzag pattern. You’re basically doing the mattress stitch.

Once you get to the corner, thread the needle through to the inside of the bag and tie a couple of knots to secure the cord. Cut the excess cord off close to the knots.

Repeat that process for the other side of the bag as well.

Step 10: Trimming up the fringe

Cut the fringe however long you like. I left mine kind of long at first but I later decided to make it pretty short. It’s up to you!

If you leave it long you can either unwind it and brush it out, or you can tie barrel knots in the ends which is a little less maintenance.

Hold onto one of the long pieces of scrap cord. We’ll use it to tie a wrapping knot (or gathering knot) on our strap.

Step 11: Making the strap

Now we’re going to make the shoulder strap for our bag.

Grab one of your lobster clasps and the 3 pieces of 134″ cord. Fold the pieces of cord in half and attach them to the lobster clasp. Tape it down to your work surface.

Braid the cords in a 3 strand braid, holding 2 pieces of cord together for each section.

Continue braiding until the braid is about 46″ long.

Thread the other lobster clasp onto the ends of your cords. Leave about a 3 inch gap between the braid and the clasp and fold the ends in half.

Take your scrap piece of cord from earlier, and use it to tie a wrapping knot around the whole bundle of cords. I did 9 wraps to fill in the gap, but you can do more or less, it’s up to you. I would recommend wrapping at least 5 times.

Finish off your wrapping knot (see my tutorial here if you’re not familiar with this knot) and cut off the excess cord.

Pull the ends of the cord (from the braid) to remove any slack at the top of the wrapping knot.

Now if you want, you can make barrel knots in the hanging pieces of cord. I have a tutorial for the barrel knot right here!

Cut the excess cord under the barrel knots and the strap is done.

Just clip it onto the sides of the bag right at the top of the sewn together side sections. I went under 2 loops to make it more secure.

Step 12: Finish the fringe

Now if you want you can untwist your fringe, brush it out, and trim it however you like!

You could also leave it long and add more barrel knots instead of untwisting it. You can really get creative here.

Optional Liner

I didn’t line this bag, but you can easily make a fabric liner for this bag by sewing two pieces of cotton fabric together either with a sewing machine or by hand.

I did actually line this bag! The instructions below are still totally valid and will work, or you can check out the tutorial for how to line a macrame or crochet bag right here.

Here are some basic step-by-step directions to follow:

• Cut out two rectangles of cotton fabric about 6″ wide by 7″ tall.
• For each piece, fold down the top edge (it’ll be on one of the short sides) by 1/4″ and press, then repeat that again and hem down the top edge with a straight stitch.
• Place the fabric right sides together and sew around the three other edges that you didn’t hem using about a 1/4″ seam allowance and a straight stitch.
• Insert it into your bag (keep it wrong side out, you won’t see that side), and sew the top into your bag with a simple whip stitch and a needle and thread.
• Just stitch through a little bit of the cord for each stitch.

Done!

I hope you enjoyed this macrame phone bag pattern and you’ll make one yourself following this easy tutorial!

If you make one of these, please share a pic over on Instagram and tag me @marchingnorth so I can take a look. I love seeing all of your awesome creations!

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Macrame Sling Bag (Phone Holder) Tutorial & Video!