Finished compass rose mandala macramé pattern with eight diagonal star points and woven center medallion

Compass Rose

Skill levelIntermediate–AdvancedFinished size12 in W × 17 in L (30 × 43 cm)Build time7–9 hours total / 2–3 evening sessions

The compass rose mandala macramé pattern creates a stunning eight-point star wall hanging with a woven center medallion and brass-tone accents. This intricate design suits intermediate to advanced knotters who love geometric symmetry and are ready to master diagonal clove hitch techniques. The finished piece measures 12 inches wide by 17 inches long and makes a striking statement on any wall.

Create Your Own Compass Rose Mandala Macramé Pattern

This build typically takes 7 to 9 hours, easily divided into 2 or 3 relaxed evening sessions. Working from the center outward, you’ll wrap a metal ring frame, mount radial spokes, and needle-weave a coin-flat center medallion before building diagonal star points in natural and olive cotton cord. Meanwhile, the pattern includes both a full illustrated step-by-step PDF and a printable quick-reference card so you can track your progress at a glance.

Each of the eight star points radiates from a hand-woven endless-knot motif at the heart of the mandala. Because filler tension determines the compass geometry, you’ll learn to pin your angles precisely and check them against dashed guide lines. In addition, the pattern walks you through three detailed technique deep-dives covering ring wrapping, diagonal double half hitch triangles, and spiral needle weaving.

Materials and Construction Overview

You’ll need three colors of single-strand cotton cord—natural, olive green, and camel—plus two metal rings and basic macramé tools. The build order moves logically: wrap the outer ring, mount the spokes, weave the medallion, knot the cardinal points, fill the intercardinals, add the rope border, and finish with a hanging loop and tassel. Therefore, natural stopping points fall after the medallion and again after the cardinal points, so you can pause and admire your work before tackling the final details.

Materials at a glance

  • 4 mm natural cotton cord, approx. 58 yd
  • 4 mm olive green cotton cord, approx. 22 yd
  • 3 mm camel cotton cord, approx. 12 yd
  • 12 in (30 cm) metal ring, gold/brass finish
  • 5 in (12.5 cm) metal ring
  • Sharp shears, tapestry needle, 8 T-pins, cork/foam board, fabric comb

Build order

  1. Wrap the outer ring — Group A half hitch wrap
  2. Mount the frame — 8 compass marks, Group B spokes, centre the inner ring
  3. Weave the centre medallion — spiral weave plus endless-knot accent
  4. Cardinal star points (N, E, S, W) — Group C diagonal DHH triangles
  5. Intercardinal points (NE, SE, SW, NW) — Group D shorter triangles
  6. Rope border circle — Group E DDHH around inner edge
  7. Hanging loop, tassel & finishing — Group F, trim, comb, steam

Cord cutting reference

  • A — 1 × 10 yd (outer ring HH wrap, natural)
  • B — 10 × 2 yd (spokes + medallion weavers, natural)
  • C — 32 × 45 in (cardinal star points, olive)
  • D — 24 × 36 in (intercardinal points, natural)
  • E — 3 × 3.5 yd (rope border circle, camel 3 mm)
  • F — 15 mixed (loop 30 in; tassel 12×14 in; wraps 2×24 in)

Knot abbreviations

  • LH = Lark's Head
  • HH = Half Hitch Ring Wrap
  • SK = Square Knot
  • HDHH = Horizontal Double Half Hitch
  • DDHH = Diagonal Double Half Hitch
  • GK = Gathering (Wrapping) Knot

Top 5 mistakes to avoid

  1. Loose ring wrap rotates under load — anchor wrap over its own tail
  2. Inner ring drifts off-centre — measure all 8 spokes with a ruler before knotting
  3. Star point rails bow outward — keep filler cord taut at exact angle while hitching
  4. Medallion weave loosens — lock final round with half hitches on every spoke
  5. Points different lengths — count rows, not inches, for identical geometry