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What is macrame?
Macrame refers to the craft of knotting cord or string into patterns to make elaborate textile pieces. Knots, beads, and other kinds of strings and cords are often woven into complex pieces like baskets or a wall-hanging tapestry. Popular in the 70s, it’s a trend that’s come back in the form of carpets, tassels, placemats, and of course, plant hangers.
The beauty of this craft is that it doesn’t require much in terms of materials. All you need is a mount for your plant, different varieties of rope, and a little time and patience. It’s entirely possible for beginners to make their own macrame masterpieces with a few simple instructions and techniques.
What do I need to make a macrame plant hanger?
To make macrame plant hangers, you only need 3 things:
- Rope: you can get these cheap at most supermarkets like Bunnings, or online retailers like eBay or Lincraft. They’re cheap, come in all sorts of varieties and colours, and are easy to work with. Ideally, you should get different kinds of cord, though how much cord you’ll need will ultimately depend on the design you’re looking to follow.
- Metal rings or other similar mounting tools: supporting pots and planters on the rope alone is a bad idea since they may slide or shift in place. Macrame plant hangers usually coil and knot around a metal ring (for pots) or an iron frame (for other shapes) to prevent the container from slipping and sliding.
- A potted plant: a little obvious, but you still need to pay attention to the plant and pot you’ll be hanging. Plastic or polypropylene pots are the best, since they weigh little and are easy to move. Make sure that the total weight of your potted plant isn’t too heavy for your plant hanger.
How to make a macrame pot hanger
Here’s a basic tutorial that we’ve found that you can follow to create your own macrame indoor plant hanger.
You may need a little practice before you get the ideal result. But with a little time and effort, you’ll eventually find yourself with a beautifully woven plant hanger that you can use to display your favourite plants! As you master the different knotting techniques available (this guide is a good source) you’ll be able to make more elaborate designs.
Macrame plant hanger DIY designs
If you’re feeling a little more confident or want to explore what other macrame or fabric plant hangers can you make, we’ve compiled a list of our favourites:
Plant Hanger Using Fabric Strips – Gleeful Things
No rope? No problem. This quick tutorial will show you how to make your own hanging plant holder using only strips of cloth.
Modern Macrame Hanging Planter – Deuce Cities Henhouse
Modern kitchens will love this black (or white) macrame planter – it goes well with most decor and you can put it up easily.
Beaded Macrame Planter – Made in a Day
Decorate your simple macrame rope with beads and other colourful sundries! For an added touch, you can also try to feather the excess ends of the rope for an extra flourish.
Alternatively, you can always just create your own with enough practice and experimentation. Macrame doesn’t require much aside from your creativity – just get to knotting and let your imagination explore all the different possibilities.
Forget-me-knot
Macrame plant hangers aren’t the easiest thing to make, but the result is definitely worth it! It’s an eco-friendly way to bring more greenery into your home, and a delightful DIY project for anyone to tackle.
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