Macrame is fashionable again, after almost 40 years since it last adorned our homes. After holiday goers went on their first package holidays in the 1960s and 1970s, they returned home with the macramé bug, enjoying creating wall hangings and plant holders to remind them of their European travels. This plant holder is simple to make and looks great hanging in your kitchen with herbs planted or trailing plants; I have chosen to use a vintage tin as an alternative to a modern pot to give that retro upcycled vibe.
MATERIALS USED:
- 18m of 100% cotton yarn
- Wood or metal ring – I used a curtain ring with the hook removed
- 3 wooden beads
EQUIPMENT NEEDED:
- Tape measure
- Scissors
- Jewellery needle or tapestry needle
- Paint brush and paint (optional)
- Clothes pegs
HOW TO MAKE THIS PROJECT
Step 1: Using the tape measure, cut 6 x 3m lengths of cotton yarn, ensuring they are all the same length.
TOP TIP
Choose 100% cotton yarn as this is water proof.
Step 2: Holding one end of each piece straighten out the cotton to ensure it is hanging straight. Fold the pieces in half, keeping your hand holding them all at the central point.
Step 3: Fold the half way point of all 6 strands through the ring in a lark’s head knot. If you don’t have a ring, you can always create a loop within the yarn itself.
Step 4: Lay the ring down on a table to make the next stages easier. With all the threads of yarn hanging down below the ring, separate them into 3 sections ensuring that all the yarn is not twisted or knotted. Place 3 strands on the left side, 3 on the right side and 6 in the middle. Take your time with this, making sure that all strands are naturally going into the right position without overlapping them.
TOP TIP
You may want to clip the ring to a placemat using some clothes peg to make sure that it doesn’t move.
Step 5: To make it easier, wind each side section around a clothes peg and clip into position so you have less length to manoeuvre. This is optional.
Step 6: You now will be creating 10 cm of a twisted plait like knot. To do this you need to
- Fold the right side across the central strands
- Position the left side strands vertically over the right strands
- The pull the left side under and through the gap created on the right side (see photos)
Pull this tight making sure that the central strands don’t get twisted to make a knot.
Step 7: repeat step 6 until the length of knots starts to twist. When this happens, turn the whole project over and continue until you have created a 10cm length of this knot.
Step 8: Reorganise the strands into three equal groups – this time with 4 on the left, right and in the middle. Take the time to make sure they are not twisted.
Step 9: Using a jewellery needle or tapestry needle, thread the 4 strands through each bead. I painted the beads to add some colour beforehand, but this is optional as the beads are purely for decoration. When they are all threaded, make sure that all the strands are not twisted and nicely organised.
Step 10: Tie an overhand knot on each group 17cm from the end of the previous knots. Repeat this on the other two groups of strands ensuring that all knots are level to keep the beads in place.
Step 11: Reorganise the strands into groups of 2; you should now have 6 groups of strands, 2 coming out from each bead. Lay these side by side on the table.
Step 12: Tie each of the groups together side by side, using an overhand knot 4cm below the last knot. As you are creating a pouch for the planter, you will need to knot the far end strands together too.
Step 13: Repeat stage 12, 4 cm lower.
Step 14: To make the base, tie one large overhand knot using all the strands 5 cm below the last knots. This will leave all the remaining strands hanging in a tassel at the base; cut this to your desired length.
Step 15: You now need to add the plant pot into the pouch; I chose a vintage tin, but a jelly mould or traditional pot would also work.
Then, simply hang on the wall!
This is my project for September’s Take A Break Magazine.
