Do you want to hang your flower pots up high? Are you looking to bring some greenery into your home by embracing the trend of macramé plant hangers? Would you like to make one yourself?
I will help you.
As a florist and home decor enthusiast, I’ve loved the resurgence of macramé in recent years. This simple technique, with its many variations, offers endless decorating possibilities!
Today, I’m excited to show you how to create your own macramé hanging, and I’ll share my florist expertise to help you choose the perfect plant to place in it, creating a stunning DIY decor for your bedroom, living room, or even your bathroom!
Very trendy, macramé plant hangers require very little material: string, scissors, and a measuring tape are essential. You can start with a branch of wood, a ring, or even a loop created with the string. Hang your string (at least four strands) on your support using a knot, making sure to leave several feet of length. Next, braid the strands by tying knots between them. Once your creation is complete, you can place trailing plants in it, such as ivy, string of pearls, or pothos!
Want to know more? Keep reading to find out:
- What a macramé hanging is, its advantages and disadvantages
- A list of supplies you’ll need to create your décor
- A simple technique, with a video, along with pro tips
- Varieties of indoor plants that are perfect for hanging
What is a Macramé Plant Hanger?
Although it’s often associated with 1970s decor, the technique used to create macramé items has been around for thousands of years!
In fact, it involves crafting decorative or functional items using rope, which we tie to create patterns.
In the following lines, I’ll summarize the many advantages and a few minor drawbacks of macramé!
A Decor Trend That’s Making a Comeback
The word macramé has its origins in the Arabic term “Migramah,” which means fringe, and it first appeared in the Middle East in the 13th century.
This weaving technique was also popularized by sailors who, during long sea voyages, crafted macramé objects.
But it was the 1970s that truly allowed this technique to gain popularity, especially in the world of home decor. We saw the arrival of items like wall hangings, headboards, lampshades, and even hanging planters in our parents’ and grandparents’ homes!
This trend has made a comeback in recent years with the rise of the bohemian-chic style, along with a desire to return to natural materials and artisanal techniques.
Full of Benefits …
Macramé offers many benefits, which I will outline for you.
✅ It’s easy!
While there are complex knots that allow experienced creators to make a wide variety of patterns, the simplest ones are quite accessible for beginners!
✅ It’s affordable!
Macramé creations require very few materials and tools! It’s a trend that’s accessible to everyone, even when you’re on a tight budget.
✅ It’s eco-friendly!
Made from natural and sustainable materials, macramé hangings are designed to last for many years. If they happen to break, you can easily repair them instead of throwing them away.
… But there are also some downsides!
Having had macramé hangings for a few years, I’ve noticed a few inconveniences in using them. Although they don’t really bother me, I wanted to share them with you.
❌ It’s a bit complicated to clean.
Depending on the type of rope you use, especially if it’s made of white cotton, it can sometimes be tricky to clean a stained macramé piece. Certain knots, weaves, or ropes have a tendency to fray in the washing machine.
❌ If the arrangements are too intricate, it can be a bit tricky to remove the plants from the hanging planter for watering or repotting. Make sure to do this on a table or countertop!
What equipment should you prepare?
As I mentioned before, macramé requires very little materials. Here’s a short list of what you’ll need to have on hand:
- A length of rope, at least 50 meters, to ensure you have enough. It can be made of cotton, sisal, or another material. When it comes to color, feel free to go beyond the classic off-white by choosing one or more other colors that inspire you.
- Scissors
- A measuring tape
- Some reclaimed wood supports, driftwood, etc., to add a natural touch to your hanging piece and help stabilize it.
How to Make Such a Hanging Décor?
It’s time to take action! To create a macramé hanger, the easiest way is to follow a video tutorial, which will help you easily visualize the weaving techniques.
I’ve picked out two for you:
➡️ This first video is perfect for beginners who want to create a suspension quickly and easily using simple knots.
➡️ This second DIY project is a bit more complex but definitely doable. It will allow you to create a more elegant hanging decoration, to which you can easily add wooden beads, driftwood, and more.
While videos are very helpful for understanding how to tie knots, I will detail the braiding techniques in the following lines so that you can also use these tips to create your own designs!
How to Get Started? The Starting Knot
This knot is used to attach the rope to a potential wooden support: take a length of string and fold it in half. Then, loop the end under the branch at the point where you want to secure it.
Next, place the two strands from the other end into the loop and pull.
👉 To create a weave, you’ll need at least two knots of this type. This will allow you to make the next knot.
The Flat Knot Technique
Once your starting knots are complete, you will have 4 strands that need to be organized like this:
- The two in the middle are the backbone of the weaving. They won’t move and must stay in the center,
- while the ones on the left and right will be used for braiding.
To start your knot, take the left strand and pass it under the two center strands, without pulling it all the way through. The shape you should get should resemble the number “4”.
Next, take the right thread and pass it over the middle strands, then through the loop created with the left thread.
To finish the knot, pull gently.
Keep going by alternating between left and right each time to get started!
👉 If you choose not to alternate the thread you start with, consistently using the same one (left or right), you’ll create a beautiful twisted weave!
How Do You Fix It?
There are several solutions for securing your suspension:
- Either use a wooden branch as mentioned above, which you can balance or hang using a rope from a nail.
- Or hang your suspension directly on a nail or a hook.
- You can also start your suspension with a wooden ring (like a curtain ring), where you can create your starting knots directly. This provides a result that is both sturdy and visually appealing. Plus, it makes the suspension easy to move!
Which Plant Varieties Should You Suspend?
To wrap things up, here are some indoor or patio plants that thrive particularly well when hanging, categorized by the light conditions that suit them best:
- Bright light: Chain of Hearts (Ceropegia), String of Pearls (Senecio), Aeschynanthus, Columnea, …
- Medium light: Pothos, Wandering Jew, Asparagus, Spider Plant…
- Low light: Ivy, Rhoicissus, …
Tradescantia (Wandering Jew) / Pothos / Ceropegia (String of Hearts)
These are mostly trailing plants that will create a beautiful decorative effect when placed in a macramé hanger. You can also use non-trailing plants, but be sure to choose a pretty pot, as it will be quite visible.
👉 Be careful with succulent plants; they are delicate and can easily break when handling the pot for watering or repotting.
You are now ready to green up your home with beautiful macramé hangings that you will make yourself!
Want to add a floral touch to your home decor?
I’ll see you at our specialized online store, where we offer a wide variety of floral decor items and gift ideas (eternal roses, flower crowns, flower walls, teddy bears made of roses, and more…)! 🌺
