Use simple knots to create a stylish macrame rope hanger for indoor plants. Hanging pots are a big trend right now with many high street stores featuring them in their current ranges. But it's really easy to create your own with this simple project.
You will need:
• Sash cord or rope • Scissors • A curtain ring • Clamp • A plant and plant pot
Step 1: Cut your rope
Begin by cutting two pieces of polycotton sash cord, both 80cm in length.
Step 2: Decide where you would like your plant hanger and measure accordingly
Decide how long you’d like your plant pot hanger to be. Double this length and cut four more pieces of cord to this length.
Step 3: Add the curtain rings
Thread the four long pieces of cord through the curtain ring. Position the curtain ring in the middle of the lengths of cord.
Step 4: Tie your rope
Tie one of the 80cm pieces of rope into a Gathering Wrap Knot around all 8 pieces of rope, just underneath the curtain ring. Follow the video below to learn to tie the Gathering Wrap Knot
Step 5: Clamp your curtain ring
It's important to hold the ropes taught while you work. You can do this by putting the curtain ring onto the clamp and clamp this onto the edge of your table – this makes it easier to work with the macramé. Or simply hook the curtain ring over through a chair leg or something similarly stable
Top tip: Match your curtain rings to any other fittings in the room, for example, brass or silver.
Step 6: Divide the ropes
Divide the ropes into pairs and tie Overhand Knots into each pair, two thirds of the way down. Overhand Knots are very simple to do but if you're unsure check out the video below. The tricky part is ensuring that all the knots line up at the same point on each pair of ropes. It's worth taking the time to do this carefully as neat, perfectly aligned knots will really make a difference to the finished product.
Step 7: Divide the ropes and tie again
Next take one rope from one pair and another from the next pair - and tie an overhand knot into these, a little further down the length of the rope.
Continue doing this until all the rope pairs have been combined to make a loop.
Step 8: Gathering Wrap Knot
Finish with a Gathering Wrap Knot at the end of the lengths, to close the bottom of your plant hanger.
Step 10: Trim the ends
Trim the ends to make them neat and put your pot and plant into the hanger.
Project from www.homebase.co.uk
If you've enjoyed this project and would like to try more macramé check out Pinterest for inspiration. Hobbycraft have some easy step-by-step instructions or take a look at the video below to learn some of the basic macramé knots so you can make your own creation.
Read next
For more craft projects see Yours magazine, every fortnight, on a Tuesday