Macrame Flower Hanging Basket: DIY Video And Craft Instructions
With macramé, you can easily and quickly make great decorations for the apartment. In our video, we show how to make a macramé flower hanging basket with succulents.
In the 70s, macramé flower hanging baskets were very popular and indispensable in any household. But then the decorative planter fell into oblivion for a long time and was even labeled as old-fashioned. But now the macramé hanging basket is experiencing a true renaissance and is becoming a sought-after decorative object, especially among the younger generation.
No wonder, after all, the macramé flower hanging lamp is a child’s play to make yourself and by using different materials such as rope, cord or even leather straps can be individually adapted to your own taste. In addition, the hanging placement of plants saves an enormous amount of space, so you do not have to do without cozy houseplants even in small apartments. The instructions for a DIY macramé flower hanging baskets and everything else you should know about the new trend, you can find in this article.
What Is Macramé?
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Macrame is on everyone’s lips – but what is actually behind this term? In fact, macrame refers to a special knotting technique that was developed in the Orient and was used to make carpets, but also ornaments and jewelry. Via the Crusaders, this special form of handicraft then reached Europe, where it experienced several periods of prosperity. In addition to jewelry, especially hanging baskets became the flagship of the artful knotting technique, which enjoys great popularity to this day and is also popular as a hobby.
Macrame Flower Hanging Basket: Instructions For DIY
Macramé-style hanging baskets have numerous advantages: for example, they are not only exceedingly decorative but also particularly practical, because you can save a lot of space by hanging the plants. But also the fact that macramé flower hanging baskets are easy to make yourself, ensures that this trend has many followers.
What You Need For This
Many people do not dare to get creative with the macrame technique, because they consider it too elaborate and complicated. But in fact, a macramé flower hanging lamp can be made without much effort.
You only need:
- Plants
- Flowerpot
- String or rope
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
- Planting clay
- Suitable planting substrate
- Possibly small wooden beads for decoration
How To Make A Macramé Hanging Basket
If you follow the instructions, making a macramé flower hanging basket is really not difficult: the first step is to prepare the materials. First, you need to cut six pieces of equal length from the cord. Each string should have a length of about 35 to 39 inches (depending on how low you want the hanging basket to hang later).
To get an even length of all the strings, it is advisable to carefully measure the individual strings with a tape measure and then cut them to fit. Once all the strings are prepared, place them next to each other and knot them all together, about 4 to 6 inches in front of one end of the bundle. This so-called base knot will later bear a large part of the weight of the flower pot, so it is especially important to tighten the knot properly.
Now the actual work with the macramé begins: the cords are placed on a table and sorted. Now form pairs of two from the cords lying directly next to each other. About 10 centimeters away from the base knot, the pairs of two are now knotted together. The distance to the base knot can vary depending on the size of the pot, but care should be taken to ensure that the knots of the teams of two are each the same distance from the base knot, so that as uniform a pattern as possible is created.
Now the cords are again placed next to each other on the table. Now a knot is made again at a distance of 4 inches from the previous knot. This time, however, the pairs of two are not linked together but are linked together by connecting the cords that are looking at each other. To do this, knot the second thread of the first pair with the thread next to it (i.e. the first thread of the second pair). Then the second thread of the second pair is tied to the first thread of the third pair, and finally, a knot is made with the second thread of the third pair and the first thread of the first pair. Again, care should be taken to ensure that the knots are again at the same level.
Now already follows the final knot: At the upper end of the strand, all the strings are tied together once again. By not pulling the threads all the way through in this knot, a loop is created that later serves as a holder for the macramé flower pot. If you prefer something more individual and exciting, you can also further decorate the basic shape of the macramé flower pot.
Wooden beads are particularly suitable for this purpose, which can be incorporated at the ends of the threads, but also above and below the knots. The flower hanging basket can also be made colorful by coloring it with natural dyes after knotting, for example, in the modern ombré effect. In fact, the macramé flower pendant offers thousands of possibilities for design, so you can give free rein to your creativity.
Instructions For The Macramé Flower Pendant In A Nutshell
- cut 6 threads of equal length in a length of 35 – 39 in.
- knot base knot about 4 – 6 in before the end of the strand with all the threads.
- sort threads and divide them into pairs of two.
- tie a knot about 4 in an above base knot in pairs of two.
- Now tie the adjacent threads of the different pairs of two.
- Tie the end knot at the top with all the threads. Do not pull the end completely through, so that a loop is formed for hanging.
Prepare Plants For The Hanging Basket
After the macramé for the hanging basket has been completed, the plants need to be prepared for their new habitat. In this case, we have chosen succulents, as these plants are among the most popular houseplants and are particularly suitable for hanging baskets not only because of their appearance but also because they are easy to care for. These should now move into a new pot that matches the size and, of course, the style of the macramé you just designed.
When repotting succulents, the preparation of the new pot is of particular importance: about a quarter of it should be filled with planting clay, which improves the drainage capacity of the soil and thus prevents waterlogging. Especially in the case of a hanging basket, this drainage layer is of great importance, since the flower pots have no holes through which excess water can drain. Cactus or succulent soil is suitable as a substrate for the new plants. This has the advantage that it is precisely adapted to the nutrient and soil requirements of succulents and thus provides them with optimal care.
Once the pot is about half-filled with succulent soil, the first plants can move in. These are carefully removed from their old pot and, if necessary, gently freed from their old soil – if possible without damaging the roots. Smaller succulents can be placed in groups in a larger pot, but larger plants should be placed individually so that they have enough room to grow. Once the plants are in place, fill the gaps in the pot with more cactus soil and gently press it down with your fingers. Now the pot including plants can be placed in the macramé holder.
What Plants Are Suitable For A Hanging Basket?
Anyone who wants a macramé hanging basket is spoiled for choice: there is a seemingly infinite number of different plants to choose from. In fact, succulents such as the coral cactus (Rhipsalis cassutha) are particularly suitable for a hanging basket: combined in small groups, the robust plants not only look beautiful, the succulents also require little care.
Also very popular are hanging plants that are difficult to kill, such as pearl cord (Senecio herreanus) or Devil`s Ivy (Epipremnum). And Petunias is not only true classics when it comes to hanging basket plants, but also provides a colorful eye-catcher. Somewhat more subtle, but still with pretty flowers, is the waxflower (Hoya), which also enjoys a hanging home.
If you’re looking for more suitable plants for your hanging basket, check out our article on hard-to-kill hanging plants.
