Simple Macrame Plant Hanger
It’s repotting season and if you love plants then you’ve probably already walked into a plant shop to buy new pots only to wind up leaving with more plants and pots than you anticipated (I regret nothing.) But where to put them all? If you’re running out of counter or floor space, this simple macrame plant hanger is perfect for that plant — or planter — you want to showcase!
What You’ll Need:
- Wooden ring (3”-4”)
- Four pieces of 4mm cotton cord 88” in length (“filler cord)
- Two pieces of 3mm Cotton Cord 24” in length (“working cord”)
- Scissors
- Measuring Tape
Step 1: Thread cord
Thread the four pieces of filler cord (white) through the wooden ring and line up the ends so that they are even.
Step 2: Make a gathering knot
The gathering knot is one of the simplest macrame knots. It provides structure and gives you an opportunity to give your hanger some personality! I love soft neutral earth colors so I’m using a light brown/tan cord for this gathering knot.
1. Using the working cord (tan), fold the right end of the working cord to create a downward facing loop, the long end will be on the left. The intersection should be as close to the ring as possible. (fig 1)
2. Use the long end of the working cord (tan) to wrap around the filler cords (white.) (fig 2a) Continue wrapping the working cord (tan) 12–15 times ( or until the wrapping is 1.5”-2” long.) A small loop should be left open at the bottom. (fig 2b)
3. Thread end of working cord through bottom loop and pull all the way through. (fig 3)
4. Holding the bottom end of the working cord, pull the top end of the working cord to bring the loop inside the wrap. Then pull both ends to tighten the knot. (fig 4)
5. Cut both ends of the working cord and tuck them inside the wrap. (fig 5)
Step 3: Make a second gathering knot
Measure 27” from bottom of wooden ring and create another gathering knot (follow instructions in Step 3)
Step 4: Cut and style
Measure 12” from base of the second gathering knot you just made. Cut the filler cord (white) evenly across. You can tie knots at the end of each cord (will prevent fraying), let it unravel on its’ own, or give it a bit of help by unraveling the bottom two to three inches as shown in the picture above.
Remember…
- Keep dangling string away from babies and pets. They are a choking hazard.
- Make sure your ceiling hook is properly installed to bare weight. This blog post from Pretty Handy Girl is helpful and informative.
- I wouldn’t recommend hanging large and/or heavy pots with this particular pattern. While the gathering knot is secure, a very heavy planter could slide the knot down and off the filler cord.
- Consider the short and long term watering needs of your plant! Delicate plants like the succulent shown here loose their leaves easily. Taking it in and out out of the hanger each week to water it in the summer months would lead to a lot of lost leaves. If you‘ll be watering the plant while it stays in the hanger, be sure to include a dish underneath your planter to catch the excess water. (The dish for this planter was dirty, and I took it out to clean it but forgot to put it back before I snapped this picture. There is no point to that little addendum other than to boldly admit that I too am a member of the Forgetful Dork Club.)
- Make it colorful! The working cord can be any color — or colors! Try stacking gathering knots in colors that match the color pallette of your home!
For more macrame and crafting goodies for your home check out Bough Co on Etsy!
