Handcrafted Planter |
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Description: This Handcrafted Planter features the use of handmade ceramic beads to provide contrast and appeal.
The overall design is easy to make, and is suitable for a beginner’s Macrame project. This is one of my “flexible” patterns, where you get to choose the knots used in the long sennits.
The overall length of the plant hanger is aproximately 45 inches, which includes the fringe at the bottom.
Becky provided the image and the inspiration for this Macrame pattern. |
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| Supplies Needed: |
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- 6mm Macrame Cord (any type) – 82 yards
- 8 Ceramic Beads with 10mm to 12mm holes
- 2 Rings, 6 inches in diameter
- One 2-inch metal ring
- Ruler or measuring tape
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| Knots Used: |
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Cutting Instructions: |
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- Cut 8 cords, each 10 yards long
- Cut 2 cords, each 1 yard long
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Step 1: Prepare the cords with tape, glue or wax to prevent unraveling, as you work on the Handcrafted Planter.
Step 2: Direct the 10-yard cords through the 2-inch ring and center them so the ends are even. |
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Creating the Top Section |
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| Step 3: Use a 36-inch strand and make a Wrapped Knot around the entire bundle of cords. Start the knot just below the ring, and wrap for 2 inches. After tightening, you can trim off the excess material. Make sure you don’t cut the long cords. |
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Step 4: Since you folded the cords in half when you mounted them to the small ring, you should now have 16 strands to make the Handcrafted Planter.
Set a 6-inch ring on your board or table. Place the Wrapped Knot in the center of it, so the cords pass under the ring. Arrange the cords so they are evenly spaced around the ring, like spokes in a wheel. Secure the Wrapped Knot with a pin or tape.
Attach each strand to the ring with a Double Half Hitch. Make sure each cord remains flat, so there is no slack between the Wrapped Knot and the ring. The ring should be balanced when the design is hung. If not, you can make adjustments in the next step. |
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Here's a diagram of the Handcrafted Planter, showing the different steps. Note that the first three steps are not shown.
You can click on the image and a larger one will show up in a new window. |
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Step 5: Remove the tape or pins, and hang the Handcrafted Planter by the small ring at the top. The remaining steps will be easier to make than if it were resting on a surface.
Divide the cords into four groups consisting of 4 strands. Move down 2 inches below the ring, and tie a Square Knot in each group. There will be two working cords and 2 fillers for these four knots.
Step 6: Place beads over all 4 strands, one in each group. Just below the beads, tie another Square Knot, to hold it in place.
Step 7: Measure from the Square Knot to the area 2 inches below it. Mark the spot with a pin or piece of tape. Do this with each strand.
Direct the ends of all the cords through the other 6-inch ring. Attach each one to it with DHH, so that the ring rests next to the marked areas. Make any adjustments necessary to be sure the ring hangs evenly. This completes the top portion of the Handcrafted Planter. |
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Designing the Long Sennits |
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Step 8: Here’s where you get to make a choice. The long sennits can be made with any of the following knots. The knots are listed in the Learn Macrame section, or you can click on the link to go to the page that describes each one.
After you choose the knot you want to use for your Handcrafted Planter, divide the cords into 4 groups consisting of 4 strands. Mentally number the strands in each group, 1 thru 4. Tie the knots until the sennit measures 6 inches. Add a bead over all 4 strands. Continue on for another 6 inches. Make sure you use your measuring tape or ruler to be accurate.
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This decorative knot is used in the Handcrafted Planter shown in the image at the top of the page.
Use cords 1 and 4 to tie the SK, with 2 and 3 as the fillers. |
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This decorative knot is called the Half Knot Spiral, because you tie the first half of a Square Knot over and over. Cords 1 and 4 are used to tie the knots, with 2 and 3 as the fillers. |
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Cords 2 and 3 are used to hold the knots. Tie the first Half Hitch with cord 1, onto cords 2 and 3. The next knot should be made with cord 4. The third knot is tied with cord 1 again, and so on. You can leave space between the knots, as shown, or place them close together. |
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Here's another option for your Handcrafted Planter. Combine cords 1 and 2 and use them together to tie a Half Hitch onto cords 3 and 4. Next, use cords 3 and 4 to tie a Half Hitch onto cords 1 and 2. Alternate back and forth as you progress. Note that the image shows this pattern using single cords. |
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Tie a Half Hitch with cord 1 onto cord 2. Tie the next HH with cord 4 onto cord 3. Tie the third HH with cord 1 onto both cords 2 and 3. The fourth HH is tied with cord 4 onto both cords 2 and 3.
Repeat this process until the sennit is the size you need. |
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Use cords 1 and 4 to make Vertical Larks Head knots onto cords 2 and 3. Alternate between the working cords, so the heads of the knots face opposite directions. |
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Larks Head knots are a great choice for your Handcrafted Planter. Here's another design you can use.
Use cord 1 to make a Vertical Larks Head onto the other 3 strands. For the next knot, use cord 4. Alternate between the two working cords as you progress.
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Here’s a very unique vintage knot that you can used for your Handcrafted Planter.
Simply use cords 1 and 2 to tie a Triangle knot. Tie another one with cords 3 and 4, so the two knots line up. Alternate by tying the next knot, lower down, using cords 2 and 3. Then go back to tying the knots with 1 and 2 along with 3 and 4. |
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Another option is to tie one Celtic Square Knot with cords 1 and 2, and the next one with 3 and 4. Lower down, tie one with cords 2 and 3, so you alternate the strands. Repeat this over and over.
You can also make this same design using regular Square Knots. |
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You can make a Figure 8 Chain using the four strands working together. Follow the instructions for the Horizontal variation, on the page describing this technique. |
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Making the Cradle |
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Step 9: Measure the height of the pot you will be using in the cradle for the Handcrafted Planter (top edge to bottom). Figure out what the halfway point will be. For example: If the height is 10 inches, half way is 5 inches.
Take two strands coming from one sennit (cords 1 and 2), and combine them with two from the next sennit (cords 3 and 4). Measure from the last knot tied in the sennits, moving down the distance you came up with. Tie a Square Knot.
In other words, the SK needs to rest in the middle of the pot, half way between the top and bottom edges.
Step 10: Repeat step 9 with the remaining strands. There should be a total of 4 knots in this section of the Handcrafted Planter.
Step 11: Bring all the cords together in one bundle. Measure from the SK tied in the previous step, moving down the same distance you did in step 10. Mark the spot with a pin or tape.
Make a Wrapped Knot using the last 36-inch cord. The top of it should be at the spot you marked. Wrap for 2 inches.
Apply glue to the entire knot, and allow it to dry. Cut off the excess from the short cord used to make the wraps. |
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Finishing Touches |
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Step 12: Trim the fringe so the ends are even. Choose one of the following techniques to make the finishing touches for your Handcrafted Planter:
Option A: Tie a Barrel Knot at the tip of each strand.
Option B: Apply small beads to each strand, followed by a Barrel knot.
Option C: Tie a Matthew Walker knot at the end of each strand.
Option D: Unravel the cords for a wavy fringe. You can brush them if you would like a fluffy design.
Option E: Apply glue or wax to the tips of the cords. |
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| Searching for supplies? There is an official online store for Free Macrame Patterns. I carry many items suitable for these projects, including a wide selection of cord materials. The store is located at a different website, so click on any of the Acajou banners that are listed on every page, and you will be sent to the store. Be sure to check out the Specials! |
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