DIY Macrame Plant Hanger Using An Empty Tin Can

Hanging planters come in all shapes and sizes and they can be made from a variety of different materials. They’re even easy to craft at home and, in fact, this would be a lovely project for the weekend. This step-by-step tutorial will explain how you can make a beautiful macrame plant hanger and a beautiful little planter to go with it.

Materials needed for the macrame plant hanger:

tin
bonding primer
acrylic paint
paintbrush
silk ribbon
macrame yarn
hot glue gun
scissors
wood hoop

How to make a macrame plant hanger: step-by-step tutorial

Step 1: Apply a coat of primer onto the tin

First things first, make sure the tin is clean and dry. Wash it and remove any labels and glue before you start applying the primer. The surface should be smooth and have as few imperfections as possible. Then apply a coat of primer around the outside of the tin using the painbrush. Allow it to dry before you proceed to the next step.

Step 2: Paint the tin

After the primer has dried start applying a coat of acrylic paint on top of it. Start from either the top or the bottom of the tin, slowly rotating it on your hand until you cover the entire surface. Make sure you paint the bottom as well. Once the paint is dry, take a look and decide if you want to apply a second coat in order to cover up any imperfections and to get a smoother and deeper color. Usually two coats are needed.

Step 3: Decorate the top and bottom with ribbon

After the second coat of paint has dried, apply a thin line of hot glue around the top of the tin and then wrap a piece of ribbon around the edge, gently pressing it down to get a smooth surface. Cut off the excess ribbon and do the same thing for the bottom of the tin. The ribbon can be as thin or as wide as you want it to be and in any color you prefer. We chose a light blue nuance which matches the color of the tin.

Step 4: Cut four lengths of macrame yarn and line them up

Next, measure and cut four long pieces of macrame yarn and fold each one in half so the ends line up. Depending on how low you want your planter to hang you can make these yarn pieces longer or shorter. Make sure they all have the same dimensions. It’s better to make them alightly longer than necessary and to cut off the excess than to realize the hanger is too short in the end.

Step 5: Loop the yarn through the wooden ring

Take your four pieces of yarn and loop the folded ends through the wooden rings, then make a simple loop knot. This way it’s sit nice and tight as you proceed to the next step.

Step 6: Divide the yarn into four sections and tie a knot on each one

Divide the yarn into four equal sections, two strands each and spread them out on a flat surface, keeping the wooden ring at the center. A few inches down from the ring, tie a knot on each section. Try to maintain the same length on each section.

Step 7: Tie together strands from adjacent sections

Now take two strands of yarn from two adjacent sections and tie them together in a knot a couple of inches below the initial one. Do this for all four sections. They’ll all be linked together at this point.

Step 8: Repeat the same process once again

After you’ve tied the adjacent strands together, repeat the same process once again. This time take two adjacent strands from the sections you’re previously tied together and tie another knot a couple of inches below the one above. Do this for all the yarn sections.

Step 9: Place the tin inside the macrame hanger and tie the yarn into a knot at the bottom

Take the painted tin and position it inside the macrame hanger you just made. Gather all the yarn strands in a bunch at the bottom and decide how low you should tie the knot in order for your planter to sit at the right height. Then tie all the yarn strands into a big knot centered on the bottom of the tin. Cut the excess yarn so all the strands have the same length and form a tassel at the bottom of your hanging planter. That’s it, you’re done!