Learn how to make a cactus wall hanging
Decorating the walls of your home is one of the most rewarding things. Especially when you can create the very pieces that go up on your wall like this cactus wall hanging!
The rainbow wall hangings I created have really brightened up my walls along with my Macrame Dream Catcher. I even made a few for baby shower gifts. Rainbows and dream catchers are just perfect for little nurseries. But so are cacti!
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Materials:
- Embroidery Yarn (I prefer DMC for the shine and used colors 3812, 3818 & 7040)
- Embroidery Needle
- Macrame Cord
- 16 gauge wire
- Masking tape
- Comb
Cactus Wall Hanging Instructions
First, you need to cut 2 pieces of macrame cord. For a 7″ cactus (like mine) you need 1 piece of cord cut to 12″ and another piece to 21″. Secure the ends with tape or masking tape or otherwise the ends will fray on you right away.
Then fold it in half and mark both sides about 3″ from the bottom. That will become the fringe. Now start with your first color of embroidery yarn. Wrap it tightly around the macrame cord. Hold the end of the yarn and cover it by wrapping the yarn around all the way around to the other side where you marked the 3″ from the bottom.
It is best to keep the 6 strands of embroidery yarn parallel to each other and not twisted around itself. This will give you better coverage. Make sure to wrap tightly and not leave any gaps where you see the macrame cord through.
Cut the embroidery yarn and add a needle. Then line up the 2 ends and go through the 2 cords with the needle to sew them together. Keep going through both cords with the needle and yarn sort of zig zaging from side to side until you reach the top. Tie a small knot and cut the yarn flush.
This completes your inner section.
I used the green embroidery yarn for the entire section, but you can also use several colored sections or go even rainbow colored! That is the beauty of making it yourself 🙂
Now it is time to start on the second piece of macrame cord. This is the outer section that has the arms for the cactus. Mark off 3″ from the end and start wrapping it with embroidery yarn. I used a light green.
Once you get close to the top, cut a piece of wire about 6″ long and bend it in the shape of a lower case l with 1″ facing outward on both sides. This wire will give you the ability to shape the arms and have them point upwards.
Untwist the macrame cord a bit to tug in the end of the wire. Then keep wrapping the embroidery yarn right over it and the macrame cord.
When you reach the top, use a bit of thinner macrame cord or another piece of embroidery yarn and tie a knot with a loop. This should be only about 1″ high. Then weave it into the top of the cactus for your hanger.
Just spread the ends on either side and wrap the embroidery yarn over the ends and the macrame cord and keep going on the other side of the knot.
To change embroidery yarn colors, just hold the ends of both colors to the unfinished side and wrap the the new color over the macrame cord and the 2 ends of embroidery yarn.
Add another wire arm to the other side of the cactus. This one should be a little lower. Once you get towards the end, keep checking when your wrapping lines up with the ends of the other 3 ends. So hold the outer cactus layer around the center layer so you see when to stop wrapping.
When that outer layer is complete, cut the yarn leaving a long tail and thread it on a needle. Now go across all 4 layers to combine them. Jewelry Making Flat Nose Pliers really help push and pull the needle through all those layers of thick macrame cord.
I went back and forth twice at the arms to keep them tight. Later you can also bend them into place because of the wire inside.
And finally, take out the blue masking tape and fray the ends. A dog grooming brush or fine tooth comb makes this easier.
For the last step, cut the ends straight with scissors. Now it’s ready to hang or gift!
I hope you will enjoy this Cactus Wall Hanging Tutorial as much as I do. Comment below if you have any questions and show off your own Cactus Wall Hanging Creations here and on Instagram #kaileacrafts
- Macrame Candle Holder – A step by step tutorial for a macrame jar
- Colorful Keychain – another tutorial involving wrapping
- Oyster Ring Dish – Create beautiful ring dishes with oysters and napkins
- Rainbow Wall Hanging – add a rainbow to your wall hanging collection