DIY macrame outdoor hanging solar lantern

I felt that our stock tank pool could use a little nighttime charm and since I love fairy lights so much, the solar version of them was the perfect fit to make this macrame outdoor hanging solar lantern.

In my old stock tank pool photos, you can see that we had a candle lantern hanging in the same spot before but I was sick of the wax melting in the heat all the time or rain getting into the candle. This hanging solar lantern is a much better fit.

DIY macrame outdoor hanging solar lantern

If you don’t feel like making the macrame then you can just buy a finished macrame hanging planter for example HERE, HERE, or HERE and add the fishbowl.

This is basically what this is, a simple macrame hanging planter with a fishbowl added upside down so the water can’t get into the bowel and then adding solar fairy lights. I also have a macrame planter tutorial where you can see exactly how to make the specific square and spiral knots up close.

Materials needed:

• wood ring (I used the wood ring in my video but a couple of weeks later it snapped during a thunderstorm so I added a galvanized carabiner hook)
• glass fishbowl
• synthetic macrame yarn (in pearl)
• optional wood beads (HERE and HERE)
• solar fairy lights (I bought the 2 pack and used the second light in my patio umbrella)
• metal plant hook (if you are hanging the lantern the way I did)
• scissors

Macrame cord usage tip: The best cords to use for outdoor macrame projects are polyolefin fiber, nylon, or polypropylene because they are synthetic and don’t disintegrate when exposed to the elements. Especially moisture that creates mold can really damage a natural cord/yarn. Cotton, jute, hemp, and wool are better used for indoor macrame projects.

Instructions

I like starting out a macrame piece like this by placing a broom on top of my bar or counter stools as shown below.

Like I said if you don’t feel like making your own macrame plant hanger like I’m showing you below for the lantern then you can out the below images to just buy the piece and add the fishbowl and solar fairy lights.

Below are snippets of the steps it takes to make a macrame hanging solar lantern but it is definitely better to just watch the video to see all the steps for the knots and what my hands are doing.

Here is my video. Use the triangle on the image to turn on the video. If you are on a cellphone or other device, turn it horizontal for better viewing. If you are on a phone please turn your device horizontal for better viewing!

1. Cut 6 x 20-foot pieces of yarn and add them to the ring folded in half.
2. Securely tie them together with the gathering knot method as shown in the video.
3. Gather the strands into three groups of 4 pieces of yarn and add Square Knots to them as shown in my video. My rows of square knots are 5 inches long each.
4. (Separated sections for the Square Knots)
5. Then I added 3 wood beads.
6. After that, I decided to add three 5-inch long strands of Spiral Knots.
7. I had more beads at hand so I added them in this step.
8. For some more symmetry, I added another couple of 5-inch long rows of Square Knots.
9. Measure 5 inches down again and grab a piece of yarn from 2 square knot strands next to each other. Connect them with 2 square knots.
10. Keep going around the perimeter to connect the strands.
11. measure down 5 inches again and do the same thing with 2 Square Knots. This creates a web that you can place a planter or bowl into.
12. Add the fishbowl so you can see where you have to place the bottom knots to keep the bowl in place.
13. Here you can see the bottom Square Knots.
14. Gather all strands and securely tie them in place with the same gathering knot method. ( I used a 6-foot piece of yarn for that)
15. I didn’t like the thickness of the bottom tassel and wanted it to be much bigger. So I cut 30-inch pieces of yarn and folded them in half over the bottom strands as pictured.
16. Here you can see all sides of the added yarn folded in half. I added 4 strands per section.
17. Grab all the yarn with the existing tassel in the middle.
18. Now you just have to tie them together with the gathering knot method again.
19. Trim the knot and the bottom tassel
20. FINISHED! All you need to do is place the fairy lights into the upside-down bowl. Wrap the wires around the backside macrame and around the hook. I hid my solar panel on the fence facing the sun.

Photos of finished macrame hanging solar lantern in our yard

{also check out how I made the wood burned plates on the fence}

I especially love how the hanging solar lantern looks at night. The fairy lights have such a warm glow and don’t at all look like standard solar lights. Like I mentioned above I used the other strand in my patio umbrella by threading the strand through the top. I placed the solar panel on the top upper part of the umbrella.

sources:

outdoor tassel umbrella tutorial | chairs HERE | table HERE | placemats HERE | plates HERE | macrame planter sleeve tutorial

You might also be interested in my blog post about my favorite outdoor solar lights used in and around our stock tank pool.

I used the same synthetic yarn in a different color on my small side table. Just check out my metal patio table makeover tutorial.

Cute right? It definitely goes with the rest of our garden and home.