How to make a wool and yarn macrame leaf
I gave you a little glimpse in my last blog post at my latest small macrame project and today I want to show you how to make a macrame leaf from the materials I had left from my macrame wreath tutorial. It is a very similar project created with macrame yarn and thick beautiful wool.
I love how it turned out and have been wearing it on my purse ever since. There are many uses for this macrame leaf which includes hanging it on a lamp harp-like I did with my stacked tassel, hanging it on a wall like a regular macrame wall hanging, or as an inexpensive and easy-to-make wedding favor to give to your guests or holiday gift.
How to make a macrame leaf with yarn and wool
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Supplies Needed:
- macrame yarn (4 strands at 116”) (HERE)
- thick wool (8 strands at 12”) (HERE)
- comb
- scissors
- small swivel hook (HERE)
- wood beads (HERE)
Instructions:
I made another video tutorial to show you exactly what I did to make this piece look more like a macrame leaf which you can see below. This time around I didn’t take step-by-step photos though because the process is so very similar to the macrame wreath. Should the video not work for whatever reason then you can also see the tutorial on my youTube channel.
For this DIY macrame leaf, you only need two simple macrame knots. That’s it! Can you believe it?
You need Lark’s Head knots and Diagonal Half Hitch Knots which you probably know already if you ever made friendship bracelets as a child. I was obsessed with making them.
Lark’s Head Knot
Half Hitch Knots
Here are the step-by-step instructions for making the macrame leaf.
- Tape the swivel hook to a hard surface, fold the 4 pieces of 116-inch macrame cording in half and loop them on the swivel hook with Lark’s Head Knots.
- Start witht he Diagonal Half Hitch Knots from the center towards the outside.
- Make sure that you knot evenly.
- The strands on the outside should be longer to create the diagonal shape.
- Repeat the same Diagonal Half Hitch Knots on the other side.
- Thread a wood bead onto the two center strands.
- Now it’s time for more Diagonal Half Hitch Knots towards the center of the piece.
- Repeat the Diagonal Half Hitch Knots on the other side to enclose the wood bead with a diamond shape.
- Create an X-shape with more Diagonal Half Hitch Knots.
- Keep repeating the wood bead and diamond shape pattern to create the leaf spine but do not add a wood bead to the bottom of the spine because you will add wool to that area later. (I added 3 beads and 4 diamond shaped sections)
- Fold a 12-inch wool strand in half.
- Thread the piece of yarn through outside sections of macrame yarn.
- Form a Lark’s Head knot the same way you added the yarn to the swivel hook earlier.
- Added a second piece of 12-inch yarn to that section.
- Repeat the same method to add the wool around the entire piece.
- At the bottom you add the wool a bit differently. Thread the wool over the two center pieces of macrame yarn in the diamond shape as shown in the video.
- Now thread and pull the ends of that piece of wool through the back to the front of the diamond shape.
- Lightly open up the wool. Don’t use a brush because it tears the wool.
- Use sharp scissors for the final trim by cutting the wool ends and creating a leaf shape.
- Voila two finished macrame leaves with and without wood beads!
In my macrame feather tutorial and other tutorials, I suggest the usage of fabric stiffener spray. For this project, I do not recommend it because it kind of destroys the beautiful thick wool.
Tip: If you don’t want to use wood beads for the center part, then you can just knot the strands into a square knot the way I show below:
The thick wool gets attached to the outside of the macrame structure with more Lark’s Head Knots all the way around the macrame middle. In the end, all you have to do is separate the wool and trim the edges. Just watch the video. It’s very simple.
(You can find the straw bag HERE or a similar one HERE and HERE)
Does the macrame leaf look great with our giant elephant ear leaves? They are fabulous again this year and if you remember they were the inspiration for my daughter’s forest elf Halloween costume last year.
It’s the perfect leaf for my fall decor too.
And as always, if you don’t feel like making your own then you can buy them below. Just click the image:
Give it a try! It is such an easy small craft to make. And if you are ready for some more macrame projects then check out my macrame Christmas tree, macrame Christmas ornaments, or macrame basket just to name a few.
this is awesome! emmy is going to want to make these!
So glad to see you back on your blog – I missed you this summer. And as always, you post such pretty pictures.
I am glad you are back as well. I was kind of worried about you. Your home is always beautiful. I am not a crafty person but enjoy reading about your projects.
Awww thanks, you were worried? I was just having a great time and to busy doing other things, so I couldn’t get much of anything else done.