How to make a wool and yarn macrame leaf
I gave you a little glimpse in the last blog post of 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. 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 include 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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This is a great tutorial for beginners just like my DIY macrame feathers. They are very similar macramé projects but definitely have different looks because of the knots used.
supplies needed
- macrame yarn from Amazon (4 strands of macrame yarn at 116”)
- thick wool (8 strands of wool at 12”)
- comb
- scissors
- small swivel hook
- wood beads
video tutorial
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.
macrame leaf instructions
For this DIY macrame leaf, you only need two simple macrame knots. That’s it! Can you believe it?
macrame knots used in the tutorial
You need Lark’s Head knots and Diagonal Clove Hitch Knots which you probably know already if you ever made friendship bracelets as a child. I was obsessed with making them.
How to make a Lark’s Head Knot
How to make Diagonal Clove Hitch Knots
step-by-step photos
- 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 with the Diagonal Clove Hitch Knots from the center towards the outside.
- Make sure that you knot evenly.
- The strands on the outside should be longer to create a diagonal shape.
- Repeat the same Diagonal Clove Hitch Knots on the other side.
- Thread a wood bead onto the two center strands.
- Now it’s time for more Diagonal Clove Hitch Knots towards the center of the piece.
- Repeat the Diagonal Clove Hitch Knots on the other side to enclose the wood bead with a diamond shape.
- Create an X-shape with more Diagonal Clove 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 centerpieces 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 stiffening spray. For this project, I do not recommend fabric stiffener because it 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.
Photos of finished macrame leaf
similar straw bags:
Also, check out how to make DIY tea light candles in seashells the easy way.
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 costume last year. Look at her under the large leaf!
It’s the perfect leaf for my fall decor too.
Macrame Leaves for sale
Not everyone likes to DIY and craft as I do, so if you love the look but don’t feel like making your own then you can find them beautifully handmade on Etsy. And you also get to support small businesses which I love.
Give it a try! It is such a simple tutorial to make.
More of my macrame projects
Tschüß,
How to make a macrame leaf
This is an easy tutorial about how to make a gorgeous macrame leaf with thick wool, macrame yarn, and wood beads. Perfect for decor, purse charm, or wedding favor.
Instructions
- 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 with the Diagonal Clove Hitch Knots from the center towards the outside.
- Make sure that you knot evenly.
- The strands on the outside should be longer to create a diagonal shape.
- Repeat the same Diagonal Clove Hitch Knots on the other side.
- Thread a wood bead onto the two center strands.
- Now it's time for more Diagonal Clove Hitch Knots towards the center of the piece.
- Repeat the Diagonal Clove Hitch Knots on the other side to enclose the wood bead with a diamond shape.
- Create an X-shape with more Diagonal CloveHitch 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.
- Add 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 centerpieces of macrame yarn in the diamond shape.
- 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!
Notes
- For this project, I do not recommend fabric stiffener because it destroys the beautiful thick wool.
- If you don't want to use wood beads for the center part, then you can just knot the strands into a square knot
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.