Macrame Cactus
Add a touch of boho charm to your home with a macrame cactus! No green thumb? No problem! This easy macrame craft is the perfect way to add greenery to your room without the worry of maintaining real plants.
This cute home decor piece is SO EASY to make, no macrame experience required. So grab your macrame cord and follow our simple step-by-step instructions to make this charming DIY project. Let’s get wrapping!
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How to Make a Macrame Cactus
Materials:
- Green macrame cord(4mm)
- Pink macrame cord(2mm; or other flower colour)
- Clay pot(s)
- Navy beans(or other pot filler)
Equipment:
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Fabric scissors(or other sharp scissors)
Check Out The Video Tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
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Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Cut lengths of macrame cord
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Cut the following lengths of macrame cord:– 1 piece of pink cord, 8 inches long– 15 pieces of pink cord, 4 inches long– 1 piece of green cord, 16 feet long– 10 pieces of green cord, 13 inches long– 1 piece of green cord, 10 feet long– 10 pieces of green cord, 10 inches long
Step 3: Make the wrapped cactus parts
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Gather the 10 inch green cords and place them into an even bundle.Arrange the 10 foot cord so there’s two lengths of cord alongside the bundle, with the cord end extending 1 inch past the bundle on the right, and the loop extending 1 inch on the left.
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Pinch the bundle together and begin wrapping the 10 foot cord around it, about 1 inch in from the end.
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Continue to wind the cord tightly and evenly around the bundle until you’re about 1 inch from the other end.Bring the end of the cord through the loop you created at the beginning. (It should be near the end you just finished).
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Now pull the cord end on the other side (where you started wrapping). Pull until the loop and cord end disappear inside the wrapping.
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Trim the tail on the right (the cord you were pulling) to be even with the rest of the strands.
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Repeat step 3 with the longer cords. (Wrap the 16 foot cord around the 13 inch bundle.)
Step 4: Make the flower
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Make an even bundle of the 4 inch pink strands and fold it in half.
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Wrap the 8 inch pink cord around the bundle, about 1/2 inch from the fold. Wrap it 2 to 3 more times, and then tie the cord into a double knot to secure it.
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Use your fingers or a fine tooth comb to unravel the cord ends.
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Trim the cord ends to be about 1 inch long above the knot/wrap, giving it a fluffy flower look.
Step 5: Glue the cactus together
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Fold the shorter wrapped bundle in half. Open it back up and add a line of hot glue inside to one half.
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Line up the bottoms and press the two sides together, holding it until the glue dries and it stays together on its own.
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Arrange the longer bundle around the smaller one, bending the cactus arms out into the shape you’d like.You can make the arms even or have one higher than the other.
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Add hot glue inside on the bottom left, making sure you don’t go past the curve.
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Align the bottom left edge so the wraps are even and press it into place, again holding it until the glue is dry.Repeat on the right side.
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Find the center of the outside arch and glue this to the top of the inner arch.
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Add glue to the inside of the arms and press them together.
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Apply glue to the bottom of the flower (on the folded end).
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Press the flower into place on one of the cactus arms.
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Fill a clay plant pot about 1/2 way full with rocks or dried beans. Place the cactus in the pot and then use a spoon (or your fingers) to add more beans around it, keeping it in place.
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Your macrame cactus is complete!
Helpful Tips:
- You can use the same technique to make a macrame rainbow or a macrame ghost!
- If you’d like to hang your macrame cactus, make the center cords longer so it has a nicer fringe. Read more about this below!
- Choose your favourite colour cord for the cacti’s flower! You can also use a cotton yarn to make these blooms.
What type of cord do you need to make a macrame cactus?
We used 4mm green macrame cord to make our cacti. You can also use 2mm cord as the wrapping cord, though you’ll need a longer length. You can also use a thicker 8mm braided cord for the inside of the cactuses.
And if you don’t have the right colour macrame cord to make your cactus you can also wrap it with green yarn. In this case, we recommend using white or natural macrame cord or rope for the inside of the cactus.
Can I make this macrame cactus into a wall hanging or ornament?
Yes, you can cut a 12 inch piece of 4mm cord and tie it into a looped hanger. Wrap or tie it around the outer arch before gluing the cactus together.
For a wall hanging you can also attach a sawtooth picture hanger to the back of the cactus with super glue. Then hang the cactus on a command hook so it hangs without a hanger showing.
If you want to create an ornament or wall hanging, we recommend using longer inner cords to create a nicer looking fringe. Then brush it out with a fine tooth comb or wire pet brush.
What size macrame cactus does this make?
The macrame cactus that we made in the tutorial above is about 5 inches tall and 5-1/4 inches wide at the arms, not including the bottom fringe.
To make a cactus of the same style that’s a little bit bigger, try cutting the inner cords at least 3 inches longer. Then cut the outer cord bundle about 10 inches longer. Adjust the wrapping cord lengths appropriately, or wrap while the cord is still attached to the spool.
To make a straight up and down cactus (with no arms), adjust the size of the outer bundle, making it at least 2 inches shorter.
Whether you’re a seasoned macrame artist or a crafting beginner, this macrame cactus is a fun and rewarding project! Add a bohemian vibe to your space with this cute craft that blends the art of macrame with the whimsical appeal of cacti.
Place these decorations on the mantel, in a desert themed nursery, or brighten up your office with this plant that doesn’t need any natural light!
Here’s even more easy macrame craft ideas:
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon |  Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound |  Amazon Canada
