I have an odd fascination with the wire macrame hoops in craft stores. I don’t know how to macrame – or have a particular love of macramed crafts – but I think the hoops offer a lot of different opportunities on their own. I used them to make a ribbon chandelier for my daughter’s nursery several years ago.
More recently, I used them to figure out how to make a mobile. I wanted to do something fun and modern in Emma’s big girl room. Turns out, it was really easy!
I began by buying four macrame hoops in different sizes. I think the largest one was 18 inches and the smallest was 6 inches. I also bought a few different colors of cord from the craft store.
I wanted to do something that seems a little woven and global, so I decided to wrap the hoops in twine in alternating colors and patterns.
With the blue and white twine, I tied a knot around the hoop.
Then, I wrapped that twine around the hoop about 50 times. I cut the twine leaving about a 2 inch tail, and I tied that to the gray twine.
I wrapped that about 50 times and went back to the blue/white twine. I alternated this (with some orange/white twine thrown in for fun) until I got to my beginning point.
Then, I untied my original knot and tied it to the end of my last piece of twine.
Here I could have cut off the loose ends, but I really liked the rough look of the extra twine.
I wrapped each hoop differently – and one I even left completely unwrapped.
To turn the hoops into a mobile, I laid them all out flat with the hoops spaced where I would like them. Using small lengths of twine, I tied the innermost two together, then the 3rd and 2nd one, and then the 2nd and outermost one.
Then, I put a little cup hook in Emma’s ceiling and hung the mobile with a piece of twine tied to only the outermost hoop. This allows each hoop to spin and turn individually.
The end result was a lot of fun. I love how it hangs! It sort of has a Dreamcatcher vibe.
This modern mobile was sort of a risk, but it was a cheap and quick one – and a risk I’m glad I took! It looks really sweet in Emma’s room. The mobile is a fun piece of art that isn’t overwhelming.
Does this look like a project you’d like to try? Grab those macrame hoops and let’s bring them out of the 1970s!
Yes, now I want to go and get macrame hoops for a project! Love it!
Thanks, Julia! They come in gold and silver tones and can be spray painted. What’s not to love?
Well, now I’m going to have to be a copycat. I think I need one!
Do it!
Love it, especially the baker’s twine!
Fun, right? It comes in so many different colors.
LOVE LOVE LOVE MOBILES!!!! THIS IDEA IS ADORABLE!!! Can you imagine them in a grouping of 3?! Thanks so much for this lovely idea. (P.S. Mobiles at our world class Art Museum in KC are at least $150.00 or more!
A grouping of 3 would be amazing! And in different sizes – perfection. My husband had an art mobile from a museum when we first got married – I wonder where that thing is now?
Very cool Lindsay! Truly something I have never seen before. Love it.
Thanks, Sarah!
Did you make the curtains too? I was going to try and do anthropoligie look alike curtains like that.. I’m thinking you beat me to it. Do you have a tutorial? I LOVE them!
I did make them! Here’s the tutorial: http://makelyhome.com/diy-embellished-anthropologie-swing-stripe-curtains/
Great tutorial. I love mobiles. Can I ask what font you use for your photo watermark and signature line?
Thanks, Amy! That font is called Hype – http://www.dafont.com/hype.font It’s my favorite!
Awesome! Thanks again. I think you just helped me with my new favorite font! 😉