This post is a tutorial for netted hanging lanterns like this:But first, I have to say that I got the idea for hanging lanterns like this from Martha Stewart Weddings, and then go on a long tangent.
Have I ever told you how much I respect and love Martha Stewart weddings?
In high school, my best friend and I used to buy them, and look over them together, the way our peers were bonding over issues of 17 and Cosmo. Since we were/are both planning on being virgins on our wedding day, we found the craft tutorials, and beautiful dresses much more informative, useful and inspiring than the sex tips and make-up how-tos could ever have been.
We dreamed of the day that we would actually be able to use their tutorials and guides to plan our own weddings.
I now own over 40 issues of Martha Stewart Weddings, spanning over 12 years of publication.
They've been darn handy reference material for at least 8 brides, 2 of whom are my sisters.
When my good friend was planning her wedding in a neighboring state, I couldn't ship her my MSW library, so I scanned over 70 pages from different issues, made up an inspiration book, and mailed it to her. She loved it.
One of our favorite inspiration pics was of hanging candle lanterns made from pillar vases nestled into golden net bags. The net bags were originally designed as wine bottle gift bags.
They were gorgeous.
However, we were never able to make the lanterns, because those gift bags were some sort of 6 month fad, and have been impossible to find on the internet or stores ever since.
Well, those lanterns have stuck with me, lo these many years. When my brother was getting married earlier this year, I decided to see if I could make something similar, using kitchen twine and ball jars.
The People In Charge of The Wedding eventually rejected knotted lanterns as not quite fitting the wedding theme, but gosh darn did my samples look gorgeous!
They hung in an archway in my parents house looking extremely decorative for months.
I liked them so much, I figured out a myriad of variations to hang glass soda bottles, various sizes of plant pots, and this cylindrical vase:
I've decided to the fun with you!
The following directions are for making a hanging net for 8” tall, 3” diameter cylindrical vase.
Total time:
3-15 minutes, depending on # of strings being knotted and experience level.
You Will Need:
scissors
kitchen twine or another stout cord.
a vessel (in this case an 8” tall, 3” diameter vase from the dollar store)
Step 1:
measure off 8 lengths of cord. Each strand should be a comfortable arm span (about 4-4 ½ feet)
cut the cords at both ends.
Step 2:
tie a knot, using all of the strands, 2-3 from one of the ends. The 2-3” length will form a tassel underneath your vase.
Step 3:
Take two of the strands. Knot them together abot 2" from teh first knot.
Repeat with each pair of strands.
Step 4:
take 2 of the pairs of strands. Take one strand from each of the pairs, and knot them together about 2” from the previous knot. Repeat with the next pairs.
Step 4.5:
Once all of the interior pairs have been knotted together, there will be two available single strands on the “outside.” Take these two strands and knot them together 2” down from the previous knot.
Step 5:
check to see if the bottom of the bag fits your vessel. The first row of knots should be within ½ inch from the edge of the base, with the second row of knots reaching up the sides, beginning to form a “bag.”
If the vessel will not nestle in well, or the diamond shapes formed are too wide and stretched out, take apart your second row of knots, and reknot them, adding at least ¾” in between the second row of knots and the first row.
Step 6:
repeat steps 4 and 4.5, until your net is big enough to go at least ¾ of the way up the vessel. (about 3 more times)
If you like, you can add a final row of knots about 6-8 inches above the previous row. This row will rest above your vessel and hold the vessel in more securely. This final row may interfere with potted plants or vase arrangements, though, and may not be desirable.
Step 7:
Try your finished net on your vessel. Check for strands knotted to the wrong other strand (this will block you being able to put your vessel in, and make your hanger into a knotted mess). If it's miss-knotted, un-knot the relevant strands and re-knot them in the correct order.
Step 8:
Tie a knot about 8” to a foot above your final knot (6” if you put in a final row of knots above the vessel). As you're knotting, check to make sure the vessel is hanging level. A good way to straighten it out is to tug down on the tassel. This will add extra pull on the shortest strand and even things out.
Step 9: (optional)
braid the remaining length of cord. Braiding makes it look prettier. Plus, if you braid it, you can adjust the hanging length by putting your hook through different spots on the braid, rather than having to retie the final knot each time you want to adjust it.
Step 10:
tie a final knot close to the end of the cords. This is the knot that you will use to hang your pot, so make sure it's at the length you want your lantern to hang.
Step 11:
insert candle. Hang your lantern. Enjoy.
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