Uncategorized – Ella in the Moon

Driftwood Hanger DIY

Last year had me retreating to nature in a big way. In times of great distress, I’ve found nature to be grounding and comforting, like many other people. Barefooted, I dig my feet into the Earth, and it helps me survive and create. I guess the term for it is “grounding” and as a Taurus, it is very important for my well-being.

Naturally, I started to forage pieces of wood from my surroundings to use for different projects and wall hangings. And being beside waters of the Elkhorn Creek gave rise to this minimalist-rustic creation which has unexpectedly become a necessity in my bedroom. I use it to hang hats, macrame items and lately, my clean face masks having so littke closet space and square footage in the house. I present to you the Driftwood Hanger.

Driftwood Hanger with EITM Macrame Festival Skirt

All of the pieces of this driftwood hanger (for lack of a better term) were rescued from a part of the creek that was beginning to dam up with debris. So, sustainably created, cheap and very cool.

To make your own, you will need the following items:

5 pieces of driftwood, one of them needs to be very long. The above one is 5ft.
A drill with a small and large drill bit (must match the end of the driftwood to fit)
A piece of rope
wood glue

This organizer takes very little time to create once you have the driftwood. (Etsy has lots of driftwood resellers if you arent near a waterway). I recommend sitting your pieces in bleach to rid it of any potential bugs or critters as step 1. So 1 part bleach 3 parts water.

The part tbat takes the longest in your creating is for the glue to dry and set in position. Everything else is easy-peasy.

The drill I used (drill bits not pictured)

I used this brand. Set time can be hours.

You may have to whittle the tips down with circular friction movement (or sand paper) to get them to fit.

Basically, I picked out some drill bits that were the same circumference as most of my pieces. Then, I drilled 4 large holes about 12 inches apart.

Next, I changed drill bits and drilled two small holes into the top at either end of the large piece of driftwood for mounting to the wall.

It should be noted that if you can, pick out unique and different pieces to place in the holes. One of my pieces is perfect for hanging hats on or multiple masks, like the forked one above.

Last steps are to squeeze glue into the holes. Be generous! Then, insert your individual, unique pieces. Allow ample time to dry overnight.

Feed your rope through the holes on either side near the end and make a knot below the hole. Voila! You have a very cool and highly useful driftwood hanger.

Such a cool aesthetic and looks romantic in a way.

Of course, as with anything, it can be jazzed up. I was thinking of making another one, yet painting it with some popping colors or just in a washed out muted color scheme to use at the next Festival Market for vending.

Let me know if you end up making one for your room and if you have questions, just post a comment. I’d love to see any variations! Dont forget to follow me on Instagram.

Happy Making

eitm 🌚

You’ve Got ❤️Heart Macrame Bunting

Ya know what I love…Macrame + Bunting. And another sweet holiday is quickly approaching. In the US, February 14th is a day of love. Hearts are everywhere, they are in candy, they are in chocolate and yasss, I got a heart mask!

No valentine for me this year 😭, first time in many, many moons, but maybe you are feeling the poke of cupid’s arrow? Ready to craft your V day Macrame Bunting?! No better day to get knotty than V day!

You will need a somewhat rigid rope/cord for this project. The 3 strand cotton rope I have used in previous projects on here wont do to keep the shape of this. I used a cotton twisted kitchen twine for this. I picked it up at a hardware store. It was inexpensive and comes in a ball like some yarns. I will list what I use in Materials section.

Materials:

🙌🏾 hands for knotting

Scissors

Patience

Thin cotton twisted twine (aka Butcher’s Twine)

The cuts:

1 long piece of cord measuring 5 feet

44 pieces of cotton twine measuring 30 inches each

Knot techniques used:

Lark’s head knot

Left square knot (sq knot) = 4 cords tied

Half Hitch (HH) (twice around a filler cord)

The Knotting Pattern

Pattern is worked in rows from left to right.

Hang your 5 ft long piece on whatever you use to macrame. I use an ikea mulig stand usually, yet there are many clever ways to set up your rope like 3M hooks on your wall evenly spaced, a foam board with macrame pins or, in a warm clime, tying it between to trees.

Row 1:Hang all 44 pieces via Lark’s Head Knot onto 5ft long piece. Each cluster of 8 cords should be spaced 4 inches apart approximately.

R2: Make 22 left sq knots. (Sq knots consist of 4 cords (bundles) each)

R3: Make 11 left sq knots from the 4 middlemost cords of the row above sq knot clusters. So, you will take 2 cords from sq knot on left and 2 cords from sq knots on right

R4: Take the two dangling unworked cords from the sq knot on the left and marry them to the two dangling unworked cords from the R2 square knot on right. When combining them, you need to have them meet in the middle, two inches of length down from their r2 single sq knots. It is also important to loosely combine them not tautly because you will gently push the sq knot upwards just a hair to get the oval shaping above. (The knot should easily slide if you place your thumb on the front and index finger behind in a pinching type grasp). You will do the above all the way across. Total 11

R5: Make 22 sq knots. You will be taking 2 cords from a sq knot on the left and 2 from sq knot on right to make each knot. If you ever find that you are using all 4 cords from one single sq knot, you will need to retrace as you’ve made a mistake. Of course, the first and the final knots will be different. You will not have an actual heart at the beginning and end. See photo tutorial.

R6: Make 11 sq knots. This time, the sq knot will be so close and tight that it kisses the two knots above which are from r5. Your heart is forming from the kiss! 😊

R7: take the othermost cord from r5’s leftmost square knot and half hitch it down that knot and r6 knot in a down and diagnoally to the right fashion. Do this on the left side all the way across (11)

R8: Finally, repeat R7 except using the right outermost cord from r5’s right most sq knot and HH it around down that knot and r6 knot in a down and diagnonally to the left fashion. Finally, half hitch the left cord in the middle over the right middle filler cord. See photo.

There you have it! I hope the write up isnt too jumbled. I do re-visit posts every so often to clean them up and add more photorials. If you have questions, just shoot me an email: EllaintheMoon@gmail.com And come join me on IG.

Happy Making 🌚

Macrame Rose Knot Mini Plant Hanger

How cute is this mini plant hanger?! It’s like my favorite hanger. I made it last year in a fit of creativity for a bulk order. A customer in VA wanted 20 mini macrame hangers of different styles and I dug deep to provide her with 10 different styles. Lucky you, I’m presenting the first one of the batch for you to MAKE yourself.

I luvvv how boho and romantic this little hanger is. Perfect for the upcoming Valentine Holiday 😉. It’s also so very versatile as it can truly be hung anywhere. (Or is it hanged, uggghhhh grammar!). Heck, make a living wall with several of these and air plants or succulents.

Below, you will see a short video on how to do “the rose” knot. Watch it before using the pattern.

The Rose Knot. (Make 4 alternating sq knots first)

So, hopefully you watched the video, or maybe you already know how to do the Rose Knot. Below, you will find the pattern. As with any of my tutorials, feel free to make your own and resell with credit to eitm. They make great gifts!

Materials:

Wood Ring (I get mine from Michaels or Etsy)

Rope (10 Cords cut approx 22 inches, I used 1/4 inch unwound/unbraided into pieces)

Scissors ✂️

Cost: $2.00 approx to make (Cabone Rings are $2.49/5 pack)

HH = Half Hitch

Sq = Square

Pattern is written in rows working left to right

Pattern

Hang your 10 cords, halved via lark’s head knot onto the wood ring (20 rope tendrils will dangle)

Row 1: Make 5 Rose Knots (See video above)

Row 2: Half Hitch cords 2-8 onto cord #1, being sure to pull cord #1 diagonally to right as you work. Next, Half Hitch cords 13-19 onto cord #20, being sure to pull #20 diagonally leftwards down while hitching.

Row 3: Gather 2 leftmost cords and the 2 rightmost cords and make a square knot in the middle.

Row 4: HH the 2 left cords from the middle sq knot from Row 3 onto cord #1’s row of half hitches. Then, do the exact same thing with the rightmost cords of the middle sq knot from Row 3 onto cord #20’s half hitches moving left diagonally.

Row 5: Finally, marry Leftmost cord (#1) and Right (#20) with a HH of #1 over #20. Snip cords to an even length.

Yer done. Hang it up. Too confusing, see some tutorial steps below.

Final photo is of half hitch started from left to right

Don’t forget to share what you make with me via IG @ellainthemoon Next tutorial: You’ve Got ❤️ Heart Bunting.

🌚 eitm

Macrame Chevron Earrings 🌚

Hai there! We’re now mixing it up in the New Year, surviving and still mostly stuck inside. And with “The Great Indoors” comes time to craft.

In the interest of keeping one of two resolutions, I’m ready to release the first of two MAKE patterns this week. Today, I offer you Macrame Chevron Earrings. This pattern features two staple knots, the lark’s head and the half hitch.

For this MAKE, you will need very thin macrame cord, about 3mm. You can also be sustainable like me and use whatever cut offs from previous projects. I used some left over pieces from a large macrame curtain that I had made. The rope cord separated for some reason, which didnt normally happen with this particular brand. So above, you see separated 3mm or 3/16 macrame cotton rope (from Knot and Rope supply, my favorite bulk provider).

Here is the Materials Mock Up:

12 strands of cotton yarn or 3mm macrame cord (6 strands per tear drop earring) measuring 20 inches.
Fish hook finding and tear drop
Fine toothed comb
Needle Nose Pliers

Key: HH = Half Hitch L = Left R = Right

LH = Lark’s Head R = Row

Pattern is worked left to right. You can use a clipboard from which to work or put a thumb tack into a piece of macrame foam board. Or a small piece of wood block with a small hanging nail or thumbtack in it to mount tear drop.

Pattern:

R1: Mount 6 cords folded in half onto tear drop piece with a lark’s head knot with bump of knot in the back.

R2: Take Left most cord and HH (half hitch) cords 2,3,4,5,6 onto it so cord #1 will have 2-6 HH’d onto it to the middle. When HHing, be sure to pull your filler cord to the right and slight angles down tightly.

Then, work the same pattern R to L starting with outermost cord (#12) and HH cords 11-7 onto it (pulling tightly to left diagonally). You will finish with filler cord #12 HH over filler cord #1.

R2-R3: repeat the same exact steps above except you will start leftmost with cord #2 as filler being pulled to right and rightmost #11 as filler being pulled into left R3 would be filler #3 and #10 respectively. So, filler #11 will be HH’d over #2. And filler #10 HH’d over #3.

Finishing, trim to the desired lengthand add the fish hook finding (you need needlenose pliers to open and shut the tiny clasp ring). Use a fine-toothed comb at the bottom part of the unmacramed yarn or rope to create a fringe look.

Feel free to make these for yourself or to sell. I made these two years ago at least and sell them at craft fairs. Please credit eitm if you create from my pattern.

And remember, find me on IG. I love sharing my creating and finding inspo.

Happy Making!

🌚

Crochet Half Moon Earrings 🌚

It’s been a while since I presented anything crochet in this part crochet blog. And it’s not because I haven’t been crocheting: I have. Not as much as I’d like to though. I think my last crochet post was a half moon crochet face mask, which I hope you liked. Now, another accessory just in time for spring. 👍🏾

These are fresh off of my crochet fingers. They are made of 100% cotton yarn, but you truly can use any yarn of the same weight. You will need to be able to do single crochet (SC), Double Crochet (DC), Slip Stitch (SL ST) and chains of course (Chain). They whip up in 10-15 minutea. There is some general crochet terminology in the pattern below. Here’s how you can DIY.

Materials:

Faux hoops and fish hook findings (Got mine at Wal Mart)
Yarn weight Medium 4 (I used Sugar and Cream)
Hook size F
Small scissors
Smaller hook to tie in loose ends

Tie your yarn onto the earring hoop by making a knot at 🕛 12:00. Then, work 20 single crochets around the hoop to the other side. Ch 3, turn

Row 2: you will single crochet in every stitch to opposite side (20 SCs). Ch 3, turn

Row 3: sk3 and slip stitch (ST) into front of 3rd stitch, do this all the way across. (7) ch3, turn

Row 4: Sk (Skip) 1st ST, DC in next CH, Ch2, and every other CH across to the other side.

Work in loose ends or snip ‘em and tuck them in. Add a little stitch glue if you do the latter.

These earrings are lightweight and of course, can be made in any color that you may choose. I think they are more of a spring accessory if you use cotton yarn as opposed to wool or acrylic.

Happy Making

eitm 🌚

Whatever fits my Whimsy

The New Year is quickly approaching, and with the new moon and with the emerging of 2021, my energies are focusing more on this blog. Yes, I have had a truly traumatic year, much like everyone out there. The Pandemic, and a monumental, earth-shattering break up that I didn’t see coming under the pandemic, seeing black lives murdered in plain sight, and the election.

Yet 2021 gives me hope. And in the vein of putting my intentions out there to the Universe, and for all to see, I know better things are to come. Hope Springs Eternal!

In 2021, I will be continuing to grow this blog, and will be blogging bi-weekly moving forward. I have so many ideas to share, that are just sitting in my head, languishing. So.many.patterns. I just have to start eating the frog (my 2021 Mantra!).

I am so pleased that this blog has been gaining momentum, Thank you!, and honestly, I want to do more of it. More creating, more sharing, and more just thinking outside of the box in design. And with that being said (one of my favorite expressions), this blog won’t be remaining in a box. Being multi-fiber fanatical, I will live up to my mantra “whatever fits my whimsy” more in this new year. I will bring you patterns and ideas from knitting, embroidery, punch needle (goal!), and polymer clay, yet the focus will stay on crochet and macrame.

Macrame is truly my first true fiber art love. I have 3 patterns already batch written for you. Boho Macrame Plant Hanger, Boho Chevron Earrings and Heart Bunting. And wait, there’s more…you are welcome to use these patterns to sell your own wares! Just be sure to credit me as the pattern creator.

I look forward to seeing your makes in 2021 on my Instagram. Stay tuned for my top posts from IG, and my best performing posts here in the next day or so.

Latch Hook Tote Bag 🌚

Here at EITM, fiber arts reign supreme! Not just macrame or crochet, but truly all of the fiber…arts. Embroidery, punch needle, knitting and today, latch hook.

The “whatever fits my whimsy” motto of my brand means who knows what medium is next. And today, it’s latch hook (probably tomorrow, too 😉).

Today’s how-to is simple, but time-intensive. For your project, you need the following:

Scissors
Yarn of all colors or just a couple
A latch hook or H or G Crochet Hook
Latch Hook Fabric
Plain Tote
Sewing 🪡 needle & thread or fabric glue

Pick out your rug canvas material and draw your shape onto it with a sharpie or freehand it. Then, pick out your yarn colors and cut down to piles of 6 inch strands.

Insert your chosen hook into the material and attach 3-4 strands, and pull through. You will do this over and over again. Sometimes, for a quicker hack and bulkier area, you will bundle 10-12 yarns and tie a single piece around the middle, knot it and then insert each side of the single piece into the rug making material and tie a knot in the back to hold. Little bundles throughout. I like an abstract vibe so mine is kinda random.

The Back of the Work. Messy piles and neat latch hooked pieces

So, once you are done making your latch hook pocket (mine took like 2-3 hours), cut it into a rectangular shape. Get out your tote bag. Get out your sewing supplies or fabric glue and attach the square (sewing is more durable). If you are sewing, you have to do an overhand stitch. You have to make sure to feed the needle into the square grid of the rug canvas and then outside of it.

Before attaching or after attaching you can trim your piece to different lengths. Some closer to the grid material and some pieces longer. Below is an example of various pile lengths and some bundled yarn and some latch hooked.

Various lengths of ‘pile’ in this bunting

This tote makes a fun handmade gift. Want a bag not so brazen? Mute your color. Or want to show off your skill, create a picture. Recently, I sold a cute latch hook cat rug. See below.

Fab huh? The possibilities are endless! And I love to think about various ways to re-envision fiber craft. I am compiling a “5 Fantastic Uses for Latch Hook” just like my popular macrame post, so stay tuned. 📺

I’d love to see what you make. Share on IG and I’ll repost.

Happy Making 🌚

~eitm

5 More Fantastic Uses For Macrame Scraps

👋🏾Hi makers! Boy, I’ve been MIA for a couple months now and for that I am sorry. Life has just been sooo busy. And I just needed to recharge my Maker’s brain. Surely you can relate. It’s back in full force!

My post “5 Fantastic Uses for Macrame Scraps” is my most popular post and so why not give readers more of what they want? So, I deep dove into my creations from IG and from my archives to bring you 5 more uses for scraps. Sustainable and useful, I hope one or more ideas below ignite your creative fire 🔥 as we will be at home in the US a lot for the next month or so.

Lighting is everything in the winter, imo. It can set a nice cozy mood or bring us out of the doldrums of impenetrable winter. So…Macrame Candle Jars.

Mini Macrame Scrap Jar of reused baby food jar

Just add mini tea light candles or for more safety, use the led ones.

Next up, ‘tis the season for Macrame Ornaments.

This one is fillable, I added a little acorn

How about those ornaments? Such a quick project with lovely results. You can even make mini tassels or a macrame garland for a boho tree. I’m working on my tree now so I’ll show ya the vibe. 👍🏾

Next up, how about some Macrame Wall Baskets of macrame scraps or just non scraps. Depends on how long you want the decor to be. Here are a couple that I have fashioned out of thrifted wicker baskets.

🌸Just add flowers 🌸

How about an accessory for the Holiday Season?! A Tassel Choker. This tassel takes like 10 minutes to make. You have to add the silver findings. Or it can be a keychain.

And last, but not least, Boho Macrame Plant Pot. This is basically half hitch knotted over and over again in a spiral form. This took me like an hour. There is a wooden ring at the base on which I mounted the scraps of rope.

The scraps have to be on the longer side. You do need one long piece of rope to add the individual scraps on in order to have it keep it’s round form. I am working on writing up the pattern and how to video to show you soon so stay tuned.

So, there ya have it. 5 more uses for macrame scraps. What will you make?

Happy Making 🌚🌙

Half Moon Centerpiece 🌚

With the change in weather, and the whisper of fall, a change is coming! Change in the leaves, change in the sunlight and a change in my vibe. I love this time of year. I feel so alive and creative. I feel so Zen in my crafting during October and November.

Along with the change of the season, the holidays are upon us. I am not big on holidays and don’t really ascribe to a religion per se, however, I do like to decorate and spend time with the family. And family, there is food. But I am not a fan of cooking, but maybe you do?! For you, I bring a simple DIY Centerpiece.

Giving credit where credit us due, I found this photo on Pinterest by fianceebodas (on Twitter) and it captivated my mind.

The Inspiration for my DIY from @fianceebodas on Twitter. Their photo credit

It has gotten soooo many repins! I decided I wanted to make something similar for my table or wall or mantle. So I did, and now you can, too.

Shouldnt cost very much. Around $20. You will need a drill for sure. Or ask to borrow one.

Supplies:

Table top circular disc (got mine at Lowe’s for like $8), drill, table saw (optional) dried wheat stalks ($4.99 at Kroger grocery store right now), sandpaper (optional)

I cut the half moon disk myself but you can get your local hardware store to do it for you. It’s really just a few steps.

1. Take your full moon table top board and cut it in half

2. Next, sand the rough edges a little bit if they are ragged. Use a softer piece of sandpaper. Not the grittier kind. You can also skip this step if you want.

3. Mark off 1 inch tics along the top rounded smooth part of the half moon. From left to right.

4. Get a drill and drill into your tic marks a 1/4 of an inch down. You will want to match you drill bit to the size of your dried wheat grass like the photo shows.

5. Dust off the saw dust and then insert your dried stalks making sure they set and balance. You may need to add more than one per hole. Also, I had to cut some stalks down for balancing purposes.

6. Lastly, if you want, put glue into the holes. Or, you can stuff the holes with a couple of hidden cotton balls.

Place it on your holiday table or 3M hang it to your wall. Watch as it becomes the conversation centerpiece! 😉

This creation is so versatile. You can even macrame it up with macrame feather plumes on sticks. My next creation! Maybe. Or, if you want your Centerpiece to look more like the one I hacked by FianceeBodas, drill smaller holes and make the spacing holes 1/4 of an inch. Add more wheat stalks or fuzzy stalks.

Please share with me on IG. I’m waiting….

Happy Making 🌚🌙

eitm

Pumpkin Spice Placemats

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…to me! September, October and Novembee give me life! I love all the fall brings. 🍁🍂 The reprieve from the heat, mosquitoes and humidity. The leaves turning. The light changing. And PUMPKINS!

Something about how round and plump they are. They just seem so fun and poetic. Or maybe I’m reading too much into them. 🤷🏾‍♀️ The warm orange hues, the foliage, fall is everything!

And there’s more, pumpkin spice lattes and placemats!

So, I needed something for our new glass dining table (which I’m not big on, not my decision) because the kiddos get their fingers all over it and my partner had said we need some kind of placemats. And Etsy shop All Yarn Drive having this wonderful super chunky yarn, welp, inspired!

You have to start out by chaining 12. It’s best to do this on a table or while in bed like me. Haha. See below.

Ch 12, then work left to right for 1 row, then right to left next row. Continue to alternate.

This project takes about 1 hour. It’s all finger knitting. Make ‘em in any color you’d like. I have the video tutorial posted on my EITM Youtube so just head on over and subscribe while you’re at it. Or don’t, but I have a ton of projects coming soon. Anyhow, the actual written pattern is in the notes of the YouTube tutorial.

Message me via IG or ellainthemoon@icloud if you have questions. 🌚 🌙

Happy Making! 🎃