This year, the rainbow has become a symbol of solidarity and gratitude for the NHS.

Up and down the country, people have decorated their windows with bright posters and banners, to show their appreciation for keyworkers and all their hard work throughout the pandemic.

Unfortunately, a second wave of coronavirus has now taken hold and many towns and cities have returned to a full ‘tier 3’ lockdown. So, to show your thanks once more, why not put the posters back up and create a colourful rope rainbow for your home? These are really easy to make and the end result is fantastic. Just set aside a little time this autumn and follow our step-by-step guide.

 

What will I need?

• natural cotton rope
• coloured wool (ideally, in the colours of the rainbow)
• floral wire
• fabric scissors
• masking tape
• clear tape (e.g. Scotch tape)
• needle and thread/hot glue gun

 

How to make a rope rainbow

 

Step 1: Create the ‘rainbow’ shape

First things first, lay the cotton rope on the table and twist it back and forth to create the shape of a rainbow. You should aim to create at least seven arches (i.e. one for each colour of the rainbow). And once you’re happy with their shape and size, use fabric scissors to cut the loop between each.

To stop any premature fraying, it’s a good idea to add a section of masking tape to the rope ends. The rope covered by this tape will eventually be fringed; so, be sure to position each piece of tape carefully and line them up correctly.

 

Step 2: Add the floral wire

The next step is to add the floral wire.

Each piece should be cut to the same size of the exposed rope (i.e. not including the taped section). To stick it into place, simply add a small piece of clear tape to each end of the wire and also the middle.

This will give the rainbow wall hanging a little bit of structure and help to maintain its arched shape.

 

Step 3: Wrap the rope with wool

You’re now ready to add colour.

Decide which order you would like the colours to appear on your rope rainbow (i.e. red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet). Then, take the first arch and tie your chosen wool to one end using a small knot.

Wrap the wool tightly around the circumference of the rope – taking care not to overlap any strands or leave any gaps – until you reach the other side. Tie a second knot, positioning it on the inside (so that it will be covered by the next arch) and cut off the tail.

Repeat this process for each arch of the rainbow.

 

Step 4: Sew the arches together

Arrange the seven arches in the desired order and, once you’re satisfied with their position, use a needle and thread to sew them together. If you prefer, you could also use a hot glue gun. Just take your time and make sure no glue is left exposed.

Having secured the arches together, you can then remove the masking tape and unravel the rope ends.

 

Step 5: Attach a hanger to the design

Last but not least, to complete the project, you will need to add a ‘hanger’ of some sort to the rope rainbow.

One option is to stick a paperclip to the back using hot glue. This will allow you to hang it easily from a nail in the wall. Alternatively, if you wish to celebrate the NHS – and want to hang your new creation in the front window – simply sew a small loop of wool or rope to the top of the design.

 

Start making your rope rainbow today

Ready to get started?

Fantastic! Here at Ropes Direct, we currently stock natural cotton rope that is perfect for making this rainbow wall hanging. This is sold by the metre in a range of diameters, from 4mm up to 32mm. So, whether you wish to create a small rope rainbow for your front window or a giant rainbow for the kid’s bedroom, we have the ideal product – competitively priced and ready for next day delivery.

If you’d like further advice on how to make a rope rainbow or the best cotton rope for your project, you’re always welcome to get in touch. We have detailed knowledge of all products available and are happy to help in any way that we can. Simply give us a call on 01692 671721 or, if you prefer, send a quick email to info@ropesdirect.co.uk and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.