This is a guest post by designer Angie Douglas. Check her out on instagram @angie.r.douglas or find more of her designs over in her Etsy store!
If you’re feeling creative, and are wanting a change up from your standard, shop bought red & green Christmas decor, then these little raffia decorations are perfect for you! Using the natural texture of raffia, these will give a coastal, natural vibe to your Christmas decor!
You will need:
Raffia
Washers
Scissors
Raffia can be purchased from most craft and department stores, and is available in varying shades of white to light brown. Washers can be found at Bunnings, in varying sizes for both the inner hole and overall diameter.
Step One:
Trim your raffia strands into strips. The length is entirely up to you, depending on how large you’d like the diameter of your decoration, but be mindful that these are folded in half before being tied to the washer. I have used 14cm strips, which measure about 7cm when folded. Leave one longer strip, which will be used to hang the decoration on the tree. Depending on the size of your washer, you’ll need about 20-30 strips.
Step Two:
Fold the raffia strip, and poke the looped end through the hole of the washer.
Step Three:
Take the trimmed open ends and poke them through the looped end of the strip, and pull it tight all the way through, until the loop reaches the washer.
Step Four:
Tie a knot as tightly and close to the base as possible, to secure the loop.
Step Five:
Repeat all the way around the washer, making sure to push the strips as closely as possible, so no area of the washer is showing. Alternatively, you can leave some gaps so the silver can sparkle!
Step Six:
Trim the ends of the strips so they form a more even, neater circle shape.
Step Six:
Take the longer strip, and secure the ends into a double knot, making a circle. Poke the knotted end into the middle of washer, and pull the other looped end through the knot, and pull it tight all the way through, until the loop reaches the washer. Tie a knot as tightly and close to the base as possible, to secure the loop.
Step Seven:
For some extra texture and volume, take a strand of raffia and make a tear, to split it all the way down to the knot. Repeat with as many strands as you like for your desired, ‘bushy’ effect.
Step Eight:
You’re all done! Now you just need to find the perfect branch on your tree to hang your creations!
