DIY Yarn Rainbow Wall Decor
Updated on October 19, 2021
Finding a project that is simple to complete but can be made unique enough so that it’s one of a kind is difficult, especially if you’re looking for décor for a child’s room. However, whatever place in the house you want to add a new piece of décor, a DIY yarn rainbow can add character to your space. They’re easy to complete, with fairly simple instructions, and you can get creative to make them one of a kind based on your thoughts and preferences.
Materials for the Yarn Rainbow Wall Decor:
- 4 colours of yarn
- rope
- gold/silver twisted yarn
- floral wire, tapes
- silk ribbon
- lace ribbon
- decorative beads
- scissors
- glue gun
Step by step process to craft the yarn wall decor:
Step 1: Sizing your rainbow
Grab your rope, and decide how large you want your rainbow to be by creating the first, largest outside arch with the rope. When you’ve settled on a size, fold the rope back under itself for the second arch. When you have it level with the end of the rope, fold again for the third arch, and then once more to create the smallest inside arch.
Step 2: Preparing the rope
With your four arches created, use your scissors to cut the loops at the bottom, so you have four individual pieces of rope in the appropriate sizes for the arches.
Using colored tape, wrap the ends of your rope to create your edges and keep them from fraying too far. Be sure to leave enough room at the ends of the ropes for your fringe.
Step 3: Frame your rainbow
Rope is a tough material but won’t hold its shape on its own. That’s where your floral wire comes in. Cut a piece of your floral wire to match the length of your largest arch of rope from the top of the tape on one side to the top of the tape on the other side.
Lay it along your piece of rope.
Using clear tape, attach the wire to the rope with a single piece of tape at each end and in the middle. You don’t want a thick wrapping of tape, as this will mar the smoothness of your overall design. Remember, your yarn is going to wrap around the tape.
With the wire attached, bend your rope into the arch shape you want. This will be the basis for the shape of your rainbow for the rest of your project.
Step 4: Wrapping your yarn
Choose one of your yarn colors. Using your glue gun, add a dot of glue to one end of a piece of rope just above the top of the colored tape.
Begin to wrap your yarn from this spot. If there is a frayed edge, tuck it beneath your wrapping on the back side of the rope, where it won’t be visible. Trim if necessary.
Continue wrapping evenly so that none of the rope is showing (at least on the front side) until you reach the piece of tape at the other end. Stop just before the last one or two wraps, add a dot of glue, and then wrap the last of your yarn to meet the colored tape.
Cut the yarn carefully, trying to keep the edge on the back of your rope.
Step 5: Repeat step 4
For your other three pieces of rope, repeat this process, using a different color of yarn for each piece.
Step 6: Silver lining
Using your gold or silver twisted yarn, tie a length at the top edge of one of the pieces of tape on one of your ropes. Wrap several times around the rope, creating about a half-inch border. Cut any excess yarn you couldn’t fold under the wrapping.
Wind around at an angle across the length of the rope until you reach the far end. Try to maintain even distancing between your twists. At the far end of the rope, repeat the wrapping job to create another half-inch border. Don’t cut the yarn at this point, as you’re not ready to stop the process.
Step 6: Attaching your ropes together
Instead of tying off your silver or golden twisted yarn and cutting it, grab your next piece of rope, and start wrapping the border here.
Continue with the decorative looping around the rope until you reach the far end, again wrapping a half-inch border.
Continue this process until all four ropes are tightly wrapped together. When you reach the end of the final rope, loop the silver yarn one last time around the rope beside it to assure all ropes are secured together.
Tie off the end of the yarn and snip it.
Add one last connecting piece of silver yarn around the top of your rainbow. This will secure it firmly together so that the different lengths don’t fall over.
Step 7: Create your hanging loop
Cut a piece of ribbon that is at least six inches long. You can always trim it later. Loop the ribbon and cross it over itself, creating the design of an ‘awareness’ ribbon.
Using your hot glue gun, use a tiny dot of glue to secure this design.
Again, place a dot of glue on the back of your rainbow, on the top rope. Secure your ribbon loop to the glue, and allow for it to dry. This won’t take long. Trim the ends as desired.
Step 8: Remove tape
Using your scissors, carefully cut and remove the pieces of tape from each end of each rope. Be sure not to cut any of your yarn or the rope itself.
Step 9: Add your lace ribbon
Grab your lace ribbon. Measure out two pieces of equal length, long enough to wrap around your rainbow one time with a little overlap.
Using your glue gun, attach each ribbon around the ends of your rainbow, covering the areas where the yarn wrapping ends on either side. This will help conceal any variance in exact stopping points. Be sure to leave plenty of length hanging below the ribbons to create your fringe.
Step 9: Add decorative beads
Use your glue gun to attach decorative beads with a single small dot of glue. Here, we’ve used a single bead in the center of each piece of lace ribbon. However, if you like multiple beads that are smaller, you have creative freedom to use your beads as you see fit.
Step 10: Take your fringe to the salon
The ends of your ropes may not be even, so you may want to take your scissors and trim the ends of the fringe so that they line up appropriately. Once this is done, your design is complete and ready to hang.
Other options include using more layers of rope with a greater variety of colored yarn, as well as sewing your ropes together rather than gluing. This all depends on your preferences and capabilities. In most cases, hot glue is easier for people to use, and because the glue cools and dries quickly, it doesn’t hinder the speed of the process. Whatever your choice, this should be a fun and easy project that looks great when you’re done!