How to Hand Knot a Sake Carafe Air Planter

If you love air plants and you’re on the search for an eye catching holder, try our knotty idea! We always scan the thrift store for unusual items! We actually didn't know what this bottle was when we found it so it was easy to get creative with a brand new use. That's what's so fun about upcycling!

Watch the Video!

If you're a visual learner, see these steps in action and watch this video above.

Supplies

3mm, 4 ply natural cotton macrame rope (note, this one is beige, not bleached white as the one I’m using).
Thread stand
Spool of thread (to hold centre)
Velcro (you won’t need this is you have a bigger spool of thread)
Japanese Sake Glass Decanter (mine is thrifted of course)
Scissors
Paint stick or scraper (acts as a spacer)
Cardboard
Pencil
Ruler

I personally happen to like the greenery against the white macrame cord. Instead of using macrame cord, you could also opt for jute if you prefer, or it's what you have on-hand.

Step 1: First Row

Today we're showing you a technique to achieve this knotted glass look using only one piece of cord! As a matter of fact, we used this same technique to tie an authentically knotted Japanese Glass Float by upcycling a glass light globe - also from the thrift store.

This thrifted bottle has a unique hole in the middle that's perfect to hold a special air plant! After some research, we discovered it's used as a Sake decanter. The hole in the middle is a reservoir for ice to keep your Sake nicely chilled.

To start, mark a 3 foot length from the end of the spool. Form a loop 4 cm wide – or whatever width will fit over the neck of your particular bottle. The second picture above (and the one below) doesn’t show it, but there should be a 3-foot foot tail where you see the green tape.

Step 2:

Wrap the 3 ft tail end around and around the centre loop as shown.

Step 3:

Once back to the beginning, weave the tail end through a wrap to keep it secure.

Step 4:

With the working end (attached to the spool) form a loop approximately 3 cm; that’s the same width as a paint stick.

Step 5:

Pinch the loop tight with your left hand, bring the cord around to the back and push through the centre. Bring the loop down and around the first loop formed to capture it.

Step 6:

Tighten the knot. The first picture above is how your first loop should look.

In case you’re having trouble keeping your loops consistent, to use a paint stick to form them around.

Continue around the centre forming loops and capturing them in the same manner until you have 11 loops.

When back to the beginning, form a double knot to bring the two ends together. This makes the 12th loop. Every time you finish a row, you will knot the two ends together. Make sure that the tail ends up on the left side – without twisting. If it does, remove and re-knot again.

Step 7: Second Row

It’s helpful to secure your first row onto a thread holder like above. My thread isn’t quite wide enough to hold it tight so I added a velcro strap and the cord just pops right over. Now it's easier to rotate the work as you progress.

Cut a piece of cardboard 6mm or 2 3/8″ wide. Slip it under the first working loop.

Step 8:

Pass the spool underneath, through the loop from left to right.

Step 9:

Pull the cord. Watch the video at the beginning to see my tips in action for keeping these loops consistent.

Secure the knot and remove the cardboard.

It may take some practice, but try to be consistent with the loops! Mine weren’t perfect because the camera obscures my view :).

Step 10:

Continue until back to the beginning and double knot the ends once again using the tail end.

As you tighten each the knot, don’t forget, the tail end should end up on the left side. If not, the loop will twist so try again.

The first pic is how your work should look after two rows.

In the same way, continue for as many rows as needed to cover the length of the glass bottle and reach the bottom. Aren’t these hand tied knots wonderful?! That’s a rhetorical question of course – I love them!

Step 11: Test the Fit

Check the fit as you go by slipping the hole over the neck of the bottle. Three rows is a touch too short, whereas four rows will be just right for this glass bottle (2nd pic)!

Just to experiment, for the 4th row, I switch to a small size loop using a 5 mm putty knife as a guide. But you can stick with the cardboard.

Step 12: Close Net

Instead of closing the opening at the top, like you would in our japanese glass float DIY project, we’re going to slip the netting over the bottle neck and close the opening underneath the glass bottle.

Since macrame cord is much softer than jute, tape the loops to the bottom of the glass bottle as shown to hold them in position as you work. Use whatever you have on hand to keep the bottle from rolling around. A roll of painter’s tape, for instance, would work well to cradle the bottom of the glass bottle as you work.

Removing the tape as you go, count over five holes counter clockwise and weave the tail end through the loop. Pull the cord to close the gap. Count over another five holes and do the same. Eventually you will form a star shape (2nd pic).

Continue capturing loops in this manner until there are none left. Cut the working yarn leaving a tail and knot the two ends together in the middle. Cut the tails. Or, if you wish, you can weave the tail ends using a bodkin.

Step 13: Stopper

I don’t want dust buildup inside our bottle over time, so need a way to cover the opening. I don’t think Sake decanters have bottle stoppers (at least this one didn’t) so I upcycled a crystal door knob! Just unscrew the spindle and you should be good to go.

If you find your particular door knob doesn’t want to stay upright, like below, try adding a thin piece of foam tape where it will sit in the bottle. Foam tape can make all the difference in upcycling a door knob as a stopper for this glass bottle diy.

Step 14:

Arrange the netting so it falls in the middle of the ice reservoir. Then pop the air plant into place. The space between the hand knotted netting will hold the air plant safe and secure until it needs to be watered.

This is optional, but since I have these aluminum rings kicking around, I’m using one as a base for the sake bottle. Because it reminds me of the beach, I chose a soft blue colour to paint.

Step 15:

The doorknob is great in a pinch as the bottle stopper! The white macrame cord lends a fresh look to netted glass, don’t you think?

Did you notice our 'book shelf'? Along with our DIY Air Plant Holder, our upcycled book is another thrift store find and project you can craft!

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