Who doesn't love to bring a little bit of the outdoors in, especially when we've been spending so much more time around the house? In 10-15 minutes, you can have a few custom made leather plant holders to show off your growing houseplant collection. This is a beginner leather project, so let's dive in!

Supplies

Leather Straps (we used pre-cut ¾” wide straps)

Leather Cowhide Lace (2-4 pieces depending on how long you want your plant hanger to be.)

Leather Hole Punch

Leather Fastener (we used rivets but grommets Chicago screws would also work)

Utility Blade or good quality Scissors

Ruler

Planters and plants of your choosing

Step 1: Measure Your Pots and Straps

To start, take out your planter or pot that you want to put in the hanger. You’ll want to use it for reference when deciding how long or short to cut your leather straps.

Set the pot on one of the leather straps and pull up the sides. When you’ve decided whether you want the strap to sit above or below the rim of the pot, mark your choice with a pencil.

When you’re happy with the length and where your marks are, go ahead and cut the strap down. Use that piece as the template to cut your second piece.

Step 2: Put Your Base Together

Once you have two identical straps cut, mark their centers. This is where you are going to fasten them together so they will safely hold your planter.

Using your hole punch, create a hole large enough for the fastener you have selected to fit through. Using either a grommet or a rivet will work great for this project! A Chicago screw would also work, depending on how thick your leather is.

Lay your leather pieces in the shape of a cross or plus sign. You’ll want 90-degree angles to ensure the straps are spaced evenly when holding your planter. If you measured your center hole punches correctly, they should line right up!

Take your fastener, and put the post through both straps. Using the setting tool, go ahead and close up your rivet or grommet.
Make sure to try and keep your straps at the right angles. Once you’ve secured them with the fastener, it’s a bit harder to move them back. Take your time with setting them!

Step 3: Attach Your Laces

Now we are going to punch holes on the outside ends of our straps to run the lace through.

Again, find your center on your strap and decide how far in you want your lace to sit. Make sure not to punch your hole too close to the edge.

Remember that this will be holding a pot, potting soil, a plant, and water weight every time you water said plant. Punching a hole too close to the edge may make the leather too weak to hold the weight against the lace.

Mark your chosen spot, then repeat that measurement on the other ends. I went a quarter of an inch down from the edge. When you've made your decision, go ahead and punch those holes.

Now, before you tie up your lace, you have to decide how low you want your plant hanger to hang. If you only bought two laces, your hanger will only be as long as the laces are folded in half. So a 72” lace will hang down about 32” once you account for the knots and the angle.

If you want a much longer hanger, consider buying 4 laces and knotting them to each hole on the hanger individually. Then you can adjust the length as you see fit, loop all four together in a large lovely knot, and trim the excess once you’ve hung it up and balanced it.

Step 4: Finish Your Hanger

When you've decided the length you want your hanger to be, slip your lace through the holes you punched, and tie a knot. Make it a simple knot or a decorative knot, the choice is up to you! You could even add a bead or some other kind of decoration.

Make this project suit your style! Consider this an entry-level project. If you’re thrilled with the results, marvel at your handy work. If this opens up a new leatherworking passion, make this simple design something extra with your own choices and details!

Hang your plant in the window and relish the greenness it brings to the great indoors.