DIY Rainbow Wall Hanging with Rope and Yarn (No Knots Needed)

You can turn plain rope, a few scraps of yarn, and a bit of felt into a three-layer rainbow wall hanging in about 30 to 45 minutes, no sewing or macrame knots required.

I designed this one hand-sized on purpose, so it works just as well pinned above a shelf as it does clipped onto a bag strap. The wrapping technique is the only skill involved: once you have wrapped the first rope strand, the rest of the project is the same motion repeated in different colors.

This has become one of my favorite quick home decor projects, especially if you are building out a collection of wall hanging ideas for fall. If you would rather learn the traditional knotted version instead of this simpler wrap technique, I also have a full guide to a knotted macrame rainbow wall hanging.

Rainbow Wall Hanging at a Glance

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Time: 30 to 45 minutes
• Cost: Under $10
• Ages: 8+ with adult help for the hot glue gun
• Best for: Fall wall decor, dorm rooms, or a handmade bag charm

What You Need to Make a Rainbow Wall Hanging

Materials

• Natural twisted rope, enough for three layers cut to your chosen sizes. Thicker rope holds its wrapped shape better than thin cord.
• Colorful yarn in at least three fall-inspired colors, a main wrap color per layer plus one accent color.
• A scrap of felt, big enough to back your finished rainbow shape.
• Craft pompoms, for finishing the top ends.

Tools

• Scissors
• Hot glue gun, the easier stand-in for hand-stitching the layers together.
• Tapestry needle, for tucking each yarn tail invisibly into the wrap.

How to Make a Rainbow Wall Hanging

Step 1: Decide Your Size and Cut the Rope Strands

Pick how big you want the finished rainbow and how many layers it will have. I like three layers for a hand-sized version that works equally well pinned to a wall or clipped onto a bag strap. Cut a piece of rope for each layer, a few inches longer than the finished arc so you have room to shape and trim later.

Step 2: Wrap the First Color Around One Rope Strand

Tie the end of your first yarn color around one rope strand, leaving about an inch of bare rope showing at that end. Wind the yarn around the rope in tight, even coils, working your way down and pressing each wrap snug against the last so no rope peeks through underneath.

Step 3: Finish the Wrap and Tuck the Tail

Keep wrapping all the way to the other end, again leaving about an inch of bare rope showing. Once you are happy with the coverage, leave yourself a few extra inches of yarn before cutting it from the skein. Thread that tail onto a tapestry needle and pull it back under four or five of the wraps you just made, then trim the excess close to the surface so the end disappears.

Step 4: Layer a Second Color On Top in a Loose Pattern

Thread a different yarn color onto the tapestry needle and draw it through the wrapping from one of the bare ends, leaving about half an inch tucked inside. Wrap this second color loosely over the first, crossing it back and forth to build a pattern. I go with a simple crisscross, but any loose overlay reads well against the tight base wrap.

Step 5: Repeat for the Other Two Rope Strands

Wrap the remaining two rope pieces the same way, matching the amount of bare rope you leave on both ends so your three layers line up when you arrange them. This is the step where consistency matters most. If one strand ends up with more bare rope than the others, the finished rainbow looks lopsided once it is glued down.

Step 6: Cut a Felt Base to Anchor the Rainbow

Cut a piece of felt big enough to hold your whole rope rainbow shape with a little room to spare around the edges. I tried the stitching method other tutorials use here first, and honestly hot glue is faster and holds just as well for something this size, so that is what I switched to.

Step 7: Glue the Wrapped Rope onto the Felt and Trim

Arrange your three wrapped rope strands on the felt in the arc you want, largest on the outside and smallest on the inside, and hot glue each one down. Work in short sections rather than one long bead of glue so the rope does not shift before it sets. Once everything is secure, cut the felt down along the outer edge of the rope so none of it shows from the front.

Step 8: Add the Pompoms and Attach a Hanging Loop

Warning: Give the glue a full minute to set before you hang the piece. A warm glue joint can slip loose under the weight of the rope.

Glue a pompom over each of the bare rope ends at the top for a finished look. Flip the piece over and hot glue a short loop of thin rope to the back near the top edge; that loop is what lets you hang it on a nail or hook.

And that is it, a fall-inspired rainbow wall hanging ready to hang up or clip onto a bag.

Tips for Your Rainbow Wall Hanging

• Keep it out of direct sun. The yarn colors hold their brightness much longer out of a sunny window.
• Swap the fall palette for pastels or brights and the same technique works for a nursery, a spring refresh, or any room that is not fall-themed at all.
• For a bigger statement piece, cut longer rope strands and add a fourth wrapped layer. The wrapping technique stays exactly the same, you are just scaling it up.
• No felt on hand? A stiff scrap of cardboard covered in fabric works fine as the backing too.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I use instead of a hot glue gun to attach the ropes?

A needle and thread work if you would rather stitch the wrapped rope to the felt by hand. It takes longer and is fiddlier to do neatly, which is exactly why I switched to hot glue for a project this size, but stitching holds just as well and skips the drying time.

How long does a rainbow wall hanging take to make?

Plan on 30 to 45 minutes for a three-layer, hand-sized version. Most of that time goes into wrapping the rope evenly, so it goes faster once you get a feel for the tension on your first strand.

Can I make this without buying special macrame rope?

Yes, that is the whole point of this wrap technique. Any natural twisted rope from the hardware or craft store works, since the yarn wrapping covers most of it anyway. You do not need macrame cord or any knotting skill for this version.

How do I make a bigger rainbow wall hanging?

Cut longer rope strands and add a fourth layer if you want a wider arc. The wrapping and gluing steps stay exactly the same. Just size your felt base up to match so it still fully backs the rope.

Will the yarn colors fade over time?

Yarn left in direct sunlight will fade faster than yarn kept out of it, the same as most dyed fabric. Hang yours away from a sunny window and the colors will stay true for years.

Is hot glue safe to use with kids on this project?

Kids can absolutely help with the yarn wrapping, which is the bulk of this project. For the hot glue steps, have an adult handle the glue gun or work right alongside a younger crafter, since the glue and the metal tip both stay hot enough to burn.

More Home Decor Tutorials

• Christmas tree string art
• Heart string art
• Fall-themed hanging mobile

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