How to make rainbow bunting – perfect for Pride or simply to brighten your home

Celebrate Pride month with Hobbycraft's macrame rainbow garland

Learn how to make rainbow bunting to bring positive vibes to your home. This colourful garland is the perfect make, whether you're passionate about Pride, want to support the NHS or simply love rainbows (who doesn't?).

Hobbycraft has come up with this fun DIY and decorating idea, which is perfect for using up old balls of yarn.

How to make rainbow bunting

rainbow macrame bunting with pompoms

(Image credit: Hobbycraft)

This project uses traditional rainbow colours, but you can use any wool shades you like to create a bespoke design.

What you'll need to make yarn-wrapped bunting

  • Darning needles
  • Tape measure
  • White macrame string
  • Plain DK yarn in red, yellow, green, blue and purple (100g balls)
  • Gold metallic wire

1 Cut lengths of rope and wire

macrame string with scissors

(Image credit: Hobbycraft)

Start by cutting three 30cm pieces of macrame string. Also cut a piece of gold metallic wire slightly smaller.

Buy now: Oasis gold metallic wire stick, £2.75 for 50g, Hobbycraft

Buy now: ReTwisst white macrame string 5mm, £10 for 500g, Hobbycraft

2. Start with the red yarn

wrapping yarn around macrame string

(Image credit: Hobbycraft)

Hold the piece of string and wire in one hand and place the red wool on top it. Grasp between your finger and thumb about 4cm down.

Buy now: Knitcraft red cotton blend plain DK yarn, £3.20 for 100g, Hobbycraft

3. Start wrapping the wool

wrapping yarn around macrame string

(Image credit: Hobbycraft)

Wrap the red yarn (straight from the ball) around the string and wire. Keep wrapping until you reach the other end. You can use two balls of yarn to cover the string more quickly if you prefer.

4. Secure the end

ainbow macrame bunting assembly with darning needle and scissors

(Image credit: Hobbycraft)

Once you have wrapped 22cm of string, trim the red yarn. Use a darning needle to sew the tail/s back through the wrapped end.

Repeat for the remaining colours as follows:

5. Begin sewing the pieces together

rainbow macrame bunting assembly with darning needle and scissors

(Image credit: Hobbycraft)

Once you've prepared all the coloured pieces, bend them into a curve. Thread your darning needle with cotton thread. Sew the blue and lilac arcs together in a zig zag pattern.

6. Continue sewing the pieces together

rainbow macrame bunting assembly with darning needle and scissors

(Image credit: Hobbycraft)

Continue sewing in the same way until you reach the end. Repeat to add each colour at a time. Keep bending the bound string and wire as you work to form a rainbow shape.

7. Trim the cord

rainbow macrame bunting decoration with scissors

(Image credit: Hobbycraft)

Once you've sewn all the pieces together, you'll have a rainbow! Trim the ends of the cord to the same size using a sharp pair of scissors.

8. Repeat to make more rainbows

rainbow macrame

(Image credit: Hobbycraft)

For three meters of bunting, you'll need to make nine rainbows in total. You can make as many as you like!

9. Make plenty of pom poms

yarn pompoms in rainbow colours

(Image credit: Hobbycraft)

Add extra colour to your bunting with fun pom poms. Use the same wool colours from the rainbows to make 24 pom poms, approximately 5cm in size. Put them to one side.

10. Create a loop

knotted macrame string

(Image credit: Hobbycraft)

To create a hanging loop at each end of your bunting, fold over the end of the macrame string and bind with yarn, as before. You will need one at each end.

11. Add your rainbows

rainbow macrame bunting close up

(Image credit: Hobbycraft)

Add a rainbow 22cm in from the end of the macrame string. Thread your needle with red yarn and sew around the top of the rainbow a few times. Tie off at the back and trim.

12. Keep adding rainbows

rainbow macrame bunting

(Image credit: Hobbycraft)

Using the same method, sew a rainbow to the string every 33cm to make sure they're evenly spaced.

13. Add the pom poms

rainbow macrame bunting with pompoms

(Image credit: Hobbycraft)

Finish your bunting by tying a bundle of three pom poms to the string in between each rainbow.

Hang up your rainbow bunting in a window or from a shelf or mantelpiece with pride!

Stephanie Durrant
Deputy Editor Style at Home

Steph Durrant is the Deputy Editor of Ideal Home’s sister magazine, Style at Home. Steph is an experienced journalist with more than 12  years under her belt working across the UK’s leading craft and interiors magazines. She first joined the team back in 2016 writing for both homes brands, specialising in all things craft, upcycling and DIY.