Repurpose A Macrame Hanger Into An Adorable Hummingbird Swing They'll Love

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There's a lot about hummingbirds that makes them remarkable avians. Despite their small size, they pack quite a punch in both appearance and personality. They're uniquely beautiful, with the iridescent hues of their feathers making them especially vivid. Their feistiness shines through in their aerial acrobatics. You won't get bored watching them, even for hours on end. Of course, your garden also benefits from having these diminutive pollinators around. It's no wonder you're on the lookout for creative DIY hummingbird swings to bring more of these feathered beauties to your yard. You can make visiting hummers a rustic perch by wrapping a macrame hanger in jute twine and decorating it if you wish.

To make this DIY hummingbird swing, you'll need a large metal ring with a bar through the center. The bar forms the perch. Macrame rings are perfect, and crafters who like dabbling in boho creations might already have one. If you don't, you can purchase a macrame ring from your local craft supply store or shop for one online. This 10-inch Craft County Designer Macrame Ring costs about $11. If you can only find a metal ring without a bar, you could attach a length of Benecreat 10 Gauge Bendable Aluminum Wire across the center using pliers. Besides the ring, you'll need jute twine, a pair of scissors, a shuttle needle, and some Deeswey Mini Clothespins to hold the twine in place while you work.

This is probably one of the easiest DIY projects out there; it's perfect for anyone new to crafting. The metal macrame ring already resembles a bird swing or perch — all you're going to do is give it a boho-chic look using the twine. Start by tying the jute twine to the spot where the horizontal bar meets the ring. Clamp a clothespin over the knot. It serves as an extra pair of hands, holding the twine in place. Wrap the twine around the entire ring, pushing the twine back on itself as you go and periodically clamping it with more clothespins to keep it tight.

When you get back to your starting point, wrap a little more twine over your initial knot. Use the shuttle needle to weave the loose end neatly underneath the earlier layers of twine. Snip off any loose strands as close as possible to the ring. Don't wrap the horizontal bar in twine because the tiny clawed feet of hummingbirds can get caught in it. To hang your swing, cut a piece of twine about 10 inches long. Fold it halfway and knot the ends together tightly. Push a little of the jute wrapping aside on the top of the ring and tie on the knotted twine. Alternatively, use a short piece of bendable craft wire or a wire clothes hanger to make a hook.

Keep in mind that hummingbirds are happiest when you put their swing in one ideal spot: near a food source. Hang the perch about 1 foot from a nectar feeder or a thriving patch of native flowers that hummers love — like bee balm (Monarda bradburiana), garden phlox (Phlox paniculata), or wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), to name a few — and you'll have nailed the location. Also, situate the swing above eye level in an open area to keep small birds safe from ground predators. Without dense shrubs or other cover nearby, hummingbirds can more easily spot anything sneaking up on them.

While you're likely to bring the charm of hummingbirds to your garden with this easy DIY swing alone, there are some things you can do to almost guarantee hummers will adopt the perch as their own. These tiny flying creatures are attracted to red, orange, pink, and yellow flowers and objects. Adorn your new swing with brightly colored embellishments, including ribbons, beads, or even a few artificial flowers, foliage, or berries. However, always include these add-ons in moderation; you don't want to overcrowd the swing, leaving no space for hummers to perch.