# How to Weave a Palm Leaf Wall Hanging

> A flat woven palm leaf wall hanging on a wooden dowel, 40 cm wide and ready to hang. A calm weekend project for anyone who can already weave a coaster.

Source: https://leafcraftpro.site/palm-leaf-wall-hanging
Published: 2025-07-30 · 9 min read · Intermediate · Palm Leaf Crafts

A wall hanging is just a flat weave with a dowel at the top and a cord at the back. What makes it work is scale and restraint: one large calm panel, a single visible knot, and nothing else competing for attention.

This one finishes at 40 cm wide and 55 cm tall. It takes three to four hours, most of which is the weave itself, and it needs no hardware beyond a hook.

The reason this project looks more expensive than it is comes down to two decisions. First, the weave runs horizontally across a tall panel, which flatters the length of the leaf and hides joins better than a vertical weave. Second, the ends are left slightly uneven on purpose, so the bottom edge reads as a fringe rather than a mistake. Resist the urge to trim it dead straight. A little variation is what stops it looking like a placemat nailed to the wall. The other thing that matters is the dowel: a plain wooden rod, visible at both ends, turns a woven rectangle into a piece of wall art. Choose a dowel that is smooth and slightly heavier than you think you need, because a thin rod will bow under the weight of damp leaf and leave the panel hanging in a curve. Sand the ends and rub in a little oil before you thread the loops, and the whole piece will read as something made on purpose rather than assembled from whatever was in the shed.

## Before you start

**What You'll Need**

- 24-28 palm leaf strips, 2 cm wide and at least 70 cm long
- A wooden dowel, 12 mm thick and 45 cm long
- 1.5 m of cotton cord or twisted natural twine
- Sharp scissors
- A spray bottle of water
- A clothes peg or two
- A tape measure

**Step-by-step instructions**

1. **Set up the warp** — Hang the dowel between two chair backs. Fold each long strip in half over the dowel and pull both ends down so it hangs in a loop. Space the strips about 1.5 cm apart until the dowel is filled across 40 cm.
2. **Weave the first rows** — Take a spare strip and weave horizontally across the hanging warp, over one loop and under the next. Pack it up tight against the dowel. Weave a second row the opposite way so the pattern alternates.
3. **Build the panel** — Continue weaving horizontally, adding a new strip when the old one runs out by overlapping the ends by 8 cm inside the weave. Work down to 55 cm of height, keeping the rows level and packing them down every few rounds.
4. **Hide the joins** — Wherever two strips overlap, weave the join so it sits behind a vertical loop. A join hidden behind a loop is invisible; a join in the open gap shows as a bump.
5. **Lift off the dowel** — Slide the loops off one end of the dowel, then thread the dowel back through them so the weave hangs free. Straighten the panel by pulling the outer loops gently outward.
6. **Add the hanging cord** — Tie the cord to each end of the dowel with a tight double knot, leaving a loop of about 25 cm at the top. Trim the bottom fringe to your taste, leaving the ends slightly uneven.

![A 40 cm palm leaf wall hanging with an even horizontal weave and a knotted hanging cord](https://leafcraftpro.site/images/blog/palm-leaf-wall-hanging-1280.webp)

*The horizontal weave flatters the leaf and hides joins far better than a vertical one.*

Hang it where it catches side light rather than direct sun. Backlit, the gaps between rows glow and the panel looks like woven light; in full sun it bleaches to a flat grey within a season. A hallway or a wall opposite a window is ideal. If the weave sags in the first week, that is the leaf relaxing as it dries, and a gentle tug on the outer loops will bring it back level. Weigh the bottom edge with a peg while it dries and it will hold its shape from the first day it goes on the wall.

## Sizing it to your wall

Measure the wall before you cut a single strip. A panel 40 cm wide suits a narrow space, such as the gap between a door and a corner, or the spot above a small console. For a large blank wall you want 60 to 80 cm wide, which means 36 to 48 strips and a longer dowel. The height is more flexible: 55 cm works almost anywhere, while a tall 90 cm panel suits a high ceiling and a narrow wall. Get the proportion roughly right and the hanging looks intentional; get it wrong and even a well-woven panel feels like the wrong size for the room.

> A wall hanging is not decoration for its own sake. It is a record of an afternoon, and it should look like one.
>
> — Romen Roy, LeafCraftPRO

**Helpful Tips**

- Weigh the bottom edge down with a clothes peg while the panel dries, so it hangs straight from day one.
- Use two colours of leaf if you like, but keep it to two. Three turns a calm panel into a busy one.
- Mist the warp whenever it starts to feel stiff. A damp leaf weaves twice as fast as a dry one.
- If the dowel is longer than your wall space allows, cut it after weaving, not before. You need the overhang while you work.
- Sand the dowel ends and rub in a little oil before threading the loops. It looks finished and it protects the leaf.
- Hang it at eye level above a console, or a little higher over furniture. Too high and the panel looks stranded on the wall.

**Prefer it ready to hang?** Our woven wall hangings come on a waxed dowel with the cord already tied, in three widths.

[Shop wall decor](https://leafcraftpro.site/shop)

## Frequently asked questions

### How much palm leaf does a wall hanging need?

About 24 to 28 strips, each at least 70 cm long, for a 40 by 55 cm panel. One large frond usually gives you enough with a few spare strips.

### How do I hang a woven wall hanging without damaging the wall?

A single small picture hook or a removable adhesive hook is plenty, since a dried palm leaf panel weighs under 300 g. Keep the cord loop about 25 cm so the dowel sits clear of the hook.

### Will the colours fade on the wall?

Yes, in direct sun. Keep the hanging out of strong light and the green will hold for a year or more before settling into a warm straw tone.

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