Traditionally made from straw or reeds, in recent years metal himmeli sculptures have become popular as displays for air plants. You make your own himmeli using these instructions and by following the pictures below.
Materials:
- 4 Straws (I used paper straws from the Dollar Tree, you could also use plastic straws, or even skinny coffee stirrers)
- String
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Cut a piece of string about 3 feet long
- Cut your straws into equal sections
- Thread 3 straw pieces onto your string
- Form the pieces into a triangle and tie a knot in the string at the intersection, leaving one very small and one very long tail
- Thread 2 more straw pieces to form a second triangle and knot the string at that intersection
- Keep repeating Step 5 until you only have one straw piece left
- Thread the last straw piece onto your string
- Tie the remaining string onto the short tail left over from your first knot in Step 4
- Pull the last 2 triangles together and tie them with another piece of string.
Once you’ve made one himmeli, try it with different types of straws, or cutting your straw pieces different lengths!
You don't have to wait for Christmas to display your himmeli—hang up yours somewhere in your house, or use yours to decorate a birthday present. Mine will be a toy for my cats!
I'd love to see a photo of your himmeli—you can email me, Alison Church, Children's Education Coordinator, at alisonc@nordicmuseum.org.
