Kirsi learned macrame knots on YouTube and became a handicraft artist in retirement

Kirsi Salmivalli’s greatest wish is that her hands stay in good shape so she can continue her craft. She draws encouragement especially from her mother and sister, who both share her passion for crafts. Kirsi’s other love is crocheting. She has crocheted the armchair cover herself.

Kirsi advises mastering the three basic macrame knots so well you could do them in your sleep. With just those, you can create stunning pieces. Kirsi posts photos of her work on Instagram @poppanainen.

About five years ago, Kirsi Salmivalli from Turku, Finland, came across a photo of beautiful reindeer antlers online. At the same time, she started coming across different kinds of macrame projects online. Kirsi started wondering if the old craft technique could be combined with the unique antlers. She learned the technique on YouTube, pressing play and pause in turn, knotting and untying, then starting over. Later, she realized it would have been wise to thoroughly learn three knots right at the start.

Kirsi, the stands you use for macrame are part of your living room décor. How often do you have time to knot?

I retired a little over a year ago from my job as a grocery store sales clerk, which gave me more time for my passion. Now I can work on macrames on weekdays as well, and I can balance my free time and rest more easily. When I was working, I often got by on very little sleep because I got carried away and kept knotting late into the night.

I make wall hangings and plant hangers every day I’m at home, from two to twelve hours a day. I give my creations as gifts to loved ones, but only to those who truly appreciate Finnish handicrafts. I also make them on commission. Every piece has its own name, and I never make two identical ones. You can dream up endless knot patterns.

Kirsi knots macrames every day she’s at home. She’s not a couch potato, but she does enjoy watching Spanish soap operas while she knots. A coat rack is a handy helper when making plant hangers.

The time needed for one piece varies according to size and details. If the macrame is made with four or five colors and tassels or beads, Kirsi can finish it in around three days. The yellow piece is called Auringonkukka (“Sunflower”).

One of Kirsi’s first pieces is the light-colored design called Jään laulu (“Song of Ice”). The pink angel wings came from a desire to create a piece that feels interactive to the touch. The fluffy fringe is made with felting wool.

The women in your family are all crafters, and you’ve been making things since you were a child. Where do you get your inspiration?

I always keep my eyes open and take in inspiration from the colors around me. I might get an idea from a store window, for instance. I love flowers, and they offer stunning color combinations. I also get inspiration from music, which I often listen to while working on my macrame. I never write down my ideas because I have a photographic memory. I also don’t want to copy anyone else’s work but do my own thing. That’s why I don’t follow other makers on social media.

Besides color, reindeer antlers are my trademark in my pieces. That’s also where my artist name Poppanainen (“Shaman”) comes from. When a coworker saw my early work, they said, “You’re quite the shaman!” So I started calling myself a city shaman. I love living in the city center, and I don’t often have time to go out into nature. Sometimes I have to buy the branches I use in my work ready-made.

Knotting macrames gives Kirsi a deep sense of well-being. She feels especially accomplished when she finds the perfect combination of shades, leading to a mind-blowing final result. One of her most popular creations, named Yksisarvinen (“Unicorn”), pairs violet, pink, and pale blue, and came about by accident.

Knotting plant hangers is quick. Kirsi can make up to six in a single day. She has given her hangers the name Retro-Josefina.

The red-toned piece is called Auringonlasku (“Sunset”). It’s knotted onto a natural branch Kirsi smoothed down with a sander in her bathroom. Reindeer antlers require no treatment. For larger projects, she usually gets the materials from a lumber store. The wooden rod needs to be strong enough to bear the weight of the cords. Her biggest macrame was built on a reindeer antler that was over a meter wide, with tines standing taller than 70 centimeters. The piece weighed almost five kilos.

What has making macrames taught you?

This hobby has given me much more patience. It has boosted my self-confidence and deepened my trust in my own skills. It brings joy and richness to my life, and gives me energy. It keeps my creativity flowing so I never get bored.

The wildest thing I’ve done because of macrames is making Instagram videos. They’re very popular, and I get a lot of positive feedback. A few years ago, I could never have imagined appearing on video for thousands of viewers.

When making macrames, trust your imagination. Just dive in, get inspired, and let yourself succeed! It also takes bravery to fail and start over. I’ve gained a lot of courage through this pastime.

The biggest challenge is when you can’t find precisely the yarn shade you want. Kirsi uses only Finnish yarns, and they don’t offer, for example, a green reminiscent of the Mediterranean. Right now, she has 24 different shades plus about ten accent yarns on hand.

In the bedroom, the “hat hanger” above the bed is one of Kirsi’s most treasured works. She can’t give it away because it’s used to store her beloved wide-brimmed hats.

You favor materials from Finnish businesses. What does your yarn stash look like?

Macrame requires a special type of yarn. Macrame yarn is thick and sturdy, it doesn’t stretch and holds its shape. At the moment, I have 24 different shades in my stash, plus about ten accent yarns. I use these accent yarns very sparingly and only for small details. All of my yarns are Finnish, and my pieces carry the Key Flag Symbol. I also knot in wooden beads, agate slices, and stones.

Supporting Finnish women entrepreneurs is important to me. I buy all my tags, tissue paper, shipping boxes, and bags from women-owned businesses.

I source the naturally shed reindeer antlers from a trusted supplier in Lapland. Any piece made with a reindeer antler is always one of a kind because once a reindeer sheds its antlers, it will never grow identical ones again.