Wreaths are popular decorative items that can be customized for any season or occasion. Wreaths are particularly popular during the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, especially when adorned with evergreen boughs and berries. Learning how to make a wreath can be a handy skill.
Those new to wreath-making need not worry, as it’s relatively easy to learn the technique. Here are the basics to crafting a wreath, which can then be adorned as desired.
Materials needed
The first step to making a wreath is having the right tools and materials on hand.
- Wreath form: This is the frame upon which the materials will be attached. Choose a form diameter that matches the desired size for the center ring of the wreath, as longer flowers or branches can be attached to create a larger finished wreath. A 10-inch wreath form is good for getting started. The form can be made from metal or grapevine. For a foam form, you’ll be poking wire into the form instead of wrapping it around it to secure your greenery and decorations.
- Paddle wire: Choose 22- to 24-gauge paddle wire to attach greenery and additional items onto the form.
- Clippers and wire cutters
- Craft scissors
- Foliage, flowers and boughs
- Decorative items and accessories
- Floral tape
- Door hanger
Prepare your work station
Once you have collected your supplies, it’s time to begin. Place all materials on a protected surface. Trim foliage into workable sizes that will fit neatly on the frame, and set aside.
Build bundles
The first step to making a wreath is to make small bouquets or bundles of greenery that look good in small bunches, suggests Homesteading Family. Hold the bundle tightly and use floral tape around the stems to keep each bundle together. Repeat this process until you have several bundles to attach to the wreath form.
Start attaching the greenery
Begin by laying a bundle onto the form and using a piece of paddle wire to first wrap around the form, and then wrap around the bundle stems to hold in place. Experts suggest pointing the stems inward and arranging the leaves and greenery to point outwards to create a fan shape. Always place the next bundle slightly overlapping and on top of the previous bundle to cover the stems. Repeat this process all around the wreath form until you reach the starting point.
Add your embellishments
Fill in any sparse areas with some decorations, such as small ornaments, bows, pinecones, ribbons, or plastic gems. Simply wrap a piece of wire around the decoration and attach it to the form as you did the bundles. When adding embellishments, work in odd-numbered groupings, as they look more aesthetically appealing on a circle, say the floral experts at Team Flower. Twist all wire ends tightly to avoid scratching your door or wall when the wreath is ready to hang.
Hang the wreath
Place the wreath holder on your door or in another spot. Determine what is the top of the wreath and twist two pieces of your paddle wire together to thicken it. Fashion the wire into a loop shape so you will have a “hook” for hanging the wreath onto the holder, which makes it more secure.
Making a homemade wreath is inexpensive and a perfect craft project for the holiday season.
