Wreath Making Basics

Wreath Making Basics

Dec 8th 2017

A beautiful accessory for any interior or exterior door, wreaths come in all shapes and sizes. The holiday season is the perfect time of year to learn the process for making a wreath. Once you have the wreath making basics down, you can experiment with different projects and ideas to use year round.

Wreath Making Basics

For beginners, there are two different techniques you can try when making a wreath. You’ll either begin with a wire form or a rounded straw or foam base for your wreath. Materials to decorate your wreath are attached to the form with either floral wire and/or craft glue. In general, wire forms are more versatile and allow the wreath maker for more creativity, whereas a foam base is not easily reshaped. You can use a single wire frame for smaller, more delicate wreaths or try making a fuller wreath with a double wire frame.

The best way to learn the wreath making basics is to create a standard one out of evergreen cuttings.

  1. Gather your materials: wire form (single or double), floral wire, evergreen cuttings, wire cutters, and work gloves.
  2. Wrap floral wire, still on its paddle, around the form three times.
  3. Place bundles of cuttings on the form and attach them by wrapping the floral wire around the stems three times.
  4. Overlap the next bundle over the original by half and wrap the floral wire around the stems three times.
  5. Continue this process around the form until you’ve reached your starting place.
  6. Leave several inches of floral wire free before cutting.
  7. Secure the wire under the form with a knot. You can also twist the wire around itself to make a loop so you can easily hang your wreath.

Now you have a beautiful evergreen wreath! Pretty easy, right? Don’t forget to add embellishments, such as bows, bells, pinecones, or whatever your heart desires to your wreath.

DIY Wreath Ideas

Now that you have a general idea of how to make a wreath, you can start exploring and experimenting with tutorials for more artistic pieces. These DIY wreath ideas produce gorgeous results and are all fairly simple, especially since you know exactly what you are doing.

  • Burlap Christmas Wreath - This project uses a foam form and takes less than an hour to make.
  • Fluffy Tinsel Wreath - Great for both Christmas and New Year’s, this wreath is a beautifully festive touch for any home.
  • Snowball Wreath - If winter is your favorite holiday, you absolutely must make this adorable wreath for your home.
  • Rudolph Wreath - Santa Claus knows exactly who your favorite reindeer is with this cheerful Christmas wreath.
  • Ribbon Candy Wreath - For the family with a sweet tooth, this wreath is perfect for you.
  • Honeycomb Wreath - Forgo the traditional forms and create a wreath using upcycled cardboard tubes (such as those from gift wrapping, paper towels, or toilet paper).
  • Modern Wire and Ornament Wreath - Minimal but bright, this wreath is a stunning accessory for the more modern home.
  • Photo Wreath - With a wire frame, you can display all of your favorite memories in this nontraditional wreath project.
  • Giant Christmas Wreath - Instead of a foam or wire form, a hula hoop serves as a foundation for this beautiful home decor piece.
  • Whimsical Bottle Brush Tree Wreath - Create a winter wonderland scene with this easy-to-make wreath.
  • Moss and Cranberry Wreath - This tutorial suggests placing the completed wreath on a holiday dinner table as a centerpiece rather than hanging it on a door. Either way, it’s lovely and perfect for the season.
  • Shiny Brites Wreath - Ribbon and ornaments make a cheerful holiday wreath in this tutorial.
  • Lighted Pinecone Wreath - This wreath works for both the fall and winter seasons, so make it and hang it on your door in late September and leave it up until the snow thaws.
  • Snowman Wreath - With three smaller wreaths, make your very own snowman who won’t melt when the sun is shining.
  • Wrapped Flannel Holiday Wreath - Upcycle all flannel shirts into a wreath that you wouldn’t mind snuggling up with in front of the fire.

You’ve made a perfect wreath, but you don’t want to expose it to the winter elements hanging on an external door. Instead, hang them inside on one of your sliding modern doors. Don’t have one? You’re in luck! Take 30 percent off sitewide with promo code HOLLY30 when you purchase gorgeous rolling barn doors for your home.