DIY Projects: A Beautifully Simple Christmas Wreath
With little more than evergreen sprigs, beads and a metal ring, you can fashion a festive wreath for your home
Franziska Land
15 December 2016
Scandinavians are masters of creating a festive atmosphere using natural colours and simple materials. This modern wreath is inspired by that tradition. Whether you hang it on your front door or on a wall inside your home, its natural beauty will fill your heart with the spirit of Christmas.
Materials
- Fir or other evergreen sprigs, mistletoe or eucalyptus
- Metal ring; ours is about 30 centimetres in diameter
- Small clamps or bulldog clips
- Scissors
- Nylon string or florist’s wire
- Nine large unfinished wooden beads of different sizes, available in craft stores and online; we used beads from 25 to 45 millimetres
- Other decorations as desired; we used two clear glass ornaments
- Large yarn needle
- Thick yarn
- Buff-coloured card stock
- Pen
Instructions
Step 1: Fix the fir sprigs in place
Lay some of the sprigs in a semi-circle around the ring. You can hold the sprigs in place with small clamps or bulldog clips so that it will be easier to tie them together later. Trim the sprigs and keep the cut ends at the back to hide them.
Tie the sprigs to the ring with nylon string or florist’s wire.
Step 1: Fix the fir sprigs in place
Lay some of the sprigs in a semi-circle around the ring. You can hold the sprigs in place with small clamps or bulldog clips so that it will be easier to tie them together later. Trim the sprigs and keep the cut ends at the back to hide them.
Tie the sprigs to the ring with nylon string or florist’s wire.
Fill sparse places with little sprigs so that the shape of your wreath looks balanced. Stick the small sprigs between larger ones or tie them on with nylon string if necessary.
Step 2: Attach the beads
Now the wreath will get its Scandinavian feel. Sew the beads on the sprigs as you would a button: thread the needle with yarn and stitch through the back of the tied sprigs and then through the beads; fix the whole thing in place with another stitch to the back.
Follow the semi-circle of the arranged fir sprigs. It looks particularly pleasing if the larger beads are in the middle and the smaller ones are on the outer edges.
Now the wreath will get its Scandinavian feel. Sew the beads on the sprigs as you would a button: thread the needle with yarn and stitch through the back of the tied sprigs and then through the beads; fix the whole thing in place with another stitch to the back.
Follow the semi-circle of the arranged fir sprigs. It looks particularly pleasing if the larger beads are in the middle and the smaller ones are on the outer edges.
Step 3: Add other decorations
You can use the ends of the yarn to hang glass ornaments or other decorations as you see fit.
If the yarn ends are long enough, just thread them through each ornament’s hanger and knot the ends on the back of the sprigs.
You can use the ends of the yarn to hang glass ornaments or other decorations as you see fit.
If the yarn ends are long enough, just thread them through each ornament’s hanger and knot the ends on the back of the sprigs.
Step 4: Write a festive note
A handwritten message is a cute extra on this wreath. Cut a strip of card stock about 2.5 by 21 centimetres and write your greeting in the centre. Don’t be afraid to use your own, maybe a bit scrawly, handwriting – it will add a personal touch.
A handwritten message is a cute extra on this wreath. Cut a strip of card stock about 2.5 by 21 centimetres and write your greeting in the centre. Don’t be afraid to use your own, maybe a bit scrawly, handwriting – it will add a personal touch.
Cut two pieces of yarn about 30 centimetres long and tie a knot at one end of each piece. Roll the yarn into the short ends of the card stock as shown.
This makes the card stock look like a scroll and gives your simple wreath a festive character. Use the unknotted yarn ends to attach the message to the wreath.
This makes the card stock look like a scroll and gives your simple wreath a festive character. Use the unknotted yarn ends to attach the message to the wreath.
Use your ring temporarily to help you create a braided hanger. Fold the three pieces of yarn in half, creating six strands with a loop at the top.
Fold the top over the ring and pull the ends through the loop (this is called a cow hitch knot). Separate your strands into three pairs as shown, then braid them.
Tie the ends and remove the braid from the ring.
Fold the top over the ring and pull the ends through the loop (this is called a cow hitch knot). Separate your strands into three pairs as shown, then braid them.
Tie the ends and remove the braid from the ring.
Hang the wreath at eye level where you can appreciate its simple beauty.
TELL US
Want to give this simple Christmas decoration a go? Share your efforts by posting photos of your finished wreath in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more Christmas DIYs
TELL US
Want to give this simple Christmas decoration a go? Share your efforts by posting photos of your finished wreath in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more Christmas DIYs
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Thanks for sharing. This is fabulous!
This is true to the saying - less is more.
Jan Bird, Decorator.
A monogrammed wreath for Christmas on our front door inspired by Martha Stewart