How to Make Your Own Christmas Wreath

Life &amp; Style Design Studio Make &amp; Create Print Library How to Make Your Own Christmas Wreath It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, isn’t it? And, as the song goes, the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be on your own front door. Which we take to mean that Christmas isn’t really Christmas without having a crack at making your own wreath. (Right?)

Well, since we humbly admit our … er … limitations with the secateurs, we’ve brought in an expert. Clare from After Achillea will be showing us how to make a big, beautiful wreath bursting with natural greenery and decorations. And we can’t wait.

To make a wreath you will need the following: A copper wreath frame (these come in various sizes, but I usually use a 10inch frame) Reel wire (one or two rolls) Sack moss or spagnum moss Floral scissors or secateurs Strong Stub Wire A mixture of foliage (for this wreath I am using flowering Eucalyptus, Scotch, Douglas and Blue pine, grevillea ivanhoe, berried ivy) Optional extras: pine cones, berries, dried oranges/limes, hydrangea, lavender, thistles, heather, peppercorns and ribbon. *all materials should be fairly easy to source from your local florist, but it’s always good to let them know in advance and make an order, especially this year!*

Step One The first thing you need to do is attach your reel wire to the metal wreath frame. I do this by winding the end of the wire around a cross section of the frame, twisting until it feels secure, before wrapping the reel wire around the base a few times.

Now that your wire is attached to your frame, it’s time to moss your base. Grab a handful or two and place it on top of your frame. It doesn’t have to be super neat, but it does help if you use a fairly generous amount of moss, maybe a bit more than you think you need. (If you don’t think you have used enough at the end of this stage you can repeat this process).

Keeping the reel wire firmly in your hand, allowing around 10 cm of length (no more, don’t get carried away), begin to bind the moss onto the frame, holding the moss with your left hand and wrapping the wire around with your right, working in a clockwise direction and wrapping every inch or so.

At the end of this process the moss should feel firmly attached to the frame and it should feel consistent all the way around, like a mossy wreath shaped pillow for your foliage to sit on.

Do not cut your reel wire, as you will need it for the next stages.

Step Two With your base mossed up and ready to go, it’s now time to prep your foliage.

Cut your foliage into manageable lengths (a mixture of lengths is good! From around 10-20cm) using floral scissors or secateurs. I like to prep a whole bunch of mixed greens, because – trust me – you will use more than you imagine, especially if you like your wreath on the fuller side. It’s much easier to have a big selection to choose from rather than stopping and starting.

I like to leave some pieces fairly chunky, and others a bit less robust, this is because essentially what you are creating is a bit like a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle, and the small bits slot together nicely with the bigger.

Step Three Right, now it’s time to get started on adding the foliage to your base.

Lots of people like to make small bunches of mixed foliage first, but I prefer to gather a little mix in my left hand and place it directly onto the frame, before wrapping the wire round a couple of times to secure it firmly in place.

Continue this process, laying it flat, overlapping what is already there, following the direction of the base, and wrapping the wire over the bottom stems.

Easier said than done? Here are some top tips... If you move the frame, rather than trying to move yourself around it, you will find everything a lot easier. So, after laying your first bundle and wiring it on, turn the base ever so slightly counter clockwise, it will feel like you are putting foliage on the same part of the wreath over and over again...until the start of the wreath comes to meet you When you are laying your foliage it’s really important that the stems you are placing follow the shape of the base. That way, when you are placing the next bundle, the wired stems of the previous bundle are hidden. You don’t want any stems sticking out of your wreath as it looks a bit messy (and not in a good way). If you want a nice chunky wreath, the secret is A LOT of foliage, that means lots of overlapping bundles. If you don’t overlap heavily your wreath will be quite flat, even gappy. Don’t worry if you notice this too late in the game, the joy of wreaths is that they can be patched up with more foliage, pine cones, hydrangea florets and even baubles. Just make sure your wire is tight so these things can be tucked in. When you are making a wreath, take your time. In fact, make sure you have an afternoon or an evening set aside to enjoy the process. Make some mulled wine or a cup of tea, stick a mince pie in the oven, whack on your favourite Christmas tunes and get in the festive spirit...it will help, I promise! Step Four Continuing to add all the way around, when you are a bundle or two away from reaching your start point, gently lift the top of the first bundle you laid down, allowing the last few bundles you are placing to tuck under the first. By doing this your finish will be more or less seamless (and super professional … get you).

Step Five Once you are full circle, wrap your wire around the wreath a few times, making sure you weave in the wire a bit as you go, so it doesn’t sit on top of all your beautiful work.

Now you can see the frame, take the end of the reel wire and thread it under the frame, looping over, and under, repeating moving along the frame as if sewing. The stitches can be fairly large, just ensure that the wire is pulled taut after each “stitch”. Once you have about 10cm left of your wire, make a knot by pulling the wire through one of your loops and tuck into the moss.

Step Six To make a loop for the wreath to hang from take about 20cm of wire or ribbon, fold in half so you have a hair pin of sorts, then take the rounded part underneath the metal frame of the wreath and tuck the two ends through the middle and twist around if using wire or knot if using ribbon.

Finished Flip the wreath back over, give it a little fluff, pop it on a nail on the door and admire your work for the next few weeks.

I hope you enjoy making your wreath, and that is the first of many you will create over the years.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas! Happy Wreath making!

Clare from After Achillea

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