Wreath Making 101

Wreath Making 101

In Michigan, it seems that there are grapevines growing everywhere. I have to trim mine twice a year to keep them looking neat and so they don’t climb up into the trees. If you live in a place where this is also the case, or have access to wild grapevines, then I would like to challenge you to, instead of throwing the vines away after trimming, try making your own wreaths. If you don't have access to grapevines, try this craft using thin, long (about 3 ft.), freshly cut tree branches.

It is always best to work with vines that have been cut the same day. If this is not possible, you will have to soak them for a few hours in order to make them more pliable.

Begin with a thick, long, single strand. Shape it into a circle; about the size you want it. Wrap the remaining part of the vine around the circle. Tuck the end into the wreath. Continue wrapping, with one or two vines at a time. Tuck the vine into the wreath; wrap; tuck the loose end into the wreath. Vary your direction of wrapping and the point of origin (where you start your vine) to give the wreath more interest. You want your wreath fairly tight and thick, as it will shrink as it dries.

I dry my wreaths outside on my picnic table. With the sun beating on them, they dry in about two weeks. I even leave them outside in the rain. Any water they absorb will quickly evaporate (Plus, if it is slightly out of shape, now is the time to reshape it).

Don’t be disappointed if your first wreaths don’t look exactly right. Remember, you are learning. Besides, you can always hang your ‘mistakes’ outside in the garden.

After you have had some practice making simple circular wreaths, try experimenting with different shapes such as hearts, ovals, and squares. One shape I make as a gift for newlyweds is a wreath of interlocking circles, to represent their union and the wedding rings. To do this, I begin by making a single-strand circle. With the next vine, I make another circle of the same size, but I make sure that the second circle is passing through the first. The following vines are used to build up the wreath and also secure the first two circles to each other.

Just remember, if you are going to make a vine wreath as a gift, be sure to have the box you are going to give it in handy, or you might get carried away and make the wreath too large!

Finally, I would like to encourage you to have your child try their hand at wreath-making. I added a bow that I made from torn fabric to their creations and display them proudly amid my other primitives.

If you do not see the table at the left, please click here.