How to Make a Wreath

Wreaths are one of my favorite things to make during the holidays. Granted, I am a bit of a nut when it comes to decorating for the holiday season. Fresh wreaths and garlands not only add festive touches to your home but make the room smell absolutely wonderful! I was reminded of the source of my love of all things evergreen while back in Ohio this fall. Growing up, my mom would have piles and piles of fresh pine in the courtyard at her shop. Though she has since sold her business, the piles in the courtyard remain. My sister, Lindsay, opened her own store in the same space as our mom’s and now teaches workshops along with 18 other artists at The Collective.

Decorating this time of year calls for pulling out all your best tricks. For Anthony and me, that means wreaths, garlands, centerpieces and pine arrangements galore. Every room gets something, and the result is a festive and aromatic home.

Despite what you might think, making a gorgeous evergreen wreath is not difficult. All you need is some fresh material, floral wire, and a little patience.

The first step in making your home a holiday wonderland is to find some fresh greens, fortunately, this time of year they are in almost every store on the block. You won’t have to go far to find fresh greens, but it is my recommendation that you start with a local garden center or flower shop. The greens you will likely find there are going to be fresher, higher quality and in many cases, locally sourced. I like to work with two or three different types of greens to really get as much texture and contrast as I can. In the photos below, I am working with balsam fir and white pine, two common and easily sourced types of evergreen. Other options include Carolina Sapphire, cedar, boxwood, magnolia leaves and more.

When it comes to making wreaths, you have a couple of options. You will need to select a base for your wreath and while either option will give you a great foundation, the real difference is in how difficult they are to work with. Your two options for a wreath base are a grapevine wreath or a wireframe.

Grapevine wreaths are exactly what they sound like; dried grapevines that are coiled, tied and dried. They are a dependable and sturdy base that I find the easiest to work with. To make a wreath with a grapevine base, simply shove the greens wherever you want them and voila! You have a wreath.

Metal frames, on the other hand, are a little more cost-effective. Most garden centers and flower shops us simple metal hoop wreaths because they are cheaper, giving them a better margin on their sale.

This year, Anthony and I made one of each. He really likes asymmetrical wreaths whereas I prefer a fuller and more uniform look. Let’s start with the grapevine wreath.

Grapevine Wreaths

Start by hanging your wreath on a door, wall or some other vertical space where you can work. Wreaths always look different hanging than they do when they are hung so I always work vertically.

Next, cut your greens down to 6 – 8-inch segments and make piles of each type of green you use.

Now you’re ready to start building your wreath. Start with one green type of green and work your way around the circumference of the wreath until you have base layer down. Simply stick the woody ends of the greens into the tightly wound base and work in a circular motion. Next, add your white pine, working in the same circular pattern as before. Keep going in this fashion until you’re satisfied with your piece.

As mentioned, I love grapevines for their ease of use and versatility. You can make a wreath as full or thin as you wish, and it will more than likely look great. I made a wreath with balsam, white pine and silver-dollar eucalyptus that turned out beautifully thanks to the differing textures and scale of the foliage.

Metal Frames

For a metal frame, start by cutting your greens into pieces that are all about 6 – 8 inches in length.

Next, make small bundles of greens, usually 3 or 4 stems per bundle, and tightly wire them together at the base. These bundles will be wired onto the metal frame when you start to assemble the wreath so it is important to make all your bundles ahead of time.

Once you’ve bundled all your greens, it is time to start assembling. Take your first bundle and with a paddle of floral wire, tightly wire it onto the frame by going around the entire thing a few times. Now, ad your second bundle and without cutting your wire, wrap it around the whole frame again. Continue this method until you’ve completely covered the frame and then cut the wire, affixing it to the frame at the end.

No matter what avenue you choose, I hope your wreaths turn out to be beautiful. Don’t sweat about making the “perfect” wreath, even pros get frustrated at times. The important part of this project is to simply enjoy yourself and the company you’re with. It is the holiday season after all so spread some cheer, make a wreath and adore it no matter what!