How to make a fresh and festive holiday wreath at home
Step 1:
You will need a 12-inch wreath hoop (the standard door wreath size that can be found at your local craft store), some floral wire (Sarah recommends 20 gauge for the best flexibility and strength) and a pair of garden shears.
Photo by Meghan H. Follett
Step 2 :
Sarah clipped these greens from trees around The Farmer’s Daughter. She recommends searching in your backyard for the freshest (and cheapest) natural greens. Try to use a variety of branches in different textures and colors. Sarah uses a base of Frasier Fir, which has the best needle retention.
Photo by Meghan H. Follett
Step 3:
Your wreath will be made of thick bundles of two different kinds of greens: the base green (Frasier Fir) and various greens of different colors and textures. This helps you sprinkle the visual interest throughout the wreath. Both kinds of branch packages should be trimmed to about 12 inches long and all should be about the same thickness. Gather bundles by the cut ends. You will need ten bunches of each kind.
Photo by Meghan H. Follett
Step 4:
Starting with a bundle of regular Frasier Fir, align the branches so they angle away from the circle at about a 30 degree angle. Then, latch the last two to three inches of the branches to the wreath hoop by looping the wire around it a few times until it feels secure. Next, place a variegated bunch on top of the previous one, at the same angle so it sticks out a bit. Make sure to leave two to three inches sticking out on the trimmed end once again to secure the bundle to the hoop. Keep attaching your bunches one by one in this fashion, alternating the varieties.
Photo by Meghan H. Follett
Once you’ve attached your bundles, alternating as you go, tuck in the last by lifting up your first bundle and making sure the stems of your final bunch are snug. Make sure there aren’t any empty spots where you ended – chances are you may need to put one more bundle in there. Feel free to mix up that last one to help it blend. After you attach it, make sure to loop your wire around a few times and tie it off to secure it to the hoop. Voila! You’ve made your own fresh and fragrant wreath.
To help your wreath last until spring, hang outside, preferably on the north side of the house where you get less direct sunlight. When it rains, toss the wreath into the yard and let it soak up the moisture.
Written and Photographed by Meghan H. Follett
There’s nothing like the smell of fresh evergreen in your home at this time of year. Try making your own this season, with the help of Sarah Partyka from The Farmer’s Daughter in South Kingstown. Flip through our slideshow to see how.
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