How to make your own Christmas wreath

Christmas wreaths are fun to make, especially if you involve kids or friends and you make it a tradition. You can be as creative as you like and use any foliage you like. You can also play with the design and decorate your wreath in different styles. It won’t only make you proud, but your wreath is going to be absolutely unique.

You will need

• Base – it can be a vine, hazel branches, straw or metal frame
• Secateurs
• Twine or roll of binding wire
• Foliage (a good mix of pine, conifers, box, eucalyptus, fir, etc.)
• Decor (pine cones, berries, dried orange slices, baubles, stars, bells, etc.)

Wreath making

• You can even make the base of your wreath using vine or 4-5 hazel branches. All you need to do is to bend the vine or branches onto the size you want the wreath to be, and then weave the vine around itself.
• Tie the vine or branches together with binding wire or twine. The base doesn’t have to be an exact circle, so don’t worry if your base is imperfect.
• Secure the binding wire or twine on the base.
• Build your first foliage pile. Make sure you create a fan shaped pile and the section of greenery that goes inside the wreath is shorter than the ones that are going outside. It means, as you make your wreath, every section is going to be covered beautifully. Be generous with your foliage and use different greenery. The different textures and volume will create a traditional look.
• Place the bundle on top of where the wire is secured onto the base. Holding on to that, just wind the wire around the bundle.
• Build the second bundle of greenery. It doesn’t have to be identical to the first one. You can mix the greenery as you like.
• Place the second bundle onto the bind point and wrap the wire around the bundle.
• Repeat the process until your wreath is ready. Place the last bundle under the first bundle and push it in.
• Bind it around twice to secure the last bundle. Turn the wreath around and cut the wire. Make sure it’s long enough to wrap around the base a few times and tie a knot.
• Cut a decent length of garden twine and form a loop. Tie knots at both ends, then place the twine between the branches and loop it through there so that you can hang the wreath on the door.

Wreath decorating

• You can be as creative as you like. Whether it’s a traditional, Scandinavian, natural or funky design you have in mind, you can make your wreath unique.
• I like using pine cones and other natural elements that I find whilst foraging. I also like adding red berries as I don’t always find hollies with red berries.
• Depending on the look I’m going for, I also like using baubles and wooden elements like a small rocking horse.
• I’ve done many different designs over the years and I loved all of them. Yet when it comes to our Christmas wreath, very often I’m drawn to the traditional look.

In our family, it has become a tradition to make the Christmas wreath for Advent. I love getting outdoors and forage the foliage in the countryside.

Although decorating the wreath is undoubtedly the best part of the process, I can’t get bored with building the wreath. There’s something relaxing about it and it also allows me to get into the festive spirit. With music and candles in the background, it certainly does.

I hope this inspires you to get outdoors, forage the foliage you like and create your own wreath for Christmas.