Although I like to keep my seasonal decor minimal, I do like to welcome the spirit of the holidays into my home with natural handmade decorations. This year, I had my heart set on a simple wreath like the ones I'd been admiring on Pinterest. I'm not keen on throw-away wreaths that don't last a season and the store-bought plastic decorations that adorn them, nor the beautifully crafted but extortionately priced (and over-the-top) florist wreaths - and I know lots of you aren't a fan either.
You don't need to spend a ton of money on a wreath, you can find everything you need right outside your door; better yet, it can all be composted. This guide will show you how to make your own foraged wreath from gathered materials. The best thing about this DIY wreath? You can make it in under an hour. Invite some friends over, go foraging together, and spend a lovely afternoon together making your wreaths.
Tools
• garden shears, clippers, or sharp scissors
• gardening gloves
• a sturdy bag
I found I didn't need gardening gloves although my hands are used to going without, and a pair of sharp scissors did the trick at snipping vines and small branches. Depending on what you plan on foraging, you may need more heavy duty garden shears or clippers to help snip through tougher stems and gloves to protect your hands from prickly holly. Either way, remember to bring a sturdy bag that's large enough to accommodate twisted vines and bulky foliage.
Materials
• vines or shoots to create a base (e.g: hazel, willow, or ivy)
• foliage for the body (e.g: ivy, holly, and conifers)
• reusable decorations (e.g: ribbon, dried fruit, baubles)
• biodegradable twine
If you don't have a garden or easy access to woodland, there are other ways to go about foraging for materials. Ask a friend or neighbour if you could forage in their garden, or take a short walk or bus ride to a local park or woodland. I headed to my local cemetery, it's literally outside my window; it's no longer open to new burials and it's run my volunteers who didn't mind me taking a few cuttings. There will undoubtedly be somewhere close by for you to forage in. It almost goes without saying, when foraging don't trespass on private property and don't take too much. Remember to give anything you forage a through rinse with water to remove any dirt or bugs before working with them.
Step One: Create A Base
Take three or five vines and make a loop the size you want your wreath to be, then start twisting the vines back on themselves, in and out of the loop to create a twisted hoop. When you run out of vine to work with, push the ends through the gaps, tucking them in where the vines criss cross to secure them in place. Your wreath base should form a sturdy hoop and be able to hang on its own. I found damp vines were more flexible and less prone to breaking so if you’ve foraged dry ones, run the vines under the shower to make them more pliable.
Step Two: Add Decoration
Once you have your base you can start to decorate your wreath. Ivy and other vines can be wrapped around and tucked into the twisted base of the wreath; stem clippings, like fir branches, holly, and springs of berries, need to be secured in place with a little twine. If you want to attach pine cones, it’s best to forage them with a branch so you can snip off a little of the stem to help making tying them on easier. Add any bows, dried fruit, or baubles after attaching the foliage. I like to keep my wreaths simple with a few sprigs of foliage, leaving part of the base exposed; feel free to make your wreath as bold or as simple as you like.
Step Three: Hang The Wreath
A foraged wreath can be hung with or without a traditional ribbon. Look for a natural loop in the vines, which you can use to balance the wreath on a door hook or nail. Alternatively, hang the wreath using a piece of twine or ribbon looped through the body of the wreath. I always think it's lovely to decorate your home with handmade decorations so I'm gifting my foraged wreaths to friends and family as an extra Christmas gift.
