DIY CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING KITS

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At THE FLOWER UNION we always like to use biodegradable or reusable wreath bases. Options include willow, grapevine or copper frames, for sale on our website.

THE FRAME

Working with a frame that is about the size  of a dinner plate means you can easily get your hand through the centre as you're attaching the foliage. 

With a copper frame, you start by covering the base in a generous helping of fresh, green moss, securing it tightly in place with florists' wire (bear in mind, the moss will shrink a little as it dries out so it is worth spending extra time and focus getting this nice and tight so that your wreath is as robust as possible for the holiday season).

THE FOLIAGE

We like to forage what we can from our wonderful woodland. These are native plants that will last well during the winter months and who will regenerate well. They can also be added to a compost bin after use.

Always use lots of greenery. We like box, bay, rosemary, holly (always add last to save your fingers!), ivy, conifer, spruce, leylandii.

BUt we like a lot of colour too. Choose from ; rosehips, crab apples, cotoneaster, hellebores, heathers / ericas, mistletoes

Once you have gathered everything you would like to use, lay it neatly out in front of you so you can see what you have to work with.

This part is a little bit time consuming but it is worth doing well so that you have a robust and secure base for the holiday season.

THE MAKING

Make a selection of small posie sized wreaths 

Depending upon how big and full you would like your wreath, you will need somewhere between 15 and 30.

Choose a variety of foliage and think about how they will appear when they are hanging on your door / gate. 

Use the harder, more robust material at the back of the posies, with the more delivate. lighter materials towards the front.

Trim each posie so that they are all similar in length and have at least 1 inch of leaf / needle free stem that you can use to attach to the wreath frame or base.

Lay the first posie on the wreath at roughly a 45 degree angle. Use a reel of florists wire to attach  / secure the posie on top of the wreath with a few repeats of the florists wire circling both the frame and the posie. then tuck a second posie tightly behind the first and wrap the wire roudn the second posie and frame.  Repeat with your remaining posies until the wreath is completely covered and even.

Arrange the posies around you wreath and tie each one in using twine or wire (wire is stronger but some people find it too hard on their hands).

as you are working your way attaching the posies to the wreath, make sure you give the wreath some really over the tops shakes (especially if it is going to be on a door)

THE DECORATING

THE VIEWING

Look carefully at your wreath and decide exactly which directly you would like it to hang.

Tie a piece of twine or fishing wire (you can reuse this year after year) around the top and hang it securely in place.