Make a beautiful fabric wreath using this QUICK method! No tying is needed, so it's easy on the fingers. Our method uses a 12" foam core, not a wire frame. Simply stitch the strips in long rows, then wrap them around the core. This wreath is a great stash-buster!
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Because the wreath has fabric all around, it can be admired from both sides of a glass door.
EASY PIECED WREATH TUTORIAL
You will need:
-One 12-inch floral styrofoam wreath
-Dark green fabric for backbone strips (approx. 1 fat quarter - FQ)
-Hot pink fabric for bow (we used a 10" x 21" piece from 1 FQ)
-Assorted fabrics for cross-strips: approx. 1-3/4 to 2 yards (7-8 FQ)
Step 1. Backbone strips: Cut the dark green fat quarter into 1.5" wide strips (you will need 9-10 strips that are ~21" long):
Step 2. Cross-strips: Cut the assorted fabrics into 1.5" wide strips, then cross-cut so the strips are 3.5" long*. To save time, you can cut a stack of 3-4 fabrics as long as your rotary blade is sharp (*use caution*!) We first cut the 1.5" wide strips without separating them, then simply rotated the cutting mat and made a second set of cuts every 3.5 inches:
Here are the strips from the six fabrics we used. We selected dark, medium and light value fabrics to give the wreath some interest. We used two FQ of the dark green, turquoise and purple, and one FQ of the others. We included some spotty white fabrics that looked like snow:
Step 3. Stitch the cross strips to the backbones: Place one dark green backbone strip in the sewing machine and take a few stitches down the middle of the strip to hold it in place (see second photo below). Start adding cross strips as follows: fold one cross-strip in half lengthwise to make a 3/4" wide strip and pinch it in the middle. Then layer another cross-strip on top and fold it in half lengthwise. We found it easiest to fold and stack the strips flat on the table, then pinch them together as shown below. (Note: you can click on any of the pictures to expand them and see the detail).
Center the stacked cross strips on the backbone and take a few stitches down the middle. Continue folding and adding cross-strips to the backbone strip, one right after another, as shown in the photos below. You should not need to raise and lower the presser foot as long as you take only a few stitches before you add the next set of strips:
You can use chain piecing if you wish by starting on the next backbone without lifting the needle. Each backbone will hold about 26 stacked cross strips. It will take a little time to sew the strips - but not days ! It goes fairly quickly, and soon you will have a tantalizing collection of fluffy strips, at which point you will start to imagine all sorts of decor possibilities in addition to the wreath. Garlands, conical trees, jars filled with fabric, and wall hangings come to mind.
Step 4. Make the bow: Before you finish stitching all the strips, attach the bow "strings" and bow to one of the backbone strips, about 6" from the end. First, cut the hot pink fabric into one 8" x 21" strip and one 2" x 21" strip. Fold the 8" wide strip in fourths, lengthwise, making an accordion fold as shown below (first fold the strip in half lengthwise with right sides together; then fold back the raw edges.) This will become the "strings" for the bow:
Then fold the 2" wide strip to make a flat bow. We've provided a free bow template in a pdf file (download here). The bow looks like this:
Attach the bow "strings" and bow to one of the backbone strips, about 6" from the end. First, center the bow strings on the backbone, then layer the flat bow on top of the strings and stitch down the middle, stitching through all layers.
When you are done stitching the bow, continue stitching cross pieces onto the backbone.
Step 5. Assemble the wreath: Start with the strip that has the bow. Center the bow on the front of the wreath form and pin it in place temporarily with a t-pin:
Then start wrapping the strip around the wreath, pushing the bow and cross-strips to the left as you wrap the strip to the right:
When have finished wrapping this strip, secure the end with a t-pin (you can tuck the t-pin underneath a cross strip so that it does not show). Also wrap and pin the left end of the strip behind the bow (once both ends are secured, you can remove the pin from the bow.) Keep pinning and wrapping strips around the wreath, one after another, until the entire form is covered. Hint: If you wrap slowly, an inch or two at a time, it will be easy to push aside the cross strips so they do not get caught underneath the strip you are wrapping. When you have gone all the way around the wreath, cut off any extra strips. We used about 9.5 strips for our finished wreath. Fluff the wreath with your fingers, straightening out any crumpled strips.
Having completed this project, here's what we love about this method:
-The wreath looks so professional!
-It uses about the same amount of fabric as other methods. There is little or no wastage.
-It takes only a few hours, not days.
-It is perfect not only for scraps and remnants, but also for pre-cuts such as honey buns - and, with minor modifications, jelly roll strips.
-After the holidays the fabric strips can be unpinned and stored in a box until next year. The wreath form can then be used to make another wreath.
~Enjoy your wreath and have a very happy holiday season ! ~
