Introduction to crafting your own sustainable reusable Christmas yarn wreath
Crafting a wreath for our Christmas door has become a popular and enjoyable activity and with a focus on being sustainable a reusable wreath is a good way forward. For many creative people making beautiful festive decorations for their homes has become part of their preparations during the Advent period. This blog outlines the steps to create a sustainable wreath which can be used for many years to come. The blog shows how to use a TabbyandTweed Christmas yarn wreath kit but we have outlined the steps involved so that someone without a kit could with a few of their own supplies make a similar wreath.
The Christmas Wreath kit contains everything you need to get crafting
Whether you are a seasoned crafter or a beginner looking for a fun festive project the Christmas Yarn flower wreath kit is the perfect choice. The kit is sold with step by step easy to follow instructions and includes all the yarn, embellishments, ribbon, flower looms and baubles to create the decorative Christmas door wreath or wall hanging. We like to use British wool in our kits and local resources where possible and for this kit we have chosen to include Appleton British wool and yarn. If you haven't got one of these kits then our hope is that the blog gives sufficient details for you to make your own wreath with your own supplies.
The yarns flower looms are made of wood and have small crenulations or pegs around the edges. Instead of using a wooden flower loom you could create your own using stiff cardboard. The yarn is wound around these pegs to create an almost one sided pompom which is then secured with yarn in the centre to create the yarn flowers. The yarn flowers are made of a small and large yarn flower with a central decoration of a button or freehand stiches. Of course once you have made your wreath the flower looms can be reused to make other decorative flowers for brooches or even spring and autumn wreaths and decorations.
Detailed steps to making your own Christmas yarn wreath
Step 1 - Unpacking your Christmas wreath weaving kit
Step 2 - Making the yarn flowers using the flower looms
To make a large flower you will need the large flower loom and between 4-5m of yarn depending on how full you would like your flower. Take the loom and holding an approximately 5cm tail take the rest of the yarn from the back of the loom up through the first top slot. Take the yarn straight down the loom to the opposite slot.
Take the thread around the back of the loom around the prong and up through the next slot. Take the thread back up the loom to the directly opposite slot. Repeat this process working your way around the loom. The threads will be on one side of the loom.
Step 3 - Securing the woven yarn flower
Use all the yarn except the last 30cm. Thread this end onto a needle. Using the needle sew up and around each group of threads to secure them to the centre.
Step 4 - Completing the woven flower
You will sew around the flower until all the thread groups are secured. You should have some remaining thread on your needle which should be taken to the back. This thread can be used later to secure the flower to the loom, another flower or to secure a button.
Step 5 - Removing the flower from the loom
With the back of the loom facing you, push each thread group up and over each peg or prong. The first one will be most difficult but once this is removed the others will be easier.
Step 6 - Finishing the woven flower
You now have a finished large flower. This flower can be used directly on the wreath if you wish, with or without a button or you may wish to carry on and make a double flower using the smaller flower loom. You can use a contrasting yarn to make the smaller flower is you wish and will need approximately 2m of yarn. When you have a small and large flower sew them together and add a button or other small embellishment as a decoration.
Step 7 - Assembling the Christmas wreath
Once you have made a selection of yarn flowers the next step is to assemble the wreath. Using yarn or string each flower is secured around the rattan circle adding the ribbon and baubles as additional decorations.
All that is left is to then put the wreath up on a door or wall space for it to be enjoyed.
Weaving kits are available in our TabbyandTweed website shop for UK delivery and our TabbyandTweed Etsy shop for delivery elsewhere.
Interested in learning to weave? Then our workshop page has all the details found by clicking the link here.
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