This beautiful neutral DIY burlap wreath can double as your seasonal wreaths all year long by swapping out different decorations and accessories. In this article I’ll show you 3 different and simple ways to make your own burlap wreath. Consider this your ultimate guide to gorgeous wreaths made of burlap! Keep reading to learn how to make this simple Christmas craft to add to your home decor this holiday season.
Wreaths originally started as part of the Yule or Winter Solstice celebration. Their circular shape being a nod to the wheel of nature and the cyclical movement of the seasons. They were typically made with evergreen branches, which was significant because the evergreen (one of the few plants that did not change or lose it’s foliage during the winter) represents immortality. To read more about the origin of the Christmas wreath, and other symbols and celebrations related to Yule and Winter Solstice, check out “A Complete: Winter Solstice and Yule Symbols & Traditions”.
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Wreath Supplies
The supplies needed for this rustic Christmas decor craft are very minimal and can all be purchased from the Dollar Tree, which I think is a huge bonus.
If you are a regular crafter, you more than likely already have a lot of these supplies at home, so you can have this rustic burlap Christmas wreath, potentially, at no additional cost to you!
-Pipe cleaner or small pieces of wire (if you are using the wire frame method)
-Pine cones (for adornment after your wreath is done)
-Wreath ring (Wire wreath frame OR cardboard wreath frame OR Styrofoam wreath form. Alternatively, you could make a frame out of a wire hanger)
–hot glue gun (with glue sticks)
–stapler with staples (if you are using the cardboard frame method with a stapler)
–burlap fabric (2-3 rolls of burlap ribbon)
–craft pins (if you are using the styrofoam form method)
Related Reading
How to make a simple DIY Dried orange garland
A complete guide: Winter Solstice & Yule Symbols and traditions
What is a “Kitchen Witch”? A Complete Guide To Kitchen Witchery
How to Make DIY Oregano Essential Oil
How to Make a Simple DIY Orange Garland
Method
Here is the step by step tutorial to get your beautiful wreath on your front door (or your cabinet or wherever else asap)
Cardboard base method:
1-In the cardboard base method, you first need to procure a thick piece of cardboard. I found the cardboard from a cereal box to be too flimsy for this project, however a broken down shopping box worked great! Other options are a piece from a moving box, or from an appliance box.
2- Cut a large circle out of the cardboard. I used a bowl to trace a perfect circle.
3- Once the circle is cut out, you will need to cut out an inner ring to complete the wreath frame. You can either do this freehand, or get a small bowl (or other circular object) to trace. To cut out the middle circle, first cut a straight line in the middle area, and from that opening you can access the drawn circle with your scissors to cut it out.
4- Now that you have your cardboard wreath base, the next step is to gather your burlap rolls. Unroll the first one. Begin the burlap application by placing a medium sized bead of glue on one spot of the edge of the innermost ring. Alternatively, you can use a stapler to attach the burlap to the frame. If you decide to go the stapler route, follow the directions exactly the same, except where you read “apply glue”, you will instead apply a staple or 2 to secure the ribbon.
5-Place the burlap tail on the glue, tail facing towards the outer (larger) edge. Place the burlap piece directly on the glue bead, and hold the burlap in place close to (but not on!) the glue bead with your pointer finger and give it 10 seconds to dry. This first loop of the bow step is important because you want to make sure that each time you arrive at the end of a piece of burlap ribbon, that end is concealed within the project.
6- Make a small loop with the burlap, finishing second burlap ribbon loop close to the beginning of the previous loop.
7- You will now see that there are 2 adjacent loops on your wreath frame. Continue this process, filling in all of the sections of the wreath form with your burlap ribbon, using glue to secure each loop, and making sure that there is no space between each loop.
8- Each time you arrive at the end of the burlap ribbon, make sure to loop that small piece inwards, and glue it to the frame in between 2 other loops. This will ensure that the end of the ribbon remain hidden, keeping your diy project looking cohesive and beautiful.
9- Attach a hook or string (for hanging) to the back of the frame of your DIY Christmas wreath.
Wire Frame method:
1- Grab your wire frame and pick a spot on the wire wreath form (the most inner ring) to begin. At this spot, thread a piece of burlap through the frame and back out, and then tie a tight knot to secure the burlap. I know, it doesn’t look like the cozy burlap wreath you had in mind just yet, but that knot will get covered and be undetectable in no time. Alternatively, instead of tying a tight knot to begin the wreath, you could use a small piece of floral wire. To do this, poke a small piece of wire through the end of the burlap, then wrap the 2 ends of the wire around the frame, which will secure the burlap to the frame. Follow the rest of the steps.
2- Unwrap the whole roll of burlap ribbon so that you can easily weave the fabric through the concentric rings of the frame.
3- From that spot where your first knot is, make a small loop with the fabric, then tuck the ribbon under the piece of wire next to the inner ring. The wire will hold the ribbon in place, keeping your loop steady and preventing it from falling.
4- Keep on looping the fabric, then tucking it under the adjacent ring, working from the inside of the wreath frame to the outer ring. You are, essentially, making a “line” of loops from the inner frame to the outer frame.
5- When you get to the outer frame, make another loop, then make a cross pattern, moving the end of the fabric piece over the wire edge, and through the piece of wire closest to the edge of the frame.
7-At this point, continue making loops, following the same pattern that you did on the first “line” of loops, however this time you will be moving the opposite direction, working your way from the outer edge, to the middle ring, to the inner edge.
8- Continue this pattern until your entire wreath frame is covered in burlap loops.
9-Whenever you arrive at the end of the piece of burlap ribbon, tuck it into the closest piece of metal frame. You can tug and adjust the close by burlap ribbon loops if necessary to conceal those end pieces.
Styrofoam wreath form method:
1- If you are using a styrofoam wreath form method to make this burlap wreath tutorial, you will also need several craft pins (or even sewing pins, in a pinch). The first thing to do is choose a spot on the inner circle of your wreath form.
2- At the spot, attach the tail end of a burlap roll, using a pin, with the end pointing outwards (towards the outer circle).
3- Make a small loop with the burlap, bringing the loop “end” right beside the tail, where the first pin is. Attach the loop using another pin. Congratulations! You’ve just mastered your first loop.
(Many more loops to come!)
4-From that spot, make another small loop with the ribbon, again securing the end of the loop with a pin. Work your way outwards and around until the entire styrofoam form is covered in burlap loops. Depending on the size of the pins you are using, you may have to use 2 pins in some or all of the spots to adequately secure the burlap. When making and securing the loops, be sure to cover the entire form (don’t leave any styrofoam showing). Additionally, whenever you come to the end of one of your burlap ribbon tails, make a small loop and secure the tail to the form using a pin. Secure any tails between the loops so that they are not viewable on your finished project.
Where to hang your wreath
Depending on the type of wreath that you have created, you can hang it either indoors or outdoors. For the cardboard framed wreath, I recommend only hanging it indoors as the cardboard will likely get wet and that will affect the integrity of the structure. The styrofoam and wire frame wreaths are perfectly fine to go outdoors. Some other places to hang this holiday decor:
-dining room wall (pictured above)
-living room mantle
-kitchen cupboards
-pantry doors
-bathroom or bedroom doors
-on a bookshelf
Burlap Wreath Variations
One of the things that I especially love about this burlap Christmas wreath tutorial is that this wreath can be used for the Christmas season, but it can also be adjusted for any other time of the year with just 1 easy step to fit any other holiday or celebration. It really is the “all season” wreath. Here are some other new ideas that you can use to change or edit your wreath, dependent on the time of year:
-You can make a jumbo pool noodle wreath using the same method that I explained for the styrofoam wreath form. For a pool noodle wreath, you would have to secure (I recommend hot glue) the ends of the pool noodle together first to make a circle form.
-Spring burlap wreath: Add some fresh wildflowers (real or artifical) or some colourful mini easter eggs. Dried herbs would also look amazing attached to a wreath like this! (Learn how to dry out sage here).
-Red burlap: If you are using this wreath for Christmas time or would like to add a punch of colour, you can make it using red burlap or any other different color of burlap available. I have seen sparkle burlap and lace burlap at the dollar store several times.
-Add accessories to your wreath to go with different holidays. For example: shamrock for St. Patrick’s day, Hearts for Valentine’s Day, Flowers in the summer etc.
-Burlap bows: If you have excess ribbon you can make matching bows to go with your diy Christmas burlap wreaths
Do you want a burlap wreath, but don’t have the time to make one yourself? Here’s a really cute, all season burlap wreath that would look amazing in any space!
Looking for more simple, DIY Christmas decorating ideas? I highly recommend
Pineapple Farmhouse’s Thrifty Christmas Cottage Decorating Ideas! She’s got ideas for every room in your home. Ideas that’ll help you to sink in and make some memories this holiday season.
For me, there’s something kind of meditative about crafting…I enjoy being in that right brain space. It’s also so nice to have personal touches in your home, things that you have put your own energy into. There is a Spiritual Master who says that all humans are attracted to beauty and love…having beautiful things in my home always brings me back to that, and I wholeheartedly agree.
If you make any of these wreaths, I’d love to hear about it! Let me know in the comment section below.
Happy crafting dear ones,
XX,
-Celeste
Aja Celeste is a mom to 6 beautiful children and a twin mom! She is also creator and writer of That Zoi Life and a professionally trained Evolutionary Astrologer who has been doing astrology for 7 years. She is also a health care assistant, has a Bachelor of Ministry Degree, and is passionate about supporting people in conscious parenting. She also does Psychosomatics using Recall Healing.
Please contact her at [info@ThatZoiLife.com] if you would like to find out more about working with her.
Thanks Emily! I find them so charming. I feel like they would be SO cute for an orange themed birthday party for a baby
Love this cute rustic style!