HOW TO: Make a Dried Christmas Wreath

At Floreat we really love dried wreaths.

Unlike fresh wreaths, you've got way more materials to choose from (with fresh wreaths you’re limited to what will last out of water), you can be sure it'll last until Christmas, and the tones and textures of dried flowers are just so beautiful. 

There are now 22 days left until Christmas, which means plenty of time still to make your own wreath! Here's how..

TO START, YOU'LL NEED...

Image: flowermag.com

• Florist scissors or secateurs (don’t break your kitchen scissors!)
• Natural-looking covered Bindwire or natural jute string
• Bought or foraged dried materials
• Ribbon for hanging
• A wreath base (optional)

STEP 1: CHOOSE OR MAKE THE BASE

Image: flowermag.com

Buying a wreath base is undoubtedly the easier, less time-consuming option. At this time of year florists everywhere are selling them, and they won’t be hard to find at a nearby flower market. But if you’d like to have a go at making it yourself, a very simple and organic looking base can be made by binding sturdy sticks and vines together with natural-looking wire or string. 

STEP 2: SOURCE YOUR MATERIALS

Image: @wilunastudio - Instagram

There are a few options for sourcing:

FORAGE: this one doesn’t cost yourself or the environment anything and is by far the most fun. A short walk around the neighbourhood can result in handfuls of cool things (don’t forget to ask permission if you’re cutting from someone’s front fence and remember public parks are off-limits). Try to pick materials that are hardy and will last or dry out nicely, such as grasses, hardy natives or dried out bougainvillaea.

DIY DRYING: Buy foliage or florals from a flower market and dry them out yourself. This is a good option if there’s a specific material you can’t find foraging. If stems are hardy and woody, just leave them out of water to dry, but if they are softer and greener, hang upside down so they dry straight.

BUY PRE-DRIED: dried and preserved flowers and foliage are so popular at the moment so they’re easy to find at the flower market or a florist. Just be aware that the dying/bleaching/preserving processes uses harmful chemicals so be sure to educate yourself and take precautions before using.

STEP 3: SECURE MATERIALS TO THE BASE 

Let your creativity do it’s thing here and try not to overthink it! The wreath design is  up to you, but if you need some inspo scroll to the end for a design example.

To begin, cut the stems of your flowers/foliage short, but still long enough to hold between your thumb and forefinger. Thread wire through the wreath base and around your material a few times as if you’re sewing a button onto a shirt, pulling tightly with each bind. Once the material feels securely attached to the base, tie the ends of the wire together for extra reinforcement. Cut off any excess sticking out.

For finer materials with skinny stems eg. lavender, pussy tails, it’s a good idea to group a few together in your hand first and bind them with the wire, and then secure the bound bunch to the wreath base. This will make the process a lot quicker, but it’s also nice to have at least one or two outlier stems to create movement. 

Covered wire like this one is super easy to use as you can thread it like a needle as explained above, but for a more environmentally friendly option natural string would also do the trick! 

Let us know how you go by tagging @floreatfloral in your wreath pics.

WREATH DESIGN: THE FLOREAT WAY 

Secure everything on in this order and you will have yourself a beautiful wreath! 

For more wreath inspo, this book is absolutely stunning and available on our website – another great Christmas gift!

But, if this all sounds a little too time consuming, Floreat sells hand-made wreaths, ready to put straight on your door.

Cover Image Credit: @aesmeflowers - Instagram