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Rag Wreaths

Location: Top > Productive Activities > Rag Wreaths Last Updated: Oct. 30, 2003

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This is a brand new page, so I don't have anything specific to put in here.

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  • More Christmas crafts you can do with kids.
  • I will try to get a picture taken of our most recent ones and upload them.

    • Summary

    A very easy craft for people of all ages and abilities. I first learned it when volunteering to support a blind craft teacher doing a session at a seniors' home. This year I did them with my 8 year old daughter with a better result than I expected. I mentioned this on a Christmas list and a couple of people asked me how they were made, so I've copied the basic information here. Any child that can sit for a while and tie simple knots could probably manage it. I think it took us an hour or so in front of the TV.

    Materials

    • Craft Ring: I used craft rings about 9" in diameter, but smaller or larger or even wire coathangers stretched into a circle can work (but don't look as nice). 9" makes a good front door size. Result will be about 4" wider than the ring.
    • Fabric: Several different Christmas patterns and solid Christmas colours. (It's nice to include something a bit metallic.) If you sew Christmassy things this can be leftover scraps (hence "rag wreath"). I had to buy fabric because I don't sew.
    • Bow: Buy or make a bow in a colour that will stand out enough against the fabric.
    • Ribbon: Small piece of ribbon for hanging.

    Preparation

    Cut the fabric into strips about 1 1/4" by 5". (None of this is precise. It just depends what looks good and the fabric pieces cut into most easily.) For smaller rings you need shorter, thinner strips of fabric. I think these ones were a bit long for the rings I had, but I couldn't tell that until I was done. Each ring of this size takes about 200 strips, though again that's not precise.

    Method

    The method is super easy. After cutting out all the strips, just tie them onto the ring with a simple overhand knot. I tend to make mine in a certain order so that I don't get bunches of the same pattern together, but honestly my 8 yr old's method of just not putting any 2 strips the same together worked just as well.

    When you've filled up the ring (or as you go), squish them together so it's bushy. You'll probably fit on about twice as many pieces as it first looks like you can. Keep squishing them up until it gets kind of difficult to make a space and the whole thing looks really fluffy.

    Finishing

    Add a bow and a ribbon to hang it from and you're done!

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    © Kalen Molton 2003. worldapart@paradox.freeserve.co.uk