Thanksgiving is done, the family visits are done, and finally the wreath is done! Hope you all had an enjoyable holiday, as I did with my family. Being on the east coast we are in easy-visit distance of many family members now…yay!
Two hundred “Florist Greening Pins” later…we have a wreath! I was thinking of doing a tutorial for you, but I just didn’t have it in me with everything else going on. I did do a brooch tutorial a while back that really is the basis for what I did here.
I started with a 12″ straw wreath form that I bought at Michael’s. I didn’t even take the plastic wrapping off because the wreath started to shed straw bits all over the floor. (Not that I’m a neat-nick, but wool felt dust bunnies rule the roost around here, thank you very much. No need for pokey straw interlopers mucking things up…) I wrapped the whole wreath first with long wide strips I cut from a green felted sweater. It looked a bit like it was bandaged up, but I didn’t want any of the straw parts showing from the sides.
I have a giant stash of ribbing pieces leftover from felted wool sweaters. Most rib cuffs I use for my cupcakes, but these were all “rejects” in some way…too narrow, too short, etc. (You could just as easily use felted wool that was flat knit and not ribbing.) I just rolled them up from one end a few times then secured them to the form with a “greening” pin, which is kind of like a cross between a hair pin and a staple! (also purchased at Michael’s) Once the beginning of the roll was secured, I kept rolling the rib around and pinned the other end in. Some of the ribbings I snipped (before rolling) so that it would look fringey, others I folded and snipped to make them look loopy! And of course, some I just left as is for the ever-popular sock ball effect.
There were so many options as I went along. I contemplated adding felt balls, jingle bells, and even a big felty bow of some sort. In the end, I just decided I couldn’t decide, so I made the whole thing irregularly uniform. (uniformly irregular?) The jury is still out as to whether it will be a hanging wreath or one that becomes the center piece on the dining room table.
(Then again, there is always the option of whipping up some stuffed fish on floral wire to make a “coral reef/wreath“!)
Ok, now back to working on filling the shop for tomorrow’s update! It will be the first of several holiday re-stocks before Christmas. So, if you miss out this time, there will be more coming on the next few weeks!
It is gorgeous! I definitely prefer the wreath option to the table topper though! I don’t know how you had the patience to do it but I’m really glad you did – it is so happy! Lucy x
This is so cool Betz! Gosh I wish I could be creative like you are! Where do you ever get these ideas?? Wonderful job!
Autumn
P.S. I like the idea of it hanging.!
It is really amazing! I can’t imagine ever finding enough discarded wool sweaters to have all those cuffs!!
That turned out really nice!
I’ve managed to find 3 wool sweaters. Must. Find. More. Need. A. Wreath. It is fantastic!
The wreath is really neat! Thanks for the pointer to the brooch tutorial. I think I’ll make some of those to decorate a book bag for my sister.
This is absolutely wonderful. I have so many scrap pieces of felted sweaters, I may have to try something like this. Enjoy your blog!
Oh I love it. Definitely looks great without a bow.
It came out great!!!
It could hang in your studio all year long : )
Wow, Betz, it came out great!! I picked up some wreaths over the weekend to give it a try. I’ll definitely be hanging mine though – my cats would assume ownership as soon as it hit the table 😉
It just looks ridiculously cute!
*sigh* I really need to fill my own etsy store, but don’t have time lately.
It’s amazing! What a wonderful stash of cast of you have, I wish I could dig into it. I think it will look fab hanging or on the table, it makes me smile!
it looks yummy! what a fab idea : )
You inspired me to make a fall wreath. I cut leaves out of sweaters and pinned them to a styrofoam wreath that I had wrapped with wool. Then I interspersed wool acorns. Thanks. debbie
i love it, its a great way to use up old wool sweaters lol
I. LOVE. THAT. WREATH.
well done!!!
i love it, its a really good way to use up old sweaters
I think they’re called “U” pins.
Looks soft and creatively clever!
Happy Holidays!
Lisa Wallig
how cool! i forwarded this post to my mother who has recently heard the call of felting wool =)
Absolutely gorgeous!
last year i made a wreath with handmade pompoms…http://flickr.com/photos/30852523@N00/97756329/
and i started a felt one…i love yours! how did you attach your flowers? i used tpins and had issues with them staying put.
* wow * that is awesome!
The wreath turned out so well! It makes me want to run out and hit the thrift stores for some great sweaters! Thanks for all the wonderful ideas!
looks great, beautiful work!!
😀
Isabel
The completed wreath look so beautiful with its bright colours and cushy cuteness, love it!
Wow! It´s amazing! I love it!
wow, Debbie Jones, I wish I could see your wreath! It sounds amazing!
What an adorable wreath! I love it 🙂
Betz, that is gorgeous!!!
wow! beautiful! wonderful write up on Craft newsletter too!!! Just got the email today! Congrats!
Jodi
I just found your blog from the link on Soulemama. This wreath is SO wonderful. What a treasure. I love working with felt, too—it’s a texture thing for me. I’ll be back to check in on your beautiful work.
I stumbled upon this post while trying to find out what “florist pins” were… What a delight to the eyes! So colourful! I would love to touch it!
Thankyou so much, just seen your wonderfull blog,
I will pop by again
This is SOOOO adorable! I am going to post about it on my blog!
http://CherryBlossomsDesign.Blogspot.com
Wow! I really like the wreath (I think it should be a wreath not a table topper) and you explained it so well!
You’re featured on re-nest by apartment therapy http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/decorating/5-wreaths-you-can-whip-up-before-the-holidays-132856
Super cute! I am making baby leggings from felted sweaters 🙂 Love the colors.
Absolutely gorgeous! The best wreath I’ve ever seen.
I found this on Pinterest, and holy man, was it hard to track down the original source!! It’s absolutely gorgeous. So happy to have found your blog!