Burlap is all the rage, and I have to admit that these days I’m a sucker for anything made from the utilitarian material. Once spring had sprung, I knew I wanted to make a burlap wreath for our front door.
I’ve made burlap wreaths in the past, wrapping straw forms and pinning squares of burlap to them, but I wanted to use a different technique to achieve a different look for this wreath. I was going for the look of a polymesh wreath, but in burlap.
I spotted some 20-inch rolls of burlap mesh at a local store and online, but decided to go the more economical route and use inexpensive burlap yardage to make my wreath. I had about a yard and a half of natural colored burlap left from another project, so I laid it out on my kitchen table and cut it into wide strips. I didn’t worry if my strips weren’t even. It doesn’t really matter.
I bought this 24-inch twig work wreath as my base. I like working with this work wreath’s because they wire is always attached. My neighbor’s mom was a floral designer for many years, and she’s the one who tipped me off to these. You can find them online for about $7 each at Trendy Tree and Mardi Gras Outlet. The twig work wreath is a little rougher on your hands than the chenille stem ones that you would use for a polymesh wreath. But I needed a more rustic-looking form to match the burlap.
As you see from the photo above, I hung the work form on my French doors and built my wreath that way. I prefer make these kind of wreaths hanging, rather than on a flat surface, because I can see exactly where I need to tweak and fluff. Also, these wreath forms may have sharp wires that can scratch wooden surfaces or pick your clothes.
To assemble this kind of wreath, just grab a handful of burlap and twist the wire around it to secure it to the wreath form. Move down about a foot and pinch another width of burlap together and attach it to the next set of wires, creating a big bubble of fabric. Continue this process around the wreath. (The following video tutorial may help.)
Once I’d finished attaching my burlap to to the wreath, I thought it looked a little sparse. But I was out of burlap yardage, and I didn’t feel like going to the store to buy more. So, I decided to add some six-inch darker burlap, which I’d bought in a roll at Michael’s for another project. I treated the darker burlap much like I would have ribbon if I was making a mesh wreath. It’s the filler to fluff the wreath, cover any holes and hide the wires.
It was such a pretty day, and my husband and son were in the backyard, so I moved outside to finish making the wreath. I left the tails of the darker burlap “ribbon” long.
As you can see, it fills in the gaps nicely. But the wreath still needs something….
Initially, I added a bow made of pink botanical mesh netting and this awesome “Some things just require cake” ribbon I bought at one of my favorite local stores, Total Bliss. I do love that ribbon and that bow, and think it would be perfect for this wreath when it’s somebody’s birthday. But this wasn’t the look I was going for for the spring front door. (If you like this ribbon, I found it online at Cherry Lane Keepsakes; there are other colors and sayings, too, and you’ll see some of those popping up in upcoming projects.)
No, what my wreath needed was a touch of spring — a beautiful stargazer lily. These are one of my favorite flowers. This one isn’t real, but it looks so real I can almost smell it.
And there you have it, my finished spring burlap wreath.
Here’s another view:
And a wider shot of the front door. I’m thinking I need to paint that wreath hanger so it looks a little more rustic, in keeping with the burlap.
Linking up to the following parties:
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule
Love your springy burlap and lily wreath! So pretty!
Nancy
Cheryl VAn Winkle
I love this!!! Thank you so much for telling us where to find the items we need to make it. How do you get the other websites and shops on your page? I am new.
Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage
Love this Amy – I can almost smell that stargazer too! Thanks for sharing at our party!
Kelly
Amanda Winter
How did the wreath hold up? I took a class and was told that if we didn’t use wired ribbon, our wreath would eventually “sag”
I want to make a burlap wreath, but like you, I cannot find any that isn’t very expensive. Thanks!