Scotland's Source - How to...Make a Christmas Wreath

How to.......
Make a Christmas Wreath

One of the great joys of Christmas, is doing things together.
That includes everything from shopping and wrapping gifts, to
cutting a tree, baking goodies, and making your own special
decorations, like wreaths.

Even the children can help gather fir tips, and with a little
help from parents, and some simple accessories like bows, bells,
candy canes and berries from a discount store, they have great
presents for aunts, uncles, grandparents and teachers.

Wreaths are made on a steel ring, with a good gauge wire. Check
with your local craft store to see if they carry the supplies
you need, or if you'll need to order them online. This should be
done a few months ahead of Christmas, in case it takes time to
get the supplies.

However, the fir tips can't be gathered until late in the Fall.
The needles on fir trees need to "set", and the tree must have
stopped growing for the year. In northern states like Maine, it
is recommended not to gather tips until at least early November,
after three consecutive nights of temperatures that are 20F or
lower.

Fir tips are literally the end of the tree branches. The actual
tip is a center stem, with one to either side, growing from the
base. As you go back up the main stem, you have stems growing
off both sides, and the further you go, the side stems will have
more stems of their own, which often branch off into secondary
stems.

Tipping, is to cut the last 12-20 inches off branches from the
middle of the tree. This is where you are more likely to find
branches with needles all around the stems. Lower branches are
older and have had more wear, and upper branches are newer, and
tend to be longish.

From a 12" branch end, you can break 2-3 sections, each having
a stem/branch of 4-6 inches, depending on the width of the
wreath you are making. A standard wreath size is 16-20", and is
made on a 12" wire ring. You will want to attach perhaps three
pieces on each side of the ring, in order to give the wreath
fullness.

First, attach the end of a roll of wire securely to the ring.
Lay one bunch of tips on the wire ring, lining up the wooden
stem with the ring. Wrap the wire around the stems, about 1/3 of
the way up the branches. If your wrap it too low, your tips will
flop off the wreath. Pass the wire around the fir tips and ring,
twice, and pull tightly after each pass.

Turn the ring over, and attach a second bunch to the other side
in the same way. When you become more skilled, you will be able
to put a bunch on each side at the same time, being careful to
wrap the wire tightly to secure both bunches at once.

Work your way around the ring in this manner. As you break your
fir branches into smaller bunches, try to keep them about the
same length, so your wreath has some uniformity. Little bits
that stick out, can be trimmed off when you're done, with a pair
of rose clippers.

When you come to where you started with the first bunch, it
sometimes looks like there isn't enough room for more, but there
would be a gap if you didn't add something. Take your last
bunch, and insert the stems under the tips of the first bunch,
lift the tips and pass your wire around that last set of stems.
Wrap an extra time or two for good measure, then form a loop,
twist the wire, and cut it. You're now ready to trim and
decorate your creation!

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