Take one look at the blogosphere lately and one thing is for sure… burlap is having a moment! The fiber, which is derived from the jute plant, is traditionally known for its strength and durability. Historically, common uses for burlap included sandbags, concrete sacks and even at one point, protective clothing for German soldiers, hence burlap’s other name, Hessian, in some parts of the world.
But today, we’re seeing burlap in a much softer light, showing up everywhere from Southern Living worthy wedding receptions to stylish home décor boutiques.
It’s hard to resist the fiber’s fuss free feel and rustic charm. The opposite of anything elaborate and constricted, burlap seems to have a down home sense that’s warm and inviting. And that’s exactly why it’s one of our favorite textures to incorporate into your holiday “homescape” this year!
One of the easiest, and most versatile, ways to use burlap this holiday is to craft a burlap wreath. With countless blog posts and YouTube tutorials on the scratchy subject, it can be overwhelming. So if you need a nudge in the right direction, consider the dirty work complete and check out our curated selection of festive inspirations and tutorials sure to get you on your way to a country chic Christmas in no time!
Let’s start with the basics…
So what do you need?
Supplies:
- 1 18-inch wire wreath form. You can also use a 16-inch if you’d prefer.
- 1 1/2 yards burlap at 45” wide. Three rolls from the craft store will work as well if you prefer to buy the kind that is precut, like in the Little Lovely Leaders post.
- Florist’s wire or tan pipe cleaners cut into thirds
- Scissors
- Holiday Embellishments
The possibilities are endless! Check out our inspiration section for ideas and other DIY festive flair for your wreath!
It’s easy… we promise!
There are a lot of options to construct your wreath, but we gravitated toward the simplicity of the step by step tutorials by bloggers, Bridget of Little Lovely Leaders and Amanda Jane Brown. While Amanda used florist wire, Bridget of Little Lovely Leaders used tan pipe cleaners cut into strips after a clerk at Michael’s suggested that as an alternative.
Either way you go, the beauty (and ease) of the burlap wreath’s construction is that it’s meant to be fluffed. Combine the fluff of the fabric with the embellishments you’ll add later and there are a lot of opportunities to disguise any “imperfections”. And at the end of the day, it’s just burlap. It can be rebuilt and redone a million times, but it isn’t meant to be flawless either!
Here’s the creative part!
Now that you’ve created your wreath, dress it up! See some of our inspiration below or show off your personal style. Wreaths are the first welcome sign your guests receive! If it’s going to beat you to the punch, why not make it a statement all your own!
How cute is this reindeer wreath created by FrontPorchDécor on Etsy.com? The ornament nose and burlap ribbon could easily be pinned in place with a safety pin and the “antlers” could be held to wreath’s wire frame with leftover pipe cleaners or florist’s wire from the initial construction. And voila… you not only have a cute Christmas addition but a wreath that can easily be repurposed for the rest of the year!
Or for a softer touch, why not try to recreate these DIY felt poinsettas seen on this wreath from the blog See Vanessa Create. She used a Better Homes and Garderns tutorial to make the felt poinsettias.
Better Homes and Gardens felt poinsettias tutorial: http://www.bhg.com/christmas/ornaments/felt-poinsettia-christmas-ornament/
Vidya from the blog Whats Ur Home Story, repurposed her burlap wreath for the holidays too, using pipe cleaners and a clip on poinsettia ornament from Walmart… Quick and savvy!
Blogger Laura from Top This Top That, showed her burlap wreath repurposed for a variety of occasions. Steal some of her ideas now and for the rest of the year!
And then we wanted to share one from our own contributor, Deonn Baker, using evergreen branches, ribbon and a wooden letter purchased from a craft store for a personal touch!
As you can see, there are so many ways you can dress up burlap this holiday. Don’t forget to show us your designs and let the creative collaboration continue!
