Lately I've been working non-stop crafting for my job, and I finally decided that I deserved to take a day to craft for myself. And what I really wanted to craft was a wreath for our front door this year. I combed the internet looking for ideas, and found three beautiful inspiration pieces:
Button Wreaths by
BeaG on Craftster, this
Flat Button Art Wreath by
Galloping Pony Studio, and
this listing by VictorianPetals on Etsy.
And while I was gathering supplies, I thought I might try to put together a tutorial for anyone else who would like to make one.
Here's my finished wreath on our door last night!
Here's a (admittedly rough) tutorial on how to create your own Button Wreath!
Supplies16" flat-sided styrofoam wreath base1 yard of cotton fabric
Lots of buttons! (I used 2 packs each of Blumenthal Buttons in
Pretty Plum &
Stormy)
2 yards of satin ribbon in matching color (I used 1.5" wide in Graphite)
Scissors
Ruler
Pins with heads
Thread
Hot glue gun & sticks
Note: My original plan had been to wrap the wreath base in ribbon, then glue the buttons onto it. However, I discovered that the 4 spools of wide grey ribbon that I thought were in my stash, had actually been stolen/borrowed/given to the Western Kentucky University theatre department last semester. Since I was home without a car, and I didn't really want to spend any extra money anyways, I decided to cover the wreath in fabric instead. If time is a factor for you, please feel free to wrap with ribbon instead!
Step 1 - Cutting the BackBegin by laying out your wreath form on your fabric, and trace around it, making sure to leave at least 1" of fabric all the way around the edges. (Please be aware, this will only work as described if you are using a wreath with flat-sides, like I am. Rounded forms won't work quite the same.)
Step 2 - Cutting the BackNext, add your seam allowance. I did a generous 1/2" all the way around the middle & outside edges. (It probably measured more like 5/8"-3/4" when cut.) Note from an experienced theatrical costumer, seamstress & quiltere: this is especially easy to do with a
1"x6" see-thru ruler. Simply place the half inch line on the line you've already traced, then mark along the ruler's edge, giving you a 1/2" seam allowance. See-thru rulers are your best friend in crafting anything with cloth, and everyone should have one!
Cut out along your seam allowance lines. Mark with a B, so you know your back from your front.
Step 3 - Cutting the Front(Please forgive me, this picture seems to have been lost to the demons of cyber-space.)Again, lay your wreath out on your cloth, making sure to leave at least 3 inches of fabric, all the way around. Trace around the inner and outer edges. Now you're going to add space for the sides of your wreath. Mark a line 2" outside your outer edge, all the way around. Again, this is easier with a
2"x18" wide see-thru ruler. This 2" of fabric will cover the outer side of your wreath. Now we will need another generous 1/2" of seam allowance outside of that new outer line, and outside the middle of the wreath. Mark this piece with an F for front, and cut out on seam allowance lines.
Step 4 - Cutting the Inner Band(Please forgive me, this picture seems to have been lost to the demons of cyber-space.)Measure the inside edge of your wreath. (If you're using the same one I did, linked above, it should be about 33".) Cut a piece of your cloth, on the grain, 3" wide, and about 2" longer than your measurement.
Step 5 - Pinning the ClothLay the Front piece of cloth on the table, and place your wreath form on top. As you wrap from the front, up the sides, you will need to make small tucks in the fabric, along the edge, in order to use up the excess fabric. I do this by staring with the 4 cardinal directions, making a small tuck at each, and securing them to the wreath with pins. Then I go back and do the points between the first 4, and so on, until I have the whole wreath pinned. (Please ignore the excess fabric in the center of the ring. I lost my head for a moment and cut way too much seam allowance.)
Step 6 - Slip Stitching the Outer Back EdgeTake your Back piece and either iron along the outside edge seam allowance, all the way around. Lay the piece on top of the foam form, and pin on top of the pinned-down tucks. (I simply pull out one pin, lay the back down, and put the pin right back in place to hold the tuck.) Slip stitch or whip stitch the two edges together all the way around.
Step 7 - Slip Stitching the Inner Back EdgeMake small cuts in the seam allowance of your Back piece, every 1/2", along the inner edge, cutting almost, but not quite to the line. Fold the seam allowance down along the inner sides of your wreath, and use your pins to secure it to the form. Now, take the long band of fabric that you cut, and fold down 1/2" along one of the long edges. Pin the band along the inside edge. (Again, I do this by taking out one of the pins holding the Back seam allowance in place, placing the band fabric over it, and then replacing the pin.
When you get back to where you started, trim the excess band fabric, leaving 1/2" to turn under. Slip stitch of whip stitch these edges together.
Step 8 - Slip Stitching the Front Inner EdgeYou're almost done stitching! Clip along the inner seam allowance of your Front, cutting every 1/2", almost-but-not-quite to the line. Pin the seam allowance down with your pins. Now fold the edge of the inner band, so that it meets the same edge. Pin the band over the Front seam allowance, just like you did before, and slip stitch or whip stitch all the way around the edge. You've now got a fabric covered wreath!
Step 9 - Gluing Lots of Buttons!Start by sorting out the buttons you want to use from those you don't. I bought 2 color mixes of buttons, "Pretty Plums" which contained burgundy, plum & pink buttons and "Stormy" which contained black and grey. I used just burgundy, plum and grey buttons on my wreath. Sort out the buttons you won't be using. (Note: I don't recommend using buttons with a shank, since there would be so little contact between the wreath form and glue, so I sorted all of them out too.) Lay out your buttons roughly over the surface, trying to mix colors and sizes relatively uniformly. Start gluing your buttons on with your hot glue gun, avoiding dipping your fingers in the hot glue that will rush up between the holes in your buttons.
Step 10 - Add a BowTie a bow with your ribbon, and secure it with another dab of hot glue. I will not bother explaining how to do this, because if you can't tie a bow, then you probably shouldn't be using hot glue, and I can't help you.
Step 11 - Hang Your WreathUse a wreath hanger to suspend your wreath over your front door. Then go pour a glass of wine, and congratulate yourself on how cunningly crafty you are.
