ruffly autumn wreath love...-a *how to*

it's a windy autumnal hello from this part of the world this morning...
a life made lovely wednesday snuggled inside...tea in hand...sharing with you a gorgeous ruffly autumn project...


i flipping love this....

i have long had some serious ruffle-wreath-envy after seeing a gorgeous *how to* at one of my fave blogs:  Jones design company blog ...

i wanted to make this last year- but village living does not let one wander down on a whim & throw into one's basket a styro foam wreath...nor a metre or two of burlap...!

so...this year- i'm ready...

i've got my burlap cut...my wreath waiting...& i've even got myself a glue gun...

is it weird that i haven't owned a glue gun to date?

for some reason...i've always assumed that a good wad of craft glue will do the trick...errr wrong people!

so, for this project you will need:

burlap or hessian

styrofoam wreath or florists wreath

glue gun

flat tipped pins

scissors

tape measure

vintage pieces/ribbon/typeset etc...

the how to:


1. cut three lengths of hessian/burlap into 4" x 70" strips.
    wrap your wreath in one of these strips & secure with flat tipped pins.

2. with the remaining two strips- tie your cotton at one end (about 2 cms in from the edge) & continue to

hand sew, a simple straight stitch in & out, the length of the piece & gently pull to gather.

3. when you have gathered the first strip to fit the circumference of your wreath , pin it securely to one flat side of your wreath- just inside the outer edge- this will become the back of your finished piece.

4. once the hessian/burlap has been secured with pins...use your glue gun to adhere all the fabrics together...following the gathered line around the wreath.

5. allow to dry & flip over...it should now look like this...

6. pin the last gathered strip to the front of your wreath- on the inner edge...& secure as before, with your glue gun around the entire gathered circle.

it should now look something like this....

7. using any left over fabric off cut, hot glue a hook to the back of the wreath...you can also now use any left over fabrics to make a rough flower in which to build your decoration.

8. using a length of fabric fold roughly to create a flower shape & zigzag, or hand sew, together & hot glue to your wreath.

9. allow everything to dry...have a cuppa tea & get ready for the *make-it-your-own* part. 

i used a vintage measuring tape that i had been keeping for such a project...& incorporated my love of string, rope & calico into the decoration.

10. if adding ribbon...fabric...or a tape measure, hot glue around the inner circle of your wreath once again...& secure at intervals, pressing down with your thumb, to form a ruffled effect...

oh...all these ruffles...

how much do i flipping love this

~~~~

ruffles

&

a vintage tape measure

&

string

& 

burlap

~~~~~

perfect for autumn

divine for christmas

ruffle love

this year i've got it sorted!

~~~

check out more inspiration here, here, here, here

 here ,here & here