How to make a crochet wreath-a beginner’s guide

Have you been wanting to make a crocheted or knitted wreath but not known where to begin? Hopefully this guide will help to answer some of your questions and give you the confidence to get started on making your own crochet wreath. I focus mainly on crochet, but many of the principles apply to knitting too.

Wreath bases

To begin with, you need a base. There are lots available, so I’m just going to talk about a few of them.

Natural rattan or willow

These are perfect for nature themed wreaths and usually give quite a large surface area for you to attach your wreath elements too. These are my preferred base as I like to add lots to my wreaths! You can sometimes get these in other shapes such as hearts.

Metal

Metal wreath bases give a modern, minimalist look to your work. They are often quite narrow so attaching lots of elements can be quite tricky. However, they are generally quite sturdy and you can buy them in different finishes such as gold, silver or rose gold to match your décor.

Polystyrene

These bases come in lots of shapes and sizes and are quite cheap to purchase. You are probably going to want to cover the polystyrene somehow, perhaps with a knitted or crocheted cover or wrapping with a fabric such as burlap or hessian.

Preparing your wreath elements

If your wreath is floral, you might want to block the elements using spray starch or similar to give a crisp finish. Alternatively, you might want to leave them for a more natural look. If something looks too curled for your liking once it is in place, you can always use a tiny amount of glue to hold it in a position you prefer.

Crochet Wreath layouts

Once you have selected your base and made your wreath elements, you need to consider how you want it to look. Do you want a full wreath, with the base completely covered, or do you want to leave some of the base showing? I’m going to talk about three commonly used layouts to get you started.

Full circle crochet wreath

This classic layout is also very common and probably the one you think of when someone mentions wreaths. The elements are arranged so that they cover the wreath completely. If you have a large element which you want to be a focal point, it is a good idea to lay that on the base first and work around it. Then, take your other pieces and, working down in size, arrange them evenly around the circle. If you are using a rattan or polystyrene wreath, you can use large headed pins to keep pieces in place temporarily.

Alternatively, reusable glue dots or even blu tack can be quite handy at this stage whilst you’re playing around with the position of elements. As you move down through the sizes of your wreath elements, look for gaps and try to fill them. Also consider the direction of things and how they overlap the edges of the wreath. For example have you got an even distribution of pieces going to the inside and outside of the wreath? I chose this arrangement for my summer wreath, to reflect the abundance of flowers in summer. If you love this summer wreath, you can buy the pattern here.

Bottom heavy crochet wreath

I’ve called this bottom heavy, but the basic principle is that you have a large cluster of wreath elements in one part of the wreath and the rest of it bare. This is perfect if you want a minimalist look, or if you have an especially attractive wreath base which you want to show off too. It works well if you have some particularly striking flowers or other central elements surrounded by greenery, such as in my winter wreath. The cluster does not have to be at the bottom, it can be at the side too and sometimes there are 2 similar clusters opposite each other on the wreath. Try to arrange the elements so they radiate out from the centrepiece in different directions for a natural effect.

Symmetrical crochet wreath

This is almost an extension of the bottom heavy wreath, with elements going further up each side of the wreath but not necessarily reaching the top-think of it a bit like a horseshoe shape. It can be a little tricky to arrange elements in this way, especially if you have a natural wreath base as they aren’t always a perfect circle. Begin at the bottom of the wreath with a larger element, then look at the other parts you have made and arrange them up each side, trying to keep it symmetrical. This can be a little tricky – I find it helpful to stop and look at it from a distance from time to time to check how it’s going and even things up. I used this arrangement for my autumn wreath to draw the eye towards the hedgehog centrepieces.

Wreath Assembly

Hot glue is my preferred method of joining, as it is quick and efficient! You can use floristry wire too. If you have a larger centrepiece, for example an amigurumi model, wire can be very handy to secure it alongside glue. Because you might need to use more glue for these, attach them first. That way any overspill can be covered with your other wreath elements and help you achieve a neat finish. If your base has a fabric, knitted or crocheted cover, you could also sew pieces in place.

Add a hanging loop last – I often use ribbon for these. They can either be glued in place or just tied around the wreath.

Extras

When it comes to wreaths, anything goes. You might want to enhance your knitted or crocheted items with artificial greenery, beads (for example to look like berries) or a bow, such as the one I used in my Yuletide Robins wreath.

The main thing with making a crocheted or knitted wreath is that you have fun and create something you love. I do hope you’ve found this guide helpful and feel ready to go and start making!