Festive Wreath Beginnings

I am, as usual, behind with my Festive Making. It was the exact same scenario last year with the Jolly Festive Bunting being completed sometime after Christmas had been and gone. But I don't mind too much as I am having such fun with this wreath thing and I know it won't matter to anyone if it arrives late to the door.

I bought the polystyrene ring a whole year ago, so the idea of this Festive Wreath has been hanging around in my Creative Mind for a good while now. I'm using a 30cm "half round ring" which has a rounded top and a flat back. You can find them on Ebay for about £4, I got mine here.

Before I get stuck into the decorative bit of the wreath making, I'm making a woolly, stripy cover. I'm working random stripes of double crochet in an aran weight yarn, just a long length with no shaping. I know from the making of my May Rose Wreath that it'll work out, even though it never quite seems like it will do at this stage. Unlike my rose wreath, I'm planning on completely smothering this one with a huge collection of pom poms, flowers, leaves, berries, stars, baubles, buttons, ribbons and bells. So the stripes might only be very slightly visible, but this seemed the easiest way of dealing with the white polystyrene which I don't much care for.

Over the past few weeks I've begun assembling some suitable wreath making materials. The Knit and Stitch show in Harrogate a few weeks ago was a great hunting ground for festive bits n bobs, and I had a lot of fun searching and gathering there. I came home with a small but beautiful haul of buttons, beads and bells, and an excited, fluttery heart.

Oh, and ric rac..........

....oooooooooooooooooooooooo, yummy!

I could not resist this ric rac in such gorgeous colours and at only 40p a metre I thought it was well worth a little splurge.

I also bought some very cheap n cheerful bits of glittery-shiny to add a true Christmas flavour to my woolly wreath. 

The glittery holly berries are wired, so I thought I could cut them up and dismantle them a bit, then simply poke them straight into the polystyrene amongst the crochet. And the baubles...well I just LOVE baubles and these little colourful plastic ones will look cute amongst the pom poms and other bits I'm sure. Well I hope so anyways. My Creative Mind tells me it'll all work out, but the reality maybe somewhat different....we shall see!

I've also been making some little crochet stars during the past few weeks.

These stars are great fun to do, very quick and easy to make and very satisfyingly cute.

I've been churning out piles of them in my favourite colours, and can't wait to use them in my Festive decorating. Many of them will be included on the wreath, but I'm also going to use them as a sweet finishing touch to my gift wrapping this year (with a button sewn on, and some colourful ric rac tails). They would also be great made into a garland, or strung vertically with invisible thread to dingle and dangle in front of a window....oh endless possibilities!

If crochet is your thing, maybe you might like to make a few Teeny Tiny Stars for Christmas? Or maybe you might like to make a whole heap load?! I've already written up a tutorial, which you can find here.

Right....off to crochet some more stripes, I'm really hoping to get that finished today so I can start on the business of attaching The Decorative Stuff. Sooooooooooooo excited!!!

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Comments

[Karin Muir]

Looking good Lucy, as always! Look forward to seeing the finished piece. Oh and lovely to see you on Facebook!

[sew]

I can just imagine how your wreath will be bursting with all those lovely things!
I'm having a sewing afternoon but - wait for it -I've conquered my foundation chain phobia and started my granny stripe blanket!!!
I'm on my 5th colour and am loving it - even though I may still be doing it next Christmas!!
Your wreath ta-dah will bring Christmas cheer to us all.
xx

[Kathryn Faulkner]

oooo christmassy stars :) must squirrel off and have a go at those - but not before being ever so slightly jealous of your FABULOUS box of yarn... I want one! :) xxxxxxx

[Mariël]

Thanks so much for the tutorial for the stars! I love them!

[CraftyDawn]

This wreath is going to be amazing xx

[uma]

Amazing ,.,.lovely christmas starsssss...just lovd them all.

[Daisy jones]

Hello Lucy

I can't wait to see your wreath!

By sheer coincedence I am also crocheting one at the moment too.... so the star tutorial will come in very handy!!

Thank you very much for taking the time to write your excellent tutorials,

Bestest to you and yours,
Daisy J

[Alise]

super! and I will try to make my own Christmas wreath...thank you for nice details!

[Audra]

Looking realy interesting.
Just finished decorating our tree and tomorrow/ today (it is 1.29 am here)after tiding up the house, plan to see what odments of decorations I can find to make a craftive more me Christmas reef.
Hugs Audra
6craftyacres

[Kate-Em]

I can't wait to see the finished wreath, it is a beautiful begining. Love the stars.

[Claire]

Those stars are beautiful!
Claire

[Rachael Iddon]

Looking forward to seeing the finished wreath. I've been making stars too, a bit like yours but a bit more granny-fied. Mine are mostly tree decorations but I was starting to think along the same lines as you -lots of colours and some sort of garland. Also v. jealous about the show in Harrogate. Something seems to stop me going every year. Sigh - one day all my children will be at school.

[Purple princess]

Ahahahahahah! Teeny stars! Perfect for my bunting! How did you know they are exactly what I needed! Thank you! I can't wait to see your wreath!

[Susan]

That wreath is going to be awesome! Your color scheme is the same as mine for my work desk Christmas decorations. They're so much more fun than the traditional Christmas colors.

[Andrea]

Very nice, Lucy!
Just a tip for you and other crafters: those rings are (a lot) cheaper here: http://www.lainesworld.co.uk/L/poly/KC1182601230.html

[Ada Bea]

It's going to be yummy! :)

[Lynne Gill]

Thanks especially for the ebay tip-off, Lucy I've been looking for those half wreathes for ages. i can't be bothered making the wire variety. This is going to look stunning! What a collection of super-Christmassy items....my favourites HAVE tobe those gorgeous little starts. So simple yet....phhht, no-one else thought of them! Thanks as always for the tutorial.

I bet the atmosphere in your home is lovely, all that excitement and anticipation building - it's just not the same without a child or two (or three!) in the house!

[Carrie]

looks great Lucy! I am aiming to make crochet stars, however, life keeps getting in the way of my christmsaifying! x

[Colette Mowatt]

Thank you for that. Enjoy a coffee on me!! ( thank you for taking the time to do the tutorial)

[curvywitch]

Dammit! New Years resolution is so to learn how to crochet. Looking good as usual Lucy, looking forward to the finished article for more envy making lovely crochetness. :-)

[Rosemary Dennis]

Can't wait to see the finished article!

[folksmith]

Can't wait to see the finished wreath.

[Holly McLean]

Oh I love this and I can't wait to see it all decorated!

[Tabby P.]

Your wreath accoutrements look delicious and inspiring! I get so excited when I see a new blog post from you, Lucy. It makes me happy. I can't wait to see the finished product!
Hugs and love!

[Alison Samet]

I was intrigued to hear you are using stars as part of your gift wrapping Lucy as last night I made some of your Jolly Holly leaves for my gift wrapping. Put 2 together by their stems and stitched on a few red beads for berries - look fab. Alison