How to Make an Easy DIY Fabric Wreath
Fabric wreaths, also known as fabric rag wreaths, are a fast and inexpensive way to update your front door for different holidays and different seasons. It’s also a perfect project for using up scrap fabric (yay!). This makes a great gift and it only takes a couple of hours from start to finish. In this blog post, I am going to show you how to make this easy DIY wreath. The best part is that this doesn’t require any sewing, gluing, or a single knot!
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Video Tutorial
What kind of fabric should I use to make a fabric wreath?
You can use almost any fabric for this DIY rag wreath. Cotton fabric is perfect for this project. You can use scrap quilting cotton, canvas, or even burlap if you want a more rustic look. This is a great opportunity to upcycle unused pieces of clothing or sheets. A piece of fabric from a flannel shirt would make a lovely fall or winter wreath.
I would suggest using solid colors, but prints are just as lovely. However, if you are using prints, I wouldn’t focus too much on the design, because this wreath uses small cuts of fabric that are pinched and attached to the wreath so you won’t be able to see much of the actual print. Instead, I would focus on the main colors used within the fabric and how they will look together.
Some fabric combinations for the holiday season could be shades of red for a Christmas wreath. Or use golds, oranges, and browns for a fall wreath. I also love the look of the clean and simple white rag wreaths. Shades of pink would be lovely for Valentine’s Day decor. For this project, I am using up my scraps of peach fabrics from my Palisade quilt to make a spring wreath.
What kind of wreath form can I use?
For this project, I am using a styrofoam wreath form. You can use either white foam or green floral foam. These are available at your local craft store and can be found are large stores like Hobby Lobby or Michaels. You can often find styrofoam wreath rings at the dollar store, however, the foam may not be as dense which could compromise the integrity of the wreath after the fabric is inserted. The only type of form that will not work for this project is a wire wreath form.
How much fabric do I need?
The styrofoam wreath I used measured 16″ in diameter and was 2″ wide. I used approximately 400 square of fabric. That equates to about 1 yard of fabric or 4 fat quarters. If your wreath is smaller or larger/thicker, adjust the fabric accordingly.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Supplies + Materials
- Scrap Fabric
- Styrofoam Wreath Form
- Rotary Cutter + Cutting Mat OR Fabric Scissors
- A small, blunt object for poking the fabric into the styrofoam
Step 1: Choose Your Fabric
The easiest way to shop for this project is from your existing fabric stash. This project will allow you to use up your fabric scraps and avoid the extra cost of purchasing yards of material. Since this project requires small, 2″ squares of fabric, any little fabric scraps will work!
When it comes to choosing your fabric colors, you can opt for a single color or a color family for a monochromatic look, as I did. You can also choose multiple different fabrics that are coordinating.
Step 2: Cut Fabric
Start by cutting your fabric into 2″ wide strips and then sub-cut the fabric strips into 2″ squares. I used my Creative Grids Stripology XL Ruler for this and it made fast work of all the cutting. If you don’t have a rotary cutter or rulers, a pair of regular scissors will do the trick! Remember, this does not need to be exact! Just cut your squares to roughly 2″ x 2″.
Step 3: Press the Fabric Squares into the Styrofoam
Next, use a knitting needle, embossing tool, or something similar, to poke the center of the fabric square into the styrofoam wreath, leaving the raw edges sticking out from the wreath. Just make sure the tool you use will press the fabric into the styrofoam and not poke through and damage the fabric.
You will need to poke the fabric into the styrofoam between 1/4″ and 1/2″. Continue adding in fabric squares until you are happy with the overall look and you can’t see the styrofoam.
You can work within a small section of the wreath at a time or spread out the fabrics as I did. If you are using prints, I did not find a noticeable difference in the overall look whether the print was right side down or wrong sides down.
For a fuller look, just use more fabric squares. The only caveat is, to make sure you aren’t over-saturating the styrofoam wreath with holes, as this will compromise the structure.
Also, you do not need to cover the back of the wreath. Just make sure the sides are covered and you are unable to see any styrofoam when it is hanging.
Step 4: Trim, if Needed
You may find that you have a few pieces of fabric that are sticking out further than the others. If this is the case, just take a pair of fabric scissors and give a little snip to the ends of the fabric until you are happy with the overall look. I like how mine looked with the pieces uneven, so I left it as it was.
Step 5: Hang
To hang your beautiful wreath, use some ribbon pieces or extra strips of fabric to make a loop through the top of the wreath. If you would rather the hanging mechanism was hidden, you can use a bit of string or a wire hanger and attach it to the back of the wreath using some pins or staples.
I hope you enjoyed this super fun and easy way to make your own rag wreath. Leave a comment below and let me know what you think! Happy crafting, friends!
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