Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Valentine's Rag Wreath

I've made fabric rag wreaths before here and here, but I've never explained how to make them.  So when I made this pink one for Valentine's Day, I thought I'd take pics of the process.

This project starts with a wire hanger.  We don't use wire hangers, but the dry cleaner sends clothes back on them.  So instead of dropping them in the recycling bin, I reuse them in random projects.  Am I the only one who sees(and hears) Joan Crawford when I look at a wire hanger?  Come on fess up, I can't be the only one.

First you need to bend your hanger into a circle like shape.  It doesn't have to be perfect, because the shagginess of the fabric hides any odd bumps in your circle.  Then you need to pinch the hanger part and bend it down into the circle.  You'll hang the wreath from this.
Next assemble your fabric scraps.  I used four different pinkish fabrics for this project.  Don't ask me why I have so much pink in a house full of boys.  I may have a small fabric problem.  Let me know if there are any 12 step programs out there for this addiction.

I cut about a gazillion 3/4" x 6" strips of fabric.  You don't need to be exact, remember this is a rag wreath.  Perfection is not the goal.
I honestly don't know how many strips of fabric it takes to cover a wreath.  I cut out a bunch then start tying them onto the wire frame.  If I run out I cut some more.  I'd say that 50 of each fabric would be a safe number to start with.
Just keep scrunching them in tightly and tying on until you can't fit any more.  This is a super easy project that I banged out in one episode of the Nate show.  (For those of you unfamiliar that'd be an hour.)  I know that Nate took a bunch of flak early in the season for screwing up blogger day, but I like having the show on while working on projects.

Thanks for popping in and crafting with me.  I'm linking this up to Little Eme's Tute Your Own Tuesday, Elements Interiors' Whassup Wednesday, and Sew Woodsy's What's Up Wednesdays.

6 comments:

  1. Cute! I've never done one of those.
    I understand the fabric addiction. Mine was augmented by over 7 years of working in and managing fabric stores. Yikes, the amount of fabric I came away with at the employee discounts! I've given boxes and boxes to the high school sewing classes and still have a roomful. ;-) My problem is being resolved by the outrageous prices of fabric and patterns....Prince CB wanted sweat pants, and it was going to cost $12 for the fabric!

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  2. What an adorable wreath and it looks easy peasy ;-) ~ it's a must try

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  3. Thanks for sharing..such a cute idea!

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  4. Thank you for linking up to Sew Woodsy! Fabulous job on this wreath!

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  5. Love it! How do you hang it with the hook like that?

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