How To Make An All-Season Wreath Base

I love wreaths that can be used for multiple seasons and reasons, indoors or out. That’s why I’m excited to share this simple all-season wreath base that is easy to make and can be re-used with whatever floral or other embellishments you wish to add. This DIY is great for crafters at all skill levels.

Ready to dive in?

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It All Begins With a Hoop

Whether you choose a metal hoop, a bamboo hoop, or a basic embroidery hoop, you can do a lot with this inexpensive base.

If you’ve been following the blog for a while then you’ll know my love of hoop crafts of all kinds! Here are just a few favourites:

Embroidery Hoop Art Using Tulle

A Trio of Pretty, Minimalist Christmas Ring Wreaths

Circle Weaving For Beginners (Using an Embroidery Hoop)

Using a hoop to make an all-season wreath base, in particular, holds a lot of advantages. You can make it minimal or create something lush and full; whatever works for you personal style. And the base itself is sturdy, so you won’t have to worry about your base falling apart.

Here are the rest of the supplies you’ll need.

MATERIALS TO MAKE AN ALL-SEASON WREATH BASE

Large Hoop (metal ring, embroidery hoop, or bamboo floral hoop) – mine is a metal ring, 16 inches in diameter (typically, a 14-16 inch base is good for most front doors)

Garlands (I used two that I purchased from Michaels, but there are lots to find on Amazon, too)

Grapevine Coil: you can find options here, here, and here.

Wire clippers

Scissors

Jute Twine

Faux Florals (not pictured)

STEPS: HOW TO MAKE AN ALL-SEASON WREATH BASE

STEP 1: Attach Grapevine Coil to Hoop

***If you do not have grapevine available, alternative options are discussed below; or you can simply move onto step 2***

To prevent the hoop from showing through at the end of your project, attach one round of grapevine coil directly onto the hoop, as follows:

(i) Attach the tip of the grapevine coil to the hoop using twine.

(ii) Measure enough grapevine coil that will cover the hoop, then clip off the bundle at the point that it meets the tip already attached.

(iii) Attach the tips together. Mine already had a wire attached to the grapevine coil. If yours does not, use twine to attach.

(iv) Secure the rest of the coil to the metal hoop by tying jute twine at various points around the ring.

Snip off the excess.

Other Options:

You may be wondering why a ready-made grapevine wreath could not also be used. Well, it can!

If you choose a ready-made grapevine, you will want to attach your garland(s) directly onto the base (rather than wrapping, as you’ll see below), for full coverage.

Alternatively, you can:

Use the hoop as is (with no grapevine attached), as long as you are okay with bits of the hoop peeking through
Spray paint the hoop green so it blends with the wreath
Spray paint it brown (to mimic a vine)
Wrap jute around it (tedious, but still pretty)

And the list goes on….

STEP 2: Wrap Garland Around the Hoop

Now, the fun part!

Taking one of your garlands, attach the tip to the base using twine.

Taking the the free end of your garland, begin to wrap around the ring.

First, feed the tip through the center.

Then pull the garland fully through. Pull it up and back over the hoop. This is your first wrap around the hoop.

Feed the tip back under and through the center, as before.

Pull the garland all the way through and back over, once again, as pictured.

Continue wrapping around the base.

Attach the tip of your garland by tying it to the wreath base.

You can stop here for a pretty, minimal look. But if you’d like to create a fuller wreath, use the second garland and begin wrapping, repeating the steps above.

Attach the tip to your base with twine.

Your wreath should look something like this:

This is pretty as is, ready to be hung up and you can see some of the grapevine peeking through, which adds a lovely, natural touch.

If you want some suggestions on how to play around with embellishments, take a look at my tips below.

STEP 3 (Optional): Faux Floral Embellishments (Adding or Changing Out, Seasonally)

If you want the flexibility of adding and removing faux floral embellishments, depending on the season, here are some suggestions.

TIPS:

1. No Twine or Craft Wire Required

In order for your wreath base to last as long as it can, adding embellishments that can be easily added and removed is key.

Rather than attaching faux florals with a craft wire, glue gun, or twine, I recommend inserting the stems directly into the grapevine. Grapevine wreaths and grapevine coils have vines that are bundled together, allowing for pieces to be held in securely. Equally true is the ease with which you can pull things out.

This will allow for maximum flexibility and use, season to season, without needing to get out your scissors or wire clippers to remove or cut off any floral embellishments.

2. Sturdy Stems

Make sure the stems you are inserting into the grapevine are sturdy (they can be stiff or they can be flexible, but avoid stems that are too flimsy as this will require craft wire or glue to attach them)

3. Long Stems

Leave anywhere from 3-6 inches of stem on the faux flower itself.

This will allow you to insert a good length of the faux floral into the grapevine and allow for maximum hold.

4. Inserting Stems Into the Grapevine Base

When you insert each stem, do so directly into the grapevine, on an angle so that most of your stem is inserted into the bundled vines (and not out the back of the wreath).

Grapevines – whether you use a coil to create a base or a ready-made base – are remarkably good at holding pieces that are inserted between the vines.