How To Make Your Own Traditional Mossed Christmas Wreath

Updated: Nov 14, 2023

When making traditional Christmas Wreaths its nice to put your creative hat on and take inspiration from nature. Often the most simple of decorations can be the most beautiful.

For Your Wreath You Will Need:

1 x 12inch Wire Wreath Ring

Sphagnum Moss

A roll of Binding Wire

Seasonal Foliage

Natural Decorations

1m x Ribbon (Colour and width of your choice)2m for double bow.

Heavy Stub Wires

You will need a pair of scissors.

Lay all the components out on the table.
Attach the binding wire securely to the outside edge of the wreath ring.
Take a fist sized ball of moss squeeze tight and lay it on the wreath ring next to where you have attached your wire. Now wrap the binding wire around the moss and pull tight. Keep repeating this process until the whole of the ring is covered. DO NOT CUT THE WIRE.
Take foliage and cut it to the length of your hand. Take small clusters of 3 bunches and place one bunch in the middle and bind around the frame a few times., one bunch to the left , and one bunch to the right side fan out slightly binding each bunch around the wreath frame again pulling tightly to secure. Make sure you go in one direction only, overlapping as you go to avoid gaps. Check from every angle to make sure you are keeping a good shape. When you have gone all the way around flip the first of the foliage up and tuck the last lot of foliage underneath and bind in place a few times.
Once covered, cut the binding about your hand span in length then at the back take the wire and attach it to the top of the the wire frame and bind it around and around to secure. Leave a small piece of binding wire and make it into a hook and turn it back into the mossed wreath ring so no wire is sticking out.

Next it is time to wire all the decorations you wish to include on your wreath.
How to wire pine cones: Wrap a stub wire around the bottom of the cone, slipping the wire between the open scales, one or two wraps will hold all but the heaviest of cones. Twist the wire over itself to secure.
Whole Oranges: Push a stub wire through the slits of whole oranges twist together so you have a long piece of wire at the end of the decoration.
Orange slice: Push a stub wire through the orange slice. Twist wire as before to secure.
Once all the decorations have been wired up it will be time to secure them to your wreath.
Take your decorations either in clusters of 3 or scattered and push the wire(s) straight through the wreath and give it a tug: Fold the wire back on itself and into the moss.
How to Make A Bow: Take approx one metre of ribbon and find the middle. Scrunch the middle together... Taking one side of the ribbon, make a loop by joining it half way along its length to the centre and pinch it together with the centre of the ribbon. Repeat the same for the other side thus leaving two halves of ribbon hanging below the centre for tails. Take a stub wire and twist tight around the centre of the bow. To secure the bow at the top of wreath use the same process as for the decorations.
To Make a Hook: Take a stub wire... Find the middle and fold in half. Where you wish the top of the wreath to be, push straight through the moss... Make 2 hooks at the ends of the wires and pull back on themselves until they lock in place. Hang your beautiful homemade traditional wreath where it will be admired. We hope you have enjoyed making your wreath. We would love to hear how it went.
Note if using an oasis frame. You can now buy them biodegradable from Oasis

Update: We are now running a Xmas Wreath Workshop in Nov and Dec. You can find more details on the Workshop Page. The classes are small so you will get more personal attention.

We will also be selling Xmas Wreath Kits which will be available on our online shop near Xmas... together with ready made Christmas wreaths too.

The Kits are called RUBY, SAPPHIRE, and EMERALD.

Here are a few helpful videos for wiring decorations: They are taking ages to load so please be patient. xx