Our studio team made this wreath almost a decade ago. While it never found its way into production, I always loved the textural quality and combination of yarn and cotton jersey fabric. I purchased it at one of our many long-ago sample sales after finding it in the bottom of a box of other holiday goodies.  Now, every holiday season, the wreath takes a proud place on my front door. (This year I hung it together with a larger fresh pine wreath.)

You will notice in the detail below that the wreath is made from our cut cotton jersey fabric in combination with crocheted elements (or appliqués).  These decorative crochet elements were also part of a long-ago collection of garments combining fabric and yarn.

Since we’ve been discovering how well fabric and yarn work together, I thought we could share another way to incorporate the two beautifully. After a bit of head scratching, we were able to re-create patterns for the hand-crocheted elements (as closely as possible).

The wreath is approximately 13” in diameter and 40” in circumference and consists of several different parts: two approximately 50” braided cotton jersey ropes, two 6” DIY Rag Boas approximately 50” long, assorted crochet elements, assorted beads, a beautiful grosgrain ribbon, and a cotton jersey pull for hanging.

Keep in mind that this project can be made with ANYTHING you have available in your home.  Substitute cotton cord or twine for our cotton jersey pulls. Substitute any appliques or trinkets you have for our hand-crocheted decorations. Add beads and bows made from grosgrain ribbon; take away the beads or add three additional bows. You may also choose to use a base for your wreath as we did in the DIY Organic Wrapped Wreath and lash your Rag Boa and Braided Ropes to that base.

Do what makes you feel good.

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DIY JERSEY + WOOL WREATH

SUPPLIES

Cotton jersey t-shirts, scraps and/or Cotton Jersey Pulls

Make two Rag Boas approximately 50” long by following our instructions from Alabama Stitch Book.

We reduced the finished width to 7” wide by eliminating the 9” Boa Center piece and using one 7” Boa Middle pieces and two 5” Boa Outside pieces for a total of three final cut fabric pieces.  Follow instructions for DIY Rag Boa for sewing together and cutting your small boas.

Braid strips of cotton jersey to make two strong ropes approximately 1” in diameter and 50” long.

Then, braid the two previously braided ropes together with one of your Small Rag Boas.

Tie securely into a circle to create your wreath base and lash all layers of the wreath together with more Cotton Jersey Pulls.

Wrap and lash your remaining Rag Boa around your braided Ropes and Rag Boa with Cotton Jersey Pulls.

OPTIONAL DECORATIVE ELEMENTS:

COTTON JERSEY SIMPLE TASSELS

Cut 1” strips of cotton jersey from scraps and pull into ropes. Cut finished pulls into 7” lengths, stack neatly, and tie in the middle.

Following are instructions for six decorative crochet appliqués that are incorporated into our wreath.

SUPPLIES FOR EACH OF THE CROCHET ELEMENTS

Yarn – Cascade 220 Peruvian highland wool
US 1/B (2.5mm) size crochet hook

BALLOONS ON STRINGS

Large Circles – Make 2

Row 1: Chain 4; join with slip stitch; chain 1

Row 2: Single crochet 6 times into center working through both loops. Join with slip stitch.

Row 3:  2 Half double crochet in each single crochet around.  Join with slip stitch to first single crochet of this row.

Row 4: Single crochet 2 in first stitch; single crochet 1 in next stitch; repeat around circle. Slip stitch to join; tie off.

Medium Circles – Make 2

Row 1: Chain 4; join with slip stitch; chain 1.

Row 2: Single crochet 6 times into center working through both loops. Join with slip stitch.

Row 3: Single crochet 2 in each stitch around; tie off.

Small Circle – Make 1

Row 1: Chain 4; join with slip stitch; chain 1.

Row 2: Single crochet 6 times into center working through both loops. Join with slip stitch.

Row 3: Single crochet 2 in each stitch around; do not tie off.

Stem: Chain 24; slip stitch into 2^nd chain from hook and into next 5 stitches.

Attach large circles:  Chain 6; attach large circle with slip stitch and slip stitch back to stem but not into stem; chain 6; attach 2^nd large circle with slip stitch and slip stitch back to stem; slip stitch through last chain and chain of stem at the same time.

Stem: Chain 8

Attach Medium circles: chain 6; attach medium circle with slip stitch and slip stitch back to stem but not into stem; chain 6; attach 2^nd medium circle with slip stitch and slip stitch back to stem; slip stitch through last chain and chain of stem at the same time.

Slip stitch back to small circle; tie off and tuck ends. Press.

BURR

Chain 4; slip stitch to join circle; work 10 single crochet stitches in circle; slip stitch to join.

Row 1: Chain 1; single crochet 2 in next stitch. Repeat around; slip stitch to join

Row 2: Chain 1, working in back loop only; double crochet 1 in next stitch. Repeat around (increase as necessary to prevent cupping); slip stitch to join

Row 3: Chain 1, working in back loop only; half double crochet 2 in next stitch. Repeat around; slip stitch to join

Row 4: Picot around edge (chain 4, slip stitch in next stitch, repeat until end); slip stitch to join; tie off.

Tie off and tuck ends. Press.

FLOWER WITH BURR

Leaf 1 – Chain 7; slip stitch 2; single crochet 4; slip stitch in last chain; chain 1 turn, slip stitch 1; single crochet 4; slip stitch in last stitch.  Chain 1. Slip stitch down side of leaf to base.

Leaf 2 – Chain 9; slip stitch 2; single crochet 1; half double crochet 3; single crochet 2; slip stitch in last chain.  Chain 1; turn, slip stitch 1; single 2; half double crochet 3; single crochet 1; slip stitch 2; chain 1; slip stitch down side of leaf to base.

Leaf 3 – Chain 13; slip stitch 1 starting in 2^nd chain; single crochet 2; half double crochet 1; double crochet 2; half double crochet 1; single crochet 2; slip stitch 2 chain 1; turn, slip stitch 2; single crochet 2; half double crochet 1; double crochet 2; half double crochet 1; single crochet 2; slip stitch to end of leaf chain; slip stitch down side to base.

Center Leaf – Chain 17; slip stitch 2 starting in 2^nd chain; double crochet 2; half double crochet 2; double crochet 2; half double crochet 2; single crochet 3; slip stitch 2; chain 1; turn, slip stitch 2; single crochet 3; half double crochet 2; single crochet 2; slip stitch 2; chain 1; turn, slip stitch 3; single crochet 3; half double crochet 2; single crochet 2; half double crochet 5; chain 1; turn, slip stitch 3; single crochet 2; half double crochet 5; single crochet 3; slip stitch to end of leaf; chain 1; turn, slip stitch back to base.

Leaf 5- Same as Leaf 3

Leaf 6 – Same as Leaf 4

Leaf 7 – Same as Leaf 1

Slip stitch in base of leaves to form circle; join; chain 25 for stem; slip stitch in 2^nd chain from hook and next 5 chains; chain 12; slip stitches in 4^th from hook to form circle for burr; work single crochets in round till it reaches 1 inch in diameter (increasing as needed to prevent cupping); picot (chain 3, slip stitch in next stitch, repeat until end); slip stitch to join and slip stitch back up to base.

Tie off and tuck ends. Press.

LONG LEAF SPRAY

Tier 1:

Chain 12 for stem; chain 14 for 1^st leaf; slip stitch in 2^nd chain from hook; slip stitch 1; single crochet 1; half double crochet next 2 chains; double crochet in next chain; half double crochet in next 2 chains; single crochet next 2 chains; slip stitch next chain (1^st side of leaf made); repeat same down opposite side (slip stitch; single crochet 1; half double crochet next 2 chains; double crochet in next chain; half double crochet in next 2 chains; single crochet next 2 chains; slip stitch next chain). 1^st leaf complete- arrive back at stem. Slip stitch down the side that will be the top of the leaf.

Once you get to the stem, repeat pattern for 1^st leaf.   Second leaf on first tier complete.

Tier 2:

Chain 8 stitches for stem; chain 12 for leaf; slip stitch in 2^nd chain from hook; slip stitch 1; single crochet 1; half double crochet 1; double crochet 1; half double crochet 1; single crochet 1; slip stitch 1; chain 1; go down opposite side; slip stitch 1; single crochet 1; half double crochet 1; double crochet 1; half double crochet 1; single crochet 1; slip stitch 1. Slip stitch down the side that will be the top of the leaf- arrive back at stem.   Second leaf of 2^nd tier complete.

Repeat instructions for tier 2 three times.  Once you get to the 5^th tier, add a 3^rd leaf.  Slip stitch down stem to bottom, reinforcing stem and being careful to keep leaves from twisting. Tie off and tuck ends. Press.

*You may opt to make smaller leaves as you continue up stem (amount and size of leaves vary).