Ruffled Burlap Wreath Tutorial {Burlap & Glam}

I don't know about you, but once Fall hits I get the unexplainable urge to make about a dozen wreaths.

This year I am practicing some self-restraint and am only making two wreaths for the Fall season. The Christmas season doesn't stand a chance because I'll most likely go bonkers making wreaths. Wreaths for every door in the house!

The first wreath I'm going to share with you is my "grown up" wreath for the front door. I wanted something sophisticated, warm feeling, and a little glam, too. Glam is where the glitter comes in, BTW. Oh, and ruffles. A girl has got to have some ruffles in her life.

Your supplies:

-Burlap - I got two yards from Joann and had enough for this wreath plus some left for other fun Fall craftiness, holla!
-A straw wreath form - or any wreath form, really. Just remember you'll be hot gluing burlap onto it, so nothing that is particularly melty.
-Embellishments of your choice - I got this glittery leaf at Christmas Tree Shops. In the end I knew I NEEDED more glitter (and I had to cover up a boo-boo: keep reading) so I found two more.
Not pictured:
-Needle and thread - I used normal thread, but upholstery thread would have been much stronger.
-Hot glue gun

Step 1:

Cut your burlap into strips. I cut mine about 4-5 inches wide and as long as I could get them. Start gluing and wrapping the strips around your wreath form. This will give your ruffles and embellishments something to grab onto, as well as cover up all that straw.

Step 2:
Cut out two more strips of burlap, depending on how wide you want your ruffles. I knew I wanted one wider, looser ruffle around the outside of my wreath, and another smaller, more ruffle-y ruffle in front of that. I measured around my wreath and cut a strip that measured the circumference of my wreath plus half. If I remember correctly, the strip for the wider ruffle was about 70" long and 10" wide and the strip for the smaller ruffle was a little shorter in length and about 6" wide.

Also, I feel like now is a good a time as any to share with you that I worked mostly from my dining room floor
because burlap is MESSY. I figured if I worked close enough to the floor, burlap debris didn't have to fall far for clean up.

Note: I wanted a clean edge to the ruffled exposed edge of my burlap, so I folded my strips in half (and should have pressed them so I had a nice crease, but didn't--so lazy) and actually wound up with a 5" and a 3" ruffle. Remember to do that if you want a clean edge, or consider cutting your strips a little less wide if you are cool with the unfinished edge of the burlap on the outside edge of your wreath.

Step 3:
Burlap has a pretty loose weave, so I added a bead of hot glue where I threaded my needle through the fabric at first to hold it in place.

Let this be known that I haven't given myself a manicure in like two weeks.
Which is a record for me.

Run a straight stitch down the length of your burlap, then gather your fabric into a snazzy ruffle. Remember, I wanted this ruffle to be a little more "wavy" than "ruffley", so I didn't gather too much. Once I decided I liked how my burlap was gathered, I added another bead of hot glue to the end of my thread to hold it in place and maintain the wavy ruffle.

Step 4:
Decide which part of your wreath form you want to be the front and back, and then flip it over so it's front-side-down. Glue your ruffle to the back of your wreath.

Here the wreath is face up. Post-gluing down my ruffle.

Step 4(a):
Apparently I am miserable at measuring. Shrug your shoulders because you know you'll come up with something in the meantime that'll keep your wreath from looking like it should be a burlap turkey (is it just me, or does anyone see the makings of a sweet turkey wreath?). It's not Thanksgiving yet, friends.

Step 5:
Repeat Step Four with your second strip of burlap that will be rufflier than your first. Gather that fabric and secure your thread.

Step 6:
Tuck your ruffley ruffle between your wreath form and your first ruffle and secure to both the wreath form and the first ruffle with your hot glue gun.

Note: Technically, I suppose you could glue your first smaller ruffley ruffle to the wreath form followed by your wider, less ruffley ruffle and not have to worry about tucking it in anywhere. The things you learn as you go.

Step 6(a):
Crap. This ruffle is too short, too. Brainstorm about a clever fix while you work.

Step 7:
Add the embellishments of your choice.
Even though you originally thought one glittered leaf would be enough embellishment for your simple fall wreath, decide that two more would be even more glitterific and fabulous and will cover up your inadequacies in measuring at the bottom of your wreath. Now it will not be looking like a burlap turkey.

Glue those suckers on. Hello, glam!

Decide that you just don't know when to quit and make a bow out of your burlap scraps. Glue it onto the top of your wreath.

Step Nine:
Hang your wreath on your sassy red door (or, you know, whatever color your front door is) and admire your hard work.

And there you have it! A rustic AND glittery glam Fall wreath that did not, in fact, wind up looking like a turkey. Thanks for bearing with me through the tutorial! I have a second more whimsical and fun wreath underway that is SO MUCH easier. Can't wait to share that one with you soon!

Who else out there is a wreath-making-maniac? I know I can't be the only one!

Linking up with:
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