This simple and budget-friendly project is the perfect way to add a touch of love to your home for Valentine’s Day or really any time of the year. So grab your materials, and let’s get started on creating a beautiful DIY Neutral Heart Rag Wreath!
With just a few materials you can create a unique and beautiful wreath for your front door. This tutorial is easy to follow, and it’s a great way to use up fabric scraps.
I had all of these scrap pieces of fabric I had carefully stored away waiting for the perfect project. So, a whole pile of scrap bleached drop cloth fabric, the last pieces of a vintage linen tablecloth, and linen from a Halloween costume I sewed my daughter.
I bet you’ve got some scrap pieces lying around looking for a good purpose. And maybe you’re wondering what exactly is a rag wreath and how you make one.
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From Rags to Wreaths: A Tutorial on Making a Neutral Heart Rag Wreath
This heart rag wreath is a super simple project that anyone can do. It’s perfect for Valentine’s Day projects to do with your kids as well! I would just make sure to prepare some of the strips ahead of time as the tying takes a little bit of time!
Shop Your Home First for These Supplies
You can find all of these supplies at your local craft stores such as Hobby Lobby or Joann Fabric. Or if you have the time, take a moment to shop at your local thrift stores. You may also be able to find the heart wire wreath form at your Dollar Tree.
I made the most simple version, but you can do more or less to suit your own personal taste! That is one of the great beauties of this simple project.
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Step One – Making Strips of Cloth
If there’s one thing you don’t want to underestimate it’s the number of strips you’ll need to fill an entire heart rag wreath form. To put it plainly, you will need lots of strips. But since I didn’t want to render my entire scrap fabric pile useless should there be leftovers, I opted to rip up pieces as I went.
- The first step in making this wreath is to gather your materials. Bring at least 1-2 yards of scrap fabric in various shades and types for a really unique and beautiful wreath.
- Then, take your fabric scraps and cut them into 1-inch strips using the rotary cutter or scissors. I like the “scrappy look” so I made initial cuts along the edge of the fabric approximately 1 inch apart. Then simply ripped the fabric all the way down. While this creates loose threads, I actually loved the way it looked in the end and it was definitely the fastest way to get those piles of strips!
Step Two – Choosing a Pattern to Fill
Though I chose to keep the fabrics kind of uniform along the wreath form, you can totally do it randomly. In fact, the more scrap fabric you have, the more random would look absolutely charming!
Because there are three wires in this heart wreath around the perimeter I broke it up into steps.
A Haphazard Pattern Using Scrap Fabric
- So I chose to fill the inside wire with bleached drop cloth.
- However, I added a small section of green velvet ribbon 3-4 inches on either side of the round parts.
- Then drop cloth fabric scraps until the center wire was completely full.
- I added even amounts of the whiter linen on either side of the outside of the heart wire form until I had no more.
- Then to finish I added what was left of the darker linen fabric I had.
- To finish the wreath I cut a long strip of my wider green velvet ribbon to hang my wreath and used the last of it to create a really long hanging bow.
Step Three – Tying the Knots
It is important to note that when you’re making your knots make the fabric fairly tight. I didn’t want a lot of movement, so I was pushing the knots fairly close together up until the point when my finger couldn’t fit between them any longer.
- The thinner you make the strips, the more you will need, but the easier it is to tie a knot. I chose to make my strips about 1 inch wide and 5-6 inches long. Just long enough to make a good tight knot to secure it on the wire form.
- Once you have a nice pile of strips of fabric cut or ripped, you have the option to use a hot glue gun to attach them to the wire wreath form. I, however, just tied a knot around the wire which was fast and secure not to mention fewer supplies.
- Start at the top of the heart and work your way down, using a single or double knot to secure the fabric strips in place. You can also use floral wire to attach the strips if you prefer.
- As you work your way around the wire frame, be sure to pull the fabric knots tight so that it looks neat and tidy.
- Once you reach the center of the heart, use a piece of ribbon to hang the wreath. And that’s it! Your DIY neutral heart rag wreath is now ready to be displayed. You can hang it on your mirror, or your front door which will add a warm welcome to all of your visitors.
What is a Rag Wreath?
A rag wreath is literally exactly as it sounds. Basically, you make a wreath using strips of fabric, often old clothing or scraps of material, that are tied or twisted together to form a circular shape.
These wreaths are beautiful handmade decor that can also be made in various sizes and styles, such as heart-shaped or round. They can be a creative and budget-friendly way to add unique decor to your home.
10 Great Reasons to Make a DIY Heart Rag Wreath
There are several benefits to making a DIY neutral heart rag wreath, but here are some of the reasons I think it’s a great project.
- It’s an awesome project that helps you use up your fabric scraps or inexpensive materials. So, that means it’s a super budget-friendly way to decorate your home.
- When you create a wreath yourself it allows you to personalize it to your specific taste and style. Not to mention a particular color scheme!
- The neutral color scheme of this wreath means it’s perfect for Valentine’s Day as well as any time of the year.
- Repurposing fabric scraps is a great way to reduce waste as well as be more environmentally friendly.
- A DIY wreath is a creative and fun project that people of all ages and also all skill levels can enjoy.
- The technique you use in this tutorial makes it super simple to create wreaths with ease, and then have fun with different embellishments.
- The satisfaction of creating something beautiful and unique by yourself.
- Let’s use up and repurpose those fabric scraps and make something beautiful out of something that otherwise is going to the trash.
- Displaying a wreath on your front door is a great way to create a warm and inviting atmosphere for your home.
- A beautiful and unique addition to your home decor.
Overall, making a DIY neutral heart rag wreath is a fun and rewarding project that can add a touch of love to your home while being budget-friendly, eco-friendly, and versatile.
Rag Wreaths for Every Season!
Rag wreaths can be made from a variety of fabrics, colors, and embellishments, so they can be easily adapted to suit different seasons and holidays.
Here are a few examples of how you can use a rag wreath for other seasons and holidays:
- A Fall Rag Wreath. Perfect to use warm colors like orange, yellow, and brown, and add embellishments like leaves, acorns, or small pumpkins.
- As a Christmas Decoration, you can use red and green fabrics, and add embellishments like small ornaments, bells, or pinecones.
- Easter or Spring Wreath, you can use pastel-colored fabrics, and add embellishments like small Easter eggs or bunnies.
- Halloween Scrappy Wreath. You can use black, orange, or spider web fabrics and add embellishments like small bats, spiders, or jack-o-lanterns.
- For Thanksgiving, you can use autumnal colors like orange, yellow, and brown. As well as embellishments like small gourds, corn husks, or fall leaves.
You can also use different techniques such as adding pom poms, paper flowers, or even succulents. These choices will make a wreath that’s perfect for any occasion.
The possibilities are endless, and you can get creative with different color schemes. Or have a lot of fun with embellishments to create a beautiful wreath that can be used all year round.
Fabric Choices to Use as Fabric Scraps for a Heart Rag Wreath
You can use multiple different fabrics to add texture and interest to your wreath. However, the best part is that you can use fabric scraps that you already have on hand. This elevates a beautiful project into a major budget-friendly Valentine’s Day craft.
The strips of fabric can literally be any type of cloth you have on hand. But here are some different fabrics you can use to get a timeless and unique look.
- Old Sheets, Throws, Pillowcases, Curtains, Tablecloths, etc.
- Old Clothes. Cotton T-shirts or flannel shirts are a great option for rag wreaths. Especially if you’re looking for a way to upcycle old clothes.
- Cotton Fabrics. This is a versatile fabric that is easy to work within a variety of colors and patterns.
- Denim Fabric Scraps. Denim is a durable fabric that can therefore add a rustic touch to a rag wreath.
- Burlap. Burlap is a natural-looking fabric therefore it can give a rag wreath a rustic, country feel.
- Linen Strips. Linen is a lightweight fabric that can give a rag wreath a more refined look.
- Lace and Trims. Lace and trims can be added to the rag wreath to give it a more delicate and elegant look.
- Ribbon Scraps. Because adding ribbon is a wonderful way to get that unique look.
Ultimately, you can use any fabric you have on hand to make a rag wreath. The key is to make sure that the fabric is soft and pliable. That way it can be easily tied or twisted to form the wreath.
The good news is that the possibilities are endless when it comes to creating a DIY Valentine’s wreath. With just a little bit of creativity, you’ll create a beautiful wreath that is all your own. And a perfect decoration for Valentine’s Day or any time of the year!
To end this post, I hope I’ve given you inspiration and that you’ll give it a try and share your results with me! And if you’re looking for more wreath inspiration, check out this simple fresh cedar wreath tutorial!
Sincerely,
Julie
FAQ
The number of strips you will need for a rag wreath will depend on the size of your wreath form and the thickness of your fabric strips. As a general rule of thumb, you will want to have enough strips to fully cover the wire wreath form and to have enough overlap between the strips to secure them in place.
For a standard heart-shaped wire wreath form, you will likely need anywhere from 50-100 strips of fabric depending on the width and thickness of the strips. It is always better to have more than less, in case some strips break or if you want to add extra fullness to your wreath.
Keep in mind that you can always add or remove strips as you go to achieve the desired fullness and coverage on your wreath.
The size of the fabric strips for a rag wreath will depend on your personal preference and the look you are trying to achieve. Generally, fabric strips that are 1-2 inches wide and 5-6 inches long are a good starting point for a rag wreath.
The simplest way to make a heart-shaped wreath is to use a wire heart wreath form and fill it with strips of fabric tied in knots around the perimeter. Or use greenery, faux flowers, silk flowers, or even paper flowers.
To make a simple rustic heart wreath you will need a heart-shaped wreath form. You can use strips of fabric to make a heart-shaped rag wreath or use paper flowers, or fabric flowers on a twig wreath or grapevine wreath form.
