Wreath: Christmas Sweater Conversion Part II

Another way to put old Christmas sweaters or other scraps of fabric to good holiday use is to make a wreath to hang on the door. This wreath is really a continuation of the last instructable I posted on stockings and elf costumes. I couldn't bear to let leftover sweater fabric from my other projects go to waste, so here is my solution: a Grinch-esque holiday wreath!

Step 1: Prepare Materials

A: Here I used the remnants of my Christmas sweater, but you could use any scraps or fabric, as long as you have enough material to make two tubes about 3 ft long.

First I cut the sweater remnant down the middle. You should also separate the sweater where the shoulder part is connected. Then I flipped one half to match up with the lines and curves of the other piece to make it longer and pinned it together. Be careful to try and match any stripes up and pin it in a way that will make a nice tube shape when you sew it together.

B: If you are using a single piece of fabric it should be approximately 37cm X 175cm in size. (15 in X 70 in)

Both A and B people will need to have some kind of stuffing for the middle of the tubes, preferably batting (the stuff that goes inside a quilt).

Step 2: Sew Pieces Together

A: Once it is securely pinned, you are ready to start sewing. As you sew you will need to pay attention to the different seems because you will have seems that run through the middle on both sides of the fabric. You will notice fairly quickly if you forget to sew one!

After you have sewn the two pieces together sew down the middle twice making parallel lines with about 1cm or 1/4 inch in between. Then cut between the parallel lines to create two tubes. Turn them right-side out.

B: If you are working with one piece of long fabric, all you have to do is sew along one edge and turn it right-side out.

Step 3: Stuff and Stitch

Go ahead and stuff the tubes with the stuffing. I experimented with a variety of things and found that batting, rolled-up, was not only the easiest thing to stuff it with, but also makes it look smoother.

Next, pull the end of one tube over the end of the other tube, pin it, and stitch it up. It doesn't really matter what stitch you use, but I like the one illustrate below.

For people who are connecting two tubes (sweater remnants) you will have to repeat this step to connect both ends of the tube.

Step 4: Decorate the Wreath

Now you are ready to add whatever you like to decorate the wreath.

First I made a big bow and attached it to the top before laying out the other adornments. Then I made fake holly by cutting out leaves and sewing buttons on them before attaching them to the wreath. After that I cut heart-shapes out of some scrap fabric and sandwiched them between wooden ornamental buttons and the paper holly leaves I had just made, then attached it to the wreath with needle and thread.

Find a suitable place to hang your wreath and you are done!

If you were using a sweater remnant, congratulations, you just re-used that sweater to the last thread!