How to Make a DIY Patriotic Wreath

I confess that I am not a good DIY-er. My optimistic and ambitious nature often leads me into a false sense of “I can do this”. Yesterday, I got a bee in my bonnet to use up some of the numerous ribbon I have and decide it might be fun to make a ribbon wreath. If you have any red, white, and blue ribbon or even fabric, you too can make this DIY patriotic wreath. What is nice about a red/white/blue wreath is you can use it multiple times for Memorial Day, July 4th, Flag Day, President’s Day, Labor Day and Veteran’s Day.

Since we always celebrate the July 4th holiday at our mountain cabin, I realize that I have very little July 4th decor here in Phoenix. The combination of getting rid of excessive ribbon and my silly belief that I can do anything, I ambitiously set forth and seek my materials.

Generally to be successful, one needs a positive attitude, fortitude and hopefully a bit of aptitude. I definitely possess the first two, but for some reason DIY projects do not come naturally to me. However, I plow through them and occasionally I will have a success.

The Materials

Starting with a single wire 14″ wreath frame (I did not use the green one in the photo above) and lots of leftover ribbon, you will also need floral wire and scissors. I would imagine you can make this with any wreath frame you may have on hand. If you use a wreath frame with 4 circular wires, your wreath will be much more abundant.

Making the Bows

I learn to make bows when I was in high school and employed by our local florist. The bows I make for this wreath are relatively simple with just a single loop on each side. If you want a fuller look you can keep folding andmakes bows with more loops. Cut a piece of floral wire (scissors will do) about 6 inches long. Wrap the wire around the center of the bow and secure with a few twists on the back.

Tightening the wire will pinch the center of the ribbon. Pull the layers of ribbon apart for fullness. Just a note about floral wire. I use this product all the time, especially around the holidays. You will not be disappointed in purchasing this.

My first mistake I make is the bows are a bit too small. Making bigger and more abundant bows will make this project go by much faster. Once I realize this, I add larger bows next to the smaller ones.

Affixing to the Frame

Twisting the wire around the frame secures the bows, but does not keep them from rotating. The more bows you add, eventually they will pack together and not spin around. Again, think bigger bows! Less work!

Mix up the colors and patterns of the ribbons. This is a great way to use up all the scraps of ribbons I collect (does anyone else do that?). Any pattern bow will work as long as the color scheme is the same.

For the 14″ wire frame, I made approximately 32 bows. To fill in, I also add single ribbons that are tied to the frame to add more color, interest and filler.

Couple of things to note:

The larger the frame, the more bows you will have to make. This would actually look cute in a smaller size too. I wonder if you could just tie strips of fabric onto the frame and tie bows, but I’m not sure how time consuming that would be.

Here is the finished wreath. I suppose you could squish more bows onto it if you’d like. But at this point, I am ready for it to be done!

If I were to do this again, I would make much fuller bows and I bet you would be able to reduce the bow-making task significantly. You could even tear fabric and tie it to the frame.

How Long Did this Take?

The entire project did take me about 2 hours, with some interruptions. I think this would also be cute as a table wreath with a vase of flowers or perhaps a candle pillar in the middle. If I were to use this outside, I would spray the ribbon with a UV protectant spray like this.

If you are not a DIY person, here is a very cute wreath on Amazon that is rated well. Patriotic ribbon can be found here or at any Walmart, Michaels or fabric store.

Need More Red, White and Blue Ideas?

Whether you are setting a table or decorating a porch or patio, here are some more patriotic ideas for you.

Happy Tuesday, my friends! Do you have any special plans for Memorial Day?

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