Nothing says "welcome home" (or "welcome to my home") like a seasonal wreath. Lovely lace leaves dance and autumnal colors burst around this lively wreath.
Decorative wheat stalks, silk floral picks, berry picks and silk autumn leaves add rich color and nice texture. Pick out your own embellishments to match your house and tastes!
We'll show you how to attach the lace leaves onto floral wire so they can be molded and shaped to the wreath.
Supplies & Materials:
Project Materials or Supplies
- 18 inch grape vine wreath
- Water-soluble stabilizer
- 8 feet (3 yards) decorative ribbon
- Green floral paddle wire (22 gauge)
- Needle nose pliers (with wire cutter)
- Hot glue gun
- Decorative wheat stalks
- Silk floral picks
- Berry picks
- Silk autumn leaves
The designs used in this tutorial include:
Special Project Notes:
You can use either 40 weight rayon thread or 30 - 35 weight cotton thread.
I use Coats and Clark 30 and 35 weight cotton thread. It's labeled as Mercerized ELS Cotton for Machine Quilting & Crafts; Machine Quilting; or All Purpose. I find Coats and Clark cotton thread at JoAnn's. I've also used Madeira Cotona, which is a 30 weight cotton thread.
I use the 30 - 35 weight cotton thread both in the bobbin (I wind my own bobbins) and in the top (needle).
A note about water-soluble stabilizers and needles:
There are many, many different brands of water-soluble stabilizer available. Some are thin and light, some are fibrous, and some are thick and heavy. It can be confusing to pick the right one for your lace project.
We've digitized and stitched thousands of freestanding lace designs, and have consistently excellent results with Sulky Ultra Solvy (the heavy weight water-soluble stabilizer by Sulky) and Vilene, a fibrous water-soluble stabilizer.
Use a sharp needle (as opposed to an embroidery needle) when embroidering onto water-soluble stabilizer - especially if using the "plastic-looking" kind (such as Sulky Ultra Solvy). An embroidery needle has a larger point, which makes larger holes in the water-soluble stabilizer, leading to tearing and misalignment.
Start Embroidering:
First, we will embroider the lace leaves. Hoop one piece of water-soluble stabilizer (WSS). We use Sulky Ultra Solvy.
Because freestanding lace is two-sided, the bobbin thread should match the top thread. Wind a bobbin with the same thread that you'll be using in the needle.
Use 40 weight rayon or polyester thread, or try 30-35 weight cotton for a hearty, hand-crafted look.
We use a size 11 sharp needle when embroidering free-standing lace.
We sewed 12 lace leaf designs in a variety of autumn colors.
After finishing each design, unhoop the WSS and cut away the excess. Trim as close to the embroidery as possible without cutting any of the stitches.
Set the scraps of WSS aside. You can piece the larger pieces together by wetting your fingers and running them along the edges; or put scraps in a spray bottle and add water to make spray starch.
Remove the WSS according to package instructions. For Sulky Ultra Solvy, soak each leaf in hot tap water for about 15 minutes.
Blot any excess water from the lace with a towel, and then allow to it dry.
Press the lace with an iron.
Assemble Wreath:
Now we will add wire to each of the lace leaves.
Flip the leaf over so that the wrong side is facing up. Start the end of the wire at the bottom of the leaf and weave it through the lace continuing through the middle to the top.
Attach the wire to the back of the lace with two drops of hot glue--one drop where the wire meets the top of the leaf, and one where the wire meets the bottom of the leaf.
Using the wire cutters on the pliers, snip the wire about three inches from the bottom of the leaf. Make sure to add a wire to each leaf.
Next, wind the ribbon around the grape vine wreath. To start, tuck the end of the ribbon in between the vines in the back of the wreath. Wind the ribbon around the entire wreath. When you return to the start, cut the ribbon and tuck the end into the back like you did in the start.
Now it's time to add those beautiful lace leaves. First, bend and shape the leaves to your liking. Then, working from the front of the wreath, position the leaf and poke the end of the wire through the vines. Push the wire all the way through the wreath so the excess hangs out in the back.
Use the pliers to loop the end of the wire around a vine in the back of the wreath. Make it nice and tight because this will hold it in place.
Here is the wreath with just the ribbon and the leaves attached.
It looks great already, but we are going to add some embellishments to make it even more gorgeous!
There are so many options for embellishments, and all you have to do is add a little hot glue...
...and slide the end in between the grape vines. Make sure to hold it in place for a few seconds, allowing the glue to cool and set.
And there you have it -- a wonderful decoration to hang on your door, welcoming everyone into autumn and your home.
