For this Buzz, I’d like to feature a technique using the Embellish-Knit! or Cool Corder. It doesn’t need a traditional pattern, as it’s more of a technique that you can use to create all kinds of gifts and decorations. It uses a rug-hooking technique but one that brings through an especially long loop. I’ve found wreaths that are 14” diameter or less look best (of course, mine was 18” but that’s another story…..)
 And one of the best parts about making one of these wreaths is that you’ll keep your kids busy for hours making the cording! (It doesn’t matter if small sections of the cording have “the-weight-wasn’t-hanging-freely” lumps in it, as you really won’t see them. Ditto for shorter lengths of cording, as you will not need to finish off ends.
Here’s how the wreath I made looks like on our office door here in Vermont.
Here’s how:
Materials:
- 2 to 4 skeins of Caron International's Simply Soft® in Dark Sage (or color of your choice for making a wreath), the amount depending on the size wreath you want to make.
- Styrofoam® wreath form, 14” or smaller, preferably in green
- 3.75 (3¾ holes to 1”) rug canvas the diameter of the wreath form plus 6”
- Dark green fabric marking pen (I found “Tee Juice” by Jacquard to be ideal)
- Permanent marker
- Spool of dark green floral wire
- Pinecones, red berries – whatever you’d like for decorating your wreath
Tools:
 Instructions:
Cord up one skein of Simply Soft.
With the permanent marker, mark the center of the rug canvas.
Lay the wreath form over the center of the rug canvas.
Trace a circle inside and outside the foam form.
Draw another circle 3” from both traced circles, the inside one to the center and the outer one toward the outside. [see illustration at right]
Cut out the wreath and its center.
 Using the fabric marker, color the wreath. This is in case the canvas shows through the cording just a bit, but is optional if you don’t mind the off white showing a bit. Let the canvas dry.
 Holding the cording on the underside of the rug canvas and the crochet hook on top, starting 2” in from the edge of the cut-out circle, pull through a 1½” high loop.
 Skip 1 hole and repeat pulling a loop through. Tip: make sure you have enough cording on the end closest to the last loop to be sure you don’t pull out cording from the loop you just made.
- Continue pulling up loops around the wreath. If you prefer, you can also go back and forth across the wreath rather than in circles. Or you can do a combination.
 When the loops have been pulled through to your satisfaction, cut into the wreath at approximately 2” intervals to about a half inch from the corded section. Do this both around the outside and inside.
 Place the foam form in the center of the wreath and pull up two of the cut sections. Using the wire (you can also use yarn and a tapestry needle if you prefer), tie the two sections together. Continue bringing up the cut sections and wiring or sewing them together on the back of the wreath.
 Here is what the original wreath looked like on the back. Mine would’ve been better using a foam wreath, but there wasn’t one large enough so I used a metal form and stuffed the back with foam rubber before joining the cut sections. I also used yarn, but I think wire might be better – and easier to secure section by section.
 Lastly, here’s a close up of the front of the wreath.
Suggestions: try using two different greens for a really natural look – or two different purples for a non-traditional look. And have the older kids help out with the hooking – and/or let them make their own wreath for the door to their room. Make ornaments usng the same technique – or make the tops of Christmas stockings or the edging to a Santa hat using white Simply Soft.
But most of all, have fun! It’s these kinds of family crafts that bring families together. Shopping is fun – but crafting is better! |
