Ruffletastic 4th of July Wreath [+tutorial]

Finally. I have something to post I actually made. This wreath has been a long time coming since I had to get the jewelry project finished first. The jewelry I made for a friend's wedding took longer than anticipated (as most projects do-partly because I procrastinate/get sidetracked and partly because everything sounds so easy in my head and, in reality, often simply takes more time than I think it will). I will show you pictures of the jewelry soon. But for now, the Ruffletastic 4th of July Wreath. :)

I know, I know. Over the top. I don't care. I've decided I like it anyway. And yes I did finish it last night -4 days before the 4th of July-so my neighbors and I will be celebrating a little longer than usual. It's fine.  And since I'm sure you all plan out your projects better than me and have had your decor up for weeks, you can just bookmark this beauty for later.

Wanna know how to make her? Here's some brief details:

Materials Needed:

1. Straw wreath from (because they're cheap and you can pin things into them)

2. Various fabrics (you can use anything. Any cotton works well, though)

1.5 yds for the fabric used to ruffle and wrap the wreath with-I used 2 coordinating blue patterns, 1 cotton, 1 _________

 1/2 yd or so for each red fabric-I used 4 coordinating red patterned fabric, all cotton

3/4 yds. or so for each white fabric-I used white rough silk and a textured thin cotton.

3. Trim for the center of the flowers

4. Sewing materials

5. ribbon for hanging

Step 1: Make the blue ruffle to wrap the wreath form with.

Ruffle 'til your heart's content. And then ruffle some more. 

We're going to make a double fabric ruffle!

 Cut strips of fabric into 4 inch wide strips of the fabric you want peeking out the sides and 3 1/2 inch wide strips of the fabric you want on top. The length doesn't matter because you're going to sew it all together in the end to make one really long ruffle. I think I cut 10-12 strips for each pattern.

 Place the fabric strips on top of each other so the wider strip is peeking from behind the narrower one.

 Set your machine on the highest tension and the longest stitch length to create a ruffle.  Sew straight down the middle of the strips and they should ruffle on their own. Don't backstitch! Don't you love how the two strips ruffle together at the same time?! If it isn't ruffled enough, pull on the thread with one hand and carefully push your fabric down the thread to make the gathers closer together.

 When you're done with all your strips, sew them together by sewing the right sides together on each end, being sure to match up the top strip layers together so it looks like one continuing ruffle when you're done.

When you trim the threads, trim the threads on the sides of the strips all the way to the edge of the fabric (see the arrow?), but not too close on the ends. I leave those threads a couple inches longer than the end of the strip so that it doesn't wiggle out and cause my ruffle to un-ruffle. You can also use those threads to tighten up any ruffles that come loose. You'll hide the threads later.

 Can you find the seam? Don't find my chipped nails, please.

 Pile of ruffles all sewn together is complete!

 Wrap the ruffled strip around your wreath form, securing it with hot glue.

Set wreath aside. 

Step 2: Make flowers.

To make the red flower, I basically did a much larger version of the flower on this tutorial at Made by Lex. 

Fun fact: this was the very first kind of fabric flower I'd ever made before I had a machine so I hand sewed it all.

 For this flower, I started out with a 4"x45" strip ruffled as tight as it would go.

 Once all ruffled, sew right sides together to create a circle. 

 In order to be sure the ends of the fabric don't peek out, you can trim the edges after the seam. 

Then you have your first ruffled circle. Do the same with trimming your threads on this ruffle as you did for the long ruffle you used to wrap your wreath.

For the rest of the circles, just continually decrease the width of your strips by 1/4 or 1/2 inch as you go and your length several inches as you go. I alternate the patterned fabric for each strip. Make 6 (or more, if you want) circles total. The smallest of my circles was about 1 1/4 in. wide and about 10 inches long. Stack the ruffled circles and hand sew them together. In order to get them to turn up a little instead of laying flat, you can hand sew it like this some on the back. 

Once the flower is finished, you can knot up and then twist some trim around itself, hot gluing as you go, to form a large knot (this doesn't have to be perfect.) and hot glue it to the flower's center (covering all the stitching from the ruffles.)

 It should look like this when you're done.

To make the white flower, I used the poppy tutorial on Grosgrain.

This is the same tutorial I used to make my Memorial Day Poppy Pin.

For these flowers I alternated the silk and textured cotton. it definitely gave it a nice textured look!

Make two of each flower.

Step 3: Attach flowers and ribbon.

 Attach your flowers with straight pins. Peel back a couple ruffles and stick your pin in. Use a few pins per flower.

Use your ribbon to hang your wreath. If you use a door hanger, camouflage that ugly hanger with my tip here in step 6.

 Those flowers are so outta control. American Love.

What is everyone doing for the 4th?

 We're spending it in Paducah on Kentucky Lake with my friends I discussed in this post. After teaching two weeks of summer school, a 3 day weekend on the water and in the sunshine with my favorite people and puppy dogs is very welcomed!