Braid a few skeins of decorative yarn into a garland to trim the tree or a window or door. Then, wrap different yarns around a paper plate or foam form to create a wreath. The texture of the yarns used can cover any “errors” created in the process.
Selecting Decorative Holiday Yarns
Both wreaths and the garland each require approximately four skeins of yarn. Look for slightly different yarns in a variety of weights. Choose one or two skeins of fuzzy eyelash yarn in colors such as red, green, white, silver, or gold. Select a superfine (also known as fingerling or baby yarn). Choose a lightweight yarn in any holiday color. For the paper plate wreath, use a medium-weight yarn. If they are using a foam wreath form, use a bulky or chunky yarn to fill up space quickly.
Make a Paper Plate Wreath
- Cut out the center of any size paper plate and throw away the center. Don’t worry if the paper isn’t trimmed smooth, it will be covered with yarn.
- Tape the end of the medium-weight yarn to the back of the hoop and wrap the yarn through the hole and around the rim. Every few inches, add a piece of tape to the back of the plate so the yarn doesn’t slide. It isn’t necessary to cover every bit of the paper loop. Avoid wrapping the yarn so tight that the paper rim warps.
- Go around the piece a second time with a lightweight or superfine yarn. Focus on filling in some of the gaps. Tape the beginning and end of the piece of yarn to the plate.
- Add a fuzzy eyelash yarn around the plate. Avoid adding too much or it will hide the other yarns.
- Get an adult to hot glue on pompoms or a small bow if desired.
Wrap a Foam Wreath with Yarn
- Tie one strand of bulky yarn around the wreath and knot in place. Wrap the yarn around the form. Every couple of inches, knot the yarn around the wreath to anchor it in place and prevent it from shifting.
- Wrap additional yarns around the wreath, working from the heaviest, or thickest, yarn and ending with an eyelash yarn. (Eyelash yarn is classified as a bulky yarn, but save this for the last round so the “hairs” aren’t crushed flat by the other yarns.)
- Again, hot glue on optional bows, bells, or ornaments.
Finger Crochet a Christmas Garland
- Gather one or two skeins of eyelash yarn, a skein or two of superfine yarn and a fourth of fine-weight yarn.
- Although the result may look like a braid, this is really a finger crocheted chain. It is easier to crochet multiple strands of yarn than to do a conventional three-strand braid.
- Tie the ends of all the yarn together into a loop big enough to fit the index finger and thumb through.
- Put the finger and thumb through the loop and grab the strands of yarn. Pull the strands through the loop, creating a second loop. Shift the fingers into the new loop.
- Continue to pull yarn through the loops that are created, making the chain as long as desired.
- Hang ornaments, tassels, or bows at equal distances along the garland.
Children can create a simple wreath or garland by working with multiple skeins of holiday-color yarn. The techniques are easy enough to create both a wreath and a garland in a couple of afternoons.
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