My favourite fall wheat wreath that you can make out of rye or any other grains or grasses. You just need some wire, dried grasses and a dream. Actually, dream not necessary, but you will need about an hour.
There are certain things I like about fall. I like raking leaves, the chill in the air and the fact that I don't have to cut my grass. There are other things I don't like about fall. I don't like raking leaves or the chill in the air or the fact that I don't get to cut my grass.
I'm a complex person. I blame it on not wearing a helmet as a child.
What I have for you today is all kinds of simple. There's nothing complex about it and you can make it in about an hour provided you don't get distracted by rustling leaves blowing down the street. Or street rustlers as they're known 'round these parts.
How to make a wheat wreath.
(in its simplest form)
Told you. Simple. I had this wreath up on my door for no more than 15 minutes before a neighbour stopped in her tracks and came up to inspect it. She loved it. I should possibly mention I actually called her over to look at the wreath and stared at her expectantly like a Kindergartener holding up their latest finger painting. But still. I believe her reaction was genuine. She couldn't fake that look of delight.
She, (my neighbour) as you might have guessed is a minimalist. But I think this wreath works for anyone, not just someone who has an appreciation for Charles Eames. And finger painting.
I'm not opposed to big HUGE full wheat wreaths, but this one has a certain understated elegance to it.
DIY WHEAT WREATH
Materials (all measurements are for my wreath, change as suits you)
- 1, 58" long length of wire.
- 44 sprigs of wheat
- Floral wire
- Hot glue (or other)
Assembly
- Shape your piece of wire into a circle allowing the ends to overlap by around 2". It's easiest to get a perfect circle if you wrap the wire around something. I used the base of a BBQ propane tank.
- Wrap the floral wire around both ends to hold the circle in place. You now have the base for your wreath.
3. If you're using a wheat sheaf like I did to steal some wheat sprigs from, just pull them out of random places in the sheaf. Once you pull them out, you won't even know they're gone from the sheaf. Stealing 44 sprigs makes no difference to the structure of the wheat sheaf at all.
4. Layer individual sprigs of wheat starting at the very centre of the left side of your wire circle. Alternate your placement of the sprigs so they aren't in a perfectly straight line. Wire sprigs in place.
5. Continue placing and wiring until you get to the bottom centre of the wreath.
6. Once you're at the bottom centre, wire the wheat stalks up the right side to help cover the wire.
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We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.
7. Starting at the right centre of the wreath, repeat placing and wiring the sprigs until you get to the bottom centre again.
8. Hide the leftover stalks by wiring them on the backside of the wreath like before.
9. Snip off any long stalks that are left.
10. Stick small pieces of wheat to cover the bare spot you'll have at the centre and wire tightly.
11. Hot glue a strand or two of wheat stalk around the exposed piece of wire at the centre of the wreath.
Your simple wreath is done.
TIP:
There are two kinds of wheat. Wheat that has those long hair like things coming out of them (called awns), and hairless. Wheat awns have barbs as a way to protect the plant from being eaten by animals.
If you have a cat or dog that likes to chew on things these will get stuck in their mouth and throat so BE CAREFUL with any wheat around your pets.
Fall Wheat Wreath DIY.
An easy to make simple fall wreath made out of wheat, rye or whatever dried grasses you can get your hands on.
Materials
- 1, 58″ long length of wire
- 44 sprigs of wheat
- Floral wire
- Hot glue (or other)
Instructions
- Shape your piece of wire into a circle allowing the ends to overlap by around 2″. It’s easiest to get a perfect circle if you wrap the wire around something. I used the base of a BBQ propane tank.
- Wrap the floral wire around both ends to hold the circle in place. You now have the base for your wreath.
- If you’re using a wheat sheaf like I did to steal some wheat sprigs from, just pull them out of random places in the sheaf. Once you pull them out, you won’t even know they’re gone from the sheaf. Stealing 44 sprigs makes no difference to the structure of the wheat sheaf at all.
- Layer individual sprigs of wheat starting at the very centre of the left side of your wire circle. Alternate your placement of the sprigs so they aren’t in a perfectly straight line. Wire sprigs in place.
- Continue placing and wiring until you get to the bottom centre of the wreath.
- Once you’re at the bottom centre, wire the wheat stalks up the right side to help cover the wire.
- Starting at the right centre of the wreath, repeat placing and wiring the sprigs until you get to the bottom centre again.
- Hide the leftover stalks by wiring them on the backside of the wreath like before.
- Snip off any long stalks that are left.
- Stick small pieces of wheat to cover the bare spot you’ll have at the centre and wire tightly.
- Hot glue a strand or two of wheat stalk around the exposed piece of wire at the centre of the wreath.
Wanna skip past fall and go straight to Halloween? Here's a good Halloween wreath tutorial. I've actually just been wondering if Halloween is going to be cancelled this year. I suppose it probably will be.
Get your straw, make your wreath and remember ... always wear a helmet.
Quick question, by chance do you know the gauge of the wire? It looks thick but still bendable? Love this wreath btw!
I wish I could remember Rachel, but you're right, it's thick but bendable. It's similar to coat hanger wire so I'd say around 10 or 12? ~ karen!
Nice wreath, nice thighs, great veins! I tend to look at things that cause me pain - veins which are needed for bloodwork and are non-existent - extremely jealous of great veins like yours.
I have to say, you aren't the first to comment on my veins. Sadly, lol. ~ karen!
Beautiful! Love minimalism. And yeah, guess I have to be as busy as you are to get those thighs...
Now I know why I relate to you.....I always wondered, I mean we are total opposites, me being and old very southern chic and you being well, Canadian and can do stuff , I didn't wear a helmet either.....HA THAT'S IT
Love the wreath ❤
How is the wreath attached to the door? It seems to be rather ethereally suspended in space... With all of our slamming doors and 4 +1 in our household, I could imagine the wreath falling off immediately. (The +1 is our ancient retriever, who definitely counts, but does not open doors herself)
Hi Speck. It's hung with fishing wire that goes over the door and is tied to a screw on the back of the door. ~ karen!
I won't use the "M" word, but....... subtract 2" for overlap = 56" circumference. Divide by pi, preferably pumpkin or apple, and you get a circle w/ a 17" diameter.
I wanted to make the pie are squared* joke! I can't find any of those symbols on my iPad, so I can't. Thanks for doing the math, Chris. I was wondering how large the diameter of the wreath would be.
*Pie are squared, cake are round. 😂
Where did you get the wheat sheaves?
All of my local garden centres carry them. If you can't find sheaves you should be able to find individual packages of wheat sprigs for flower arranging anywhere they sell fall decorating stuff like Homegoods, or garden centres or even grocery stores that have a floral department. ~ karen!
Thanks!
We are visiting family for Thanksgiving - think I just found the perfect hostess gift to take along! Hooray! I am going to be the favourite kid for a change!
Very pretty (-_-)
Pretty! Checked out the Halloween one too, very cool! :)
Love it. Couldn't resist and clicked on the Halloween wreath. Heading to the Dollar Tree tomorrow to get my supplies! Love it!
I know! I should really redo that post with nicer pictures. It was one of the earlier posts I did and the photography does NOT do the wreath justice. :) ~ karen!
I noticed the date... That was a looooong time ago!
Damn! The only thing I noticed was how good your thighs looked. I don't mean to sound creepy, but I can't even IMAGINE letting anybody see me like that! Guess it's the result of all the hard work you do.
Hahaha! I wonder how many other readers scrolled back to look at your thighs after reading this!
I was actually thinking more about the vacuuming the carpet after you were done!
I guess I'm too practical to be creepy! (They do look good though!!)
I just swept it with a stiff broom. :) ~ karen!
It's because I'm sitting down. Everything looks better in the down position. Legs, arms, faces ... ~ karen!
Except for boobs - they tend to resemble flattened landing wheels hanging from the body of a plane in flight.
A 58’ piece of wire, REALLY! Just how big is your front door?
Point 4. Hmm, we have spigs and in point 7 it tells us to stare at it! Well I think the end result looks great but I can’t believe staring at a 58’ piece of wire will generate the same look as your photo!
S.B.
Yup, I had the same reaction as you. But that's honestly the length of the wire. I double and triple checked. Once it's turned into a circle it becomes small somehow, lol. ~ karen!
I think you mean 58" (inches) not 50' (feet).
Hahahahaha! Um ... no ... I meant feet. ;) ~ karen!
I think you mean inches. In your post when giving the list of supplies you say..'1, 58" long length of wire'.. 58 feet of wire would have wrapped around the base of a propane tank many times.
Yes, 58" is 58 inches. Earlier in the day it read as 58'. Which was indeed feet. Eep. ~ karen!
It's lovely but since it currently feels like July here (31 C today!), I'm going to be too busy at the beach, at least for a few more days.
Yup. Same here. :) ~ karen!
I am the daughter of a Kansas wheat farmer, and I approve this message. That is one gorgeous wreath!
Well you would know! Although I'd think being the daughter of a wheat farmer you'd prefer a bit more wheat in that wreath. ;) ~ karen!
I wanted to make the pie are squared* joke! I can't find any of those symbols on my iPad, so I can't. Thanks for doing the math, Chris. I was wondering how large the diameter of the wreath would be.
*Pie are squared, cake are round. 😂
Somehow that copied another comment I made. I meant to say that the rest of the wheat is being made into bread flour! Also, after googling a bit, "As the primary foodstuff in many societies, it is a symbol of abundance, life and fertility." Nice choice after your abundant garden crop this year!
Simplicity always looks elegant! I love this classic look! Thank you for the instructions.
My kind of wreath! Now, I have to figure out where to buy sheaves of wheat.
Since you only need 40 or so pieces of wheat you can also buy little bundles of them usually from florists, garden centres or even grocery stores that have floral departments. ~ karen!
Thank you! I'll try to find it. I have old embroidery hoops that I can use as the circle form. It will look great!
Homesense and Michaels both have some. I didn't buy any because I have an ugly fall wreath I have to put up for sentimental reasons. Enjoy!
Ever get mice in your fabulous wheat sheaves? (Is that tacky to ask?) Love the minimalist wreath, and it's a nice placeholder till Halloween decorations and a wreath of fall-colored fake leaves. It's still too warm here (Washington, DC) to do either.
Oh it's 90 degrees here too, lol. But technically it's fall, so ... the porch is now fall, lol. I have to store my wheat in huge Tupperware bin because otherwise the cats will try to chew on it, and it has barbs so it gets stuck in their throats. So that also solves the mouse problem. :) ~ karen!
Besides, they don't make helmets small enough for mice so they can jump up onto the wreath!
Love the wreath - looks fabulous.
But what I really want to know is how you took the photos with both hands occupied with the wreath? That's the really clever bit!
Exactly Chris!!! I was imagining quite a few shots and fear it was going to fall on her head and clothing ... it needed to be rolled up arms and legs just so to be outta sight ... we need shots of THAT too next time.
Tripod and a remote. :) ~ karen!
Looks great !!!
Thanks Marilyn. :) ~ karen!