DIY Autumn Wreath

This year I wanted to make an Autumn wreath to bring some natural elements into our home and to celebrate this beautiful season we’re in. For my wreath I used preserved beech leaves which formed the bulk of the wreath, and then peppered these with some dried seed pods and berries.

Preserving the leaves themselves was the most time consuming part as this takes a couple of weeks but once they’re ready they last a really long time and don’t dry up and crinkle.

To preserve your leaves and rosehips simply cut the stems at an angle and lightly crush the ends with a hammer. Stand them in a vase with 2 parts warm water to 1 part glycerine and leave them for a 2-3 weeks out of direct sunlight. My rosehips did wrinkle up a bit due to the level of moisture in them but they still look pretty and add a pop of rust tones to the wreath

If you haven’t bought the base make one using clematis, wisteria or grape vine. Here’s a tutorial for that

Cut your beech branches to the desired length and start to attach them in an anticlockwise direction to the vine base using floristry wire. Don’t cut the wire just keep wrapping it around the branch stems to secure them to the base. Keep going round with the wire in the same direction so as not to tangle it up

Repeat this step going around the vine ensuring the branches feather out from the circle. I also added some ferns every so often to create a feathery texture.

Once you have gone all the way around the wreath wrap the wire a few times around before cutting it and tucking the end in underneath

Now your leaves are attached you can start to add in your extra items like dried seed pods, berries, grasses and dried flower heads. Every so often tie in these items to the vine base using a little twine. Don’t worry about keeping things too neat – I like asymmetry and some wonkiness which mimics nature more closely and makes your finished wreath feel more natural

Cut a little twine, calico or ribbon and attach each end to the top of the wreath for hanging

Print Recipe

DIY Autumn Leaf Wreath

Ingredients

• 1 vine wreath
• 10-15 branches beech leaves ideally in a range of autumn colours
• 5 Ferns spronds
• 3 sprigs preserved rosehips
• 5-7 dried flowers/seed pods like poppies/astrantia/hydrangea/grasses/hops
• 1 reel floristry wire
• 1 ball twine

Instructions

• Cut your beech branches to the desired length and start to attach them in an anticlockwise direction to the vine base using floristry wire. Don't cut the wire just keep wrapping it around the branch stems to secure them to the base. Keep going round with the wire in the same direction so as not to tangle it up
• Repeat this step going around the vine ensuring the branches feather out from the circle. I also added some ferns every so often to create a feathery texture.
• Once you have gone all the way around the wreath wrap the wire a few times around before cutting it and tucking the end in underneath
• Now your leaves are attached you can start to add in your extra items like dried seed pods, berries, grasses and dried flower heads. Every so often tie in these items to the vine base using a little twine
• Don't worry about keeping things too neat – I like asymmetry and some wonkiness which mimics nature more closely and makes your finished wreath feel more natural
• Cut a little twine, calico or ribbon and attach each end to the top of the wreath for hanging