It has become a Christmas tradition in my house to fill every space with seedheads and glowing dried flowers. It’s the one time I’m allowed to go all out when it comes to bringing nature inside, and so I make the absolute most of it.
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Dried flowers can offer such incredible beauty during the darker winter months, and provide a hint of sparkle and joy in dark corners and cosy nooks. They also offer a way to decorate our homes that has minimal impact on the environment.
Watch Bex Partridge make strawflower garlands
These garlands can be made with strawflowers or other simple dried blooms. Ideally, for the best effect, you want to use flowers that have a circular shape and hold their colour well. I’ve used a gold-threaded twine to string mine together, but any length of ribbon, twine or cotton will do. Just ensure that it is strong enough to hold the weight of the flowers.
It is not necessary to knot between each flowerhead, as the thread should hold them in position – it’s why using a thicker twine or thread works better for this make.
You will need
- Dried heads of strawflowers (Xerochrysum bracteatum). Widely available online if you haven’t grown your own
- A thick darning needle
- Snips
- Twine (I have used a gold-threaded twine here, which is available from most online haberdasheries)
How to make
Step 1
Cut a length of twine approximately 2.5m long – this will allow for the garland to finish up at 2m long, which I find is an optimal length to work with without everything getting in a tangle.
Step 2
Thread your needle onto the opposite end, pulling a small amount of length through the needle.
Step 3
Working with the flowers all facing in one direction, pierce the needle through the front of the flowerhead carefully, pushing through until it comes out the other side. Do take care with the needle, use a thimble if it helps, as the flowerheads can be very tricky to push through and you may need protection from the needle shooting out the other side.
Step 4
Once the needle is through, carefully pull the flowerhead all the way down to the bottom of the length of twine so it sits just above the loop you have made.
Step 5
Keep threading the flowerheads on, spacing them out as you prefer (I normally allow an inch or two between each one) until you have reached close to the end of the twine.
Step 6
If you want to hang your garland in swags like a paper chain, leave enough room on the end of the twine to create another loop, and your garland is ready to hang.
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USEFUL INFORMATION Find out more about Bex Partridge’s work at botanicaltales.com