How to Make a Grapevine Wreath

Around my place There are lots of Grapevines
So I can make lots of wreathes. The hardest thing is gathering the vines. Pulling them down out of the trees. Here's how I make mine.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Grapevines
• Ribbon
• Ornamentation
• Glue gun and glue
• Scissors
• Loppers

1. 
   loppers

   Find some grapevines.
   Cut them from the root; pull as much as you can from the trees.
   Lay the vine as straight as you can on the ground.
   Gather as much as you think you'll need.

2. 
   wild grapevines

   Start at the larger end of the vine. It should be flexible but if it's not soak it with a hose. It's best to gather grapevine after a good rain and early in the morning.
   Roll the grapevine in a circle; the size you desire. Weave it into itself; interlocking the side branches as you go.
   When you get near the thinner end; start wrapping it around the wreath.
   Weave the very end into the wreath.
   Leave some of the Gripper vines sticking out. these are the little curly
   vines.

3. 
   ribbons

   Wrap the ribbon around the wreath. Leave enough at the top to create a loop, to hang it with. Tie it to the wreath.
   Glue your ornamentation onto the grapevine wreath.
   Make a pretty bow and fasten it to the wreath.
   Hang on the door or wherever you want it.

Tips & Warnings

• Leave some vines for the wild life to get grapes from.
• You might want to gather grapes yourself for "Wild Grape Jelly"; which is delicious. But that's another article.
• These make great gifts, too.
• Be sure you gather grapevines and NOT poison-ivy vines.
• Wear a hat; because when the vine comes down, 9x's out of 10, it'll hit you in the head.

[sandybb]

on 11/23/2008 From my research in the Va mountains where I live Vineyards do not prune their grape vines until late Feb.Keeping this in mind,I will be sure to be prepared in advance for this next year well ahead of time for next Christmas Season.How ever ,We have been pulling down wild grape vines from a friends wooded property.I am finding them stiff and unworkable,they are brittle and break.It has been recommended that we soak them in hot water to make them pliable.It was suggested that we use a sink or a bath tub,but deep Appalachia in the bathtub for a few days did not sit well with the residents so I decided to invest in a 150gal galvanized tub used for watering livestock.we will put it up on cinder blocks and build a small fire under it to heat the water.Then we can soften up several vines at a time,drain them and work on them inside where it is a little warmer.I put a bunch of grape vines over

[klnygaard]

on 10/27/2008 great info

[Susanh]

on 10/18/2008 Excellent craft idea.

[Susang6]

on 10/18/2008 good to know, right know I'm on a wreath kick!

[LilBlackDress]

on 10/18/2008 This is lovely!