How to Make a Dried Flower Swag

Swags and garlands can enhance a doorway or banister for holidays and events. Make one yourself from dried flowers, and have every single day be a special occasion at home.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Raffia
• Ribbons
• Garden Shears
• Hair Spray
• Twine
• Twine
• Craft Wire

1. Gather a wheelbarrow full of 6-inch-long garden trimmings. Some suggestions for foliage that dries well are juniper, oak, asparagus fern, bay laurel, dusty miller and cushion bush.

2. Cut the stems of dried flowers to a length of 6 inches.

3. Lay a 10-foot length of string or twine on a large flat surface.

4. Tie a loop in one end of the string.

5. Attach #24 floral wire (sometimes called paddle wire) to the loop end of the twine.

6. Select several of the 6-inch foliage pieces and place them together in a bunch, with the stems at one end. You can mix different kinds of foliage in one bundle.

7. Place the bundle of foliage at the loop end of the twine, with the stems pointing toward the long end of the string.

8. Wrap the floral wire around the stems and twine to secure them in place. You will need two hands for this; one will hold the foliage in place against the string, and the other will wrap the wire.

9. Wrap the floral wire around the bundle twice and then pull it tight. Make sure to leave the wire attached to the twine, because you still have a long way to go.

10. Lay several dried flowers on top of the bundle of foliage and wrap them with the wire. Pull gently so you don't break the fragile stems of the dried flowers.

11. Gather another bundle of foliage and lay it so that the stems overlap with the first bunch and cover the stems. Make sure that all the stems are facing the same direction.

12. Continue overlapping the bunches of foliage and dried flowers and wiring them to the twine until you run out of string.

13. When you finally do run out of string, twist the wire tightly around the last bundle, knot the wire and the string together, leave 12 inches of wire (to attach the swag where you want it) and cut the wire with scissors or pruning shears.

Tips & Warnings

• Cover the finished end with a ribbon or raffia bow.
• If you need the swag to be longer than 10 feet, you can wire two completed swags together.
• A light spray of extra-firm-hold hair spray will keep your swag looking fresh for a long time.
• This is a dirty job! Work over newspaper, and have plenty of soap and water ready to clean your hands when you are done.

on 11/22/2005 NEVER use hair spray, as it contains alcohol and will damage your flowers.