How to Make Holiday Swags

Most people associate swags with Christmas.

Swags bring the outdoors inside and provide a welcoming holiday atmosphere. Whether you use a gathering of branches and vines, bundled herbs or evergreen boughs, swags provide a touch of missing color in late fall, winter and early spring. Using in-season, locally grown, native greenery and flowers to make your swags promotes sustainable, xeriscaped, organic nursery practices. This swag is suitable for Mother's Day.

Things You'll Need

• Sketchpad, black crayon
• Dry iron
• 2 copper rods, 8 feet long and 1/4 inch diameter
• 2 pair round-nose pliers
• Wrap-around eye protection
• NIOSH-approved respirator
• Hand-held, high-speed rotary tool
• 6 branches forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia) 3 feet long
• 6 bundles yellow lavender (Lavandula viridis) 24 inches long
• 6 bundles white sage (Salvia apiana) 18 inches long
• 6 bundles Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas), 12 inches long
• 6 lily of the valley (Convallaria magalis) leaf plus flower
• 4-inch wide lavender wired organza ribbon, 2 yards
• 3-inch wide dark lavender wired satin ribbon, 2 yards
• 2-inch wide lemon-yellow wired satin ribbon, 2 yards
• Instant fabric adhesive
• T-pins

Instructions

1. Fold a 36-inch sheet of sketch paper in half lengthwise. Make a single-line sketch of a curved, coiled design for your swag frame, using a black crayon. Open the paper and refold it with the sketch on the inside. Press with an iron on medium until the design transfers to the other side of the paper. Unfold to reveal your swag frame template.

2. Use pliers to bend one of the 1/4-inch diameter copper rods to fit the design on your easel pad. Don wrap-around eye protection and a NIOSH-approved respirator. Grind the ends of the rod with a grinding wheel on a hand-held, high-speed rotary tool to remove any burrs.

3. 

   Sage is an aromatic herb used for purification and renewal.

   Cut sage two weeks before you make your swag. Spread the stalks on a screen for five days, until the leaves become leathery. Horizon Herbs recommends that you gather the stalks into a bundle tied with cotton string and hang for another five days to finish drying.

4. 

   Forsythia is abundant through early May.

   Cut six forsythia branches 3-feet long. Arrange three branches at each end of the swag frame so that the coiled portion is still visible, with the cut ends touching at the center. Attach using floral wire.

5. 

   Spanish lavender is a relaxing aromatic herb.

   Cut 12-inch spikes of Spanish and 2-feet spikes of yellow lavender in the morning, after the dew is dry, once the plants are in full bloom with vivid colors. Arrange three yellow lavender spikes on each side, with cut ends touching at the center of the swag frame, on top of the forsythia branches, while they are still fresh and supple.

6. Tie three bundles of white sage together at 6 and 12 inches from the cut ends. Attach the bundles to the swag frame with the cut ends touching in the center, using floral wire.

7. Arrange three spikes of Spanish lavender on each side of the swag frame, cut ends touching in the center. Secure with floral wire. Finish the arrangement with three lily of the valley bundles on each side of the frame.

8. Cut 6-foot lengths of each ribbon listed. Lay the 4-inch wide lavender wired organza ribbon on the table with its length running left to right. Center the 3-inch wide dark lavender wired satin ribbon on top of it, followed by the 2-inch wide lemon-yellow wired satin ribbon. Use instant fabric adhesive to secure all three layers of ribbon together at the center point, 6 inches from the center and 12 inches from the center. Allow ends to hang loose.

9. Use a T-pin, which has a crosspiece, to secure the ribbon to your work table at its center point. Make a loop with the left triple-layer of ribbon and wrap the right triple layer around it and make a bow. Finger-press and pull the bow until it is well-shaped and pleases your eye. Wire the bow to the center of your Mother's Day swag.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not have access to freshly cut florals and herbs, use what is available to you or visit your local nursery.

References

• Mountain Valley Growers: Lavender Care and Tips
• Horizon Herbs: White Sage

Resources

• University of Connecticut Plant Database: Forsythia
• Botanical: Lily of the Valley