How to Make Wreaths Using Grapevines

Create a decorative Christmas wreath with grapevines.

Grapevines are flexible and long enough to create decorative wreaths. Create wreaths for any occasion such as the holiday season or fall weather. The vines allow you to customize your wreath by making it the desired size and thickness. The appearance of your finished wreath will depend on the technique that you use and the amount of vines that you harvested. Once you finish making the wreaths, display them on the door or on walls in your home.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears
• Decorations

Instructions

1. Gather grapevines after the grapes are harvested. Cut long lengths of the grape vine with pruning shears. The length of the grapevine pieces will depend on how large a wreath you wish to make.

2. Remove the leaves from the grapevines. You can leave small leaves on the grapevines if you desire; they can serve as decorations on the wreath.

3. Locate the thickest end of one of the grapevine sections. Bend the vine into a circle that is only slightly smaller than the size of the wreath that you want to make. Bend two to three more grapevines into a circle before you begin weaving. Hold the grapevine in place until you weave your first grapevine.

4. Weave a grapevine through the coil. Pull the grapevine in and out of the circle until you weave it all the way around the wreath. Tuck the end of the grapevine between the coils to keep it in place.

5. Weave another length of vine at the thicker end and in a different location than the first grapevine. Weave in and out of the circle again. Continue to add vines until you have the desired size wreath.

6. Add decorations to the wreath such as flowers, leaves or bows. Hang the wreath by a wire or string.

Tips & Warnings

• Coil the grapevines into a bowl and cover them with water if you cannot use them right away. The water will keep the grapevines pliable.

• If you run out of grapevine, use Virginia creeper vines to create a wreath.

• Tie the grapevine with twine or strong string if you cannot tuck them in so that they stay in place.

• Wear gloves when harvesting grapevines to protect your skin from any poisonous plants or sharp objects.

References

• Mother Earth News; Grapevine Wreaths; December 1983
• Virginia Tech; Vines for Wreaths and Other Products; Soumitri Das et al.; January 2001
• Cornell University: Grapevine Wreaths