How to Make a Ribbon Wreath on a Wire Frame

A ribbon wreath made of tied strips is one of the few wreaths that needs no wire, no glue and no special skill. You cut ribbon into short lengths, knot each one onto a wire frame and push the knots together until the frame disappears under a full ring of ribbon ends.

This version uses a 12 in (30 cm) wire box frame and strips about 7 in (18 cm) long. The finished wreath measures about 16 in (41 cm) across, because the ribbon ends stand out past the frame on every side. Any strip that ends up in the wrong place can simply be untied.

What You Need

• A 12 in (30 cm) wire box frame, the kind with concentric rings joined by cross wires
• Ribbon in two or three colors, for example terracotta, blush and mustard
• Sharp scissors kept for ribbon and fabric
• A ruler or a strip of cardboard cut to 7 in (18 cm) as a measuring guide
• Twine or a spare length of ribbon for the hanging loop

A box frame suits this project because it has several rings to tie onto, which builds a deep, rounded wreath. The guide to wreath bases explains how it differs from a flat single-ring frame.

Choosing the Ribbon

Soft ribbon without a wired edge knots most easily and gives a fluffy result. Grosgrain, satin and cotton ribbon all work. Wired-edge ribbon can be used, but it makes bulkier knots and stiffer ends, so mix it in sparingly.

Widths between about 5/8 in and 1 1/2 in (1.5 and 4 cm) are comfortable to tie. Combining two or three widths adds texture.

Limit the palette to two or three colors: one main color, a lighter shade and a small amount of a contrast.

Cut the Strips

Cut one strip to about 7 in (18 cm), tie it onto the frame and look at it. The ends should stand out about 2 in (5 cm) past the knot. If they flop, shorten the strips a little. If the knot is a struggle, lengthen them. Then use that strip, or the cardboard guide, to measure the rest.

Cut a batch of each color and lay the strips out in rows so you can pick them up in order.

How many strips the wreath takes is not a fixed number. It depends on the ribbon width, how tightly you pack the knots and how many rings your frame has. Cut a few dozen of each color to start, and cut more as you go until the wire is hidden.

Tie and Pack the Knots

1. Pass a strip under one wire ring. Start on the innermost ring. Slide the strip under the wire and pull the ends up until they are even.
2. Tie a single knot on top of the wire. Cross the ends and pull them snug, with the knot sitting on the front of the frame. A single knot holds well in grosgrain and cotton. Slippery satin may need a second knot on top.
3. Push the knots tightly together. Tie the next strip beside the first and slide it along the wire until the two knots touch. Keep adding strips and pushing them up against each other, with the ends fanned outward.

Work around one ring at a time, changing color every strip or every two strips so the colors are scattered evenly. Slide the strips past each cross wire and keep packing. When the first ring is full, move to the next ring out and repeat. On a frame with four rings, covering the inner, the outer and one middle ring is often enough.

Tight packing matters. Loose knots slide along the wire once the wreath hangs, and the strips gather at the bottom and leave a bald patch at the top.

Trim the Ends and Add a Hanging Loop

When no wire shows from the front, hold the wreath upright and turn it slowly. Fluff the ends outward with your fingers and tie extra strips into any thin spots.

Trim each ribbon end at a slant, or fold the end in half lengthwise and cut toward the fold to make a small V notch. A slanted cut frays less than a straight one. Snip off any strips that stand out much longer than the rest.

For the hanging loop, cut about 10 in (25 cm) of twine. Thread it around the outer ring at the top of the frame on the back, and knot the ends together firmly. Tuck the knot behind the ribbon.

Common Problems

• Wire shows between the knots. The strips are not packed tightly enough. Push them together and tie more into the space that opens up.
• The ends droop. The strips are too long for that ribbon. Trim them, or switch to a stiffer ribbon for the outer ring.
• One color clumps. Untie a few strips and swap them with a different color from another part of the ring.

Hanging and Variations

A ribbon wreath is light, so most hooks and hangers will carry it. Check the maker’s weight rating and surface instructions for whichever one you use. Ribbon fades in sun and goes limp when wet, so a covered door or an indoor wall is the better place for it. Keep it away from candles, heaters and other heat sources. The guide on hanging a wreath without nails compares the options for doors, walls and mirrors.

For a finishing touch, wire a simple layered loop bow to the bottom or the top of the frame in one of your ribbon colors. If you have cotton fabric scraps instead of ribbon, the rag wreath made from fabric strips uses the same tying method with a softer, more rustic look.