How to Make a Patriotic Rag Wreath

So remember last week I told you I was studying for a test on Friday?  Well, I took the test and I passed it! YAY!  Today I have the project I hinted about to show you.

I love red, white and blue.....always have.  I have no idea why I didn't already have a patriotic wreath to hang on the front door, but I didn't.  I finally made one!  I'd been seeing everyone's wreaths made with bandanas and I thought that was such a cute idea, so I went that way with it.

I found my straw wreath form at the thrift store for $2.50 and my bandanas at Walmart for $1 each.  I ended up using 2 reds, 2 whites and 1 blue.  The amount of bandanas will vary on how tight you place the pieces on the wreath form.

Mark your bandana at 2 inch sections.  I used a white pen so I could see the marks, but a sharpie would work too.  I made marks on both edges, the edge closes to me and then on the opposite side so I would know where to cut to. 

After you have all your long strips cut, stack them one on top the other and then cut into 2 inch squares like you see here.  They do not have to be perfect squares, just close.  I picked out all the ones that were solid red to use at the last if I needed them, just my preference though.  Imma a weirdo!

I used some washi tape to mark my sections and then wrote with a sharpie to guide me as to what color goes in that section.

I didn't notice until I was editing these pictures that you can't even see what I'm using to push the little squares in with! Gosh!

I used a really small phillips head screwdriver.  You can also use a wooden skewer if you want to.  Just try and place the screwdriver in the center of the little square holding the ends with your fingers.  It takes some getting used to, but you'll get the hang of it!

I pushed in each square pretty close to one another so it would look full.  NOTE:  I didn't fill the back of the wreath, but I did add squares down into the center edge and tried to make a straight line along the outside edge.

I just worked one section at a time, filling in all of one color and then going on to the next.

All ready for the blue section now.  I was just loving how this was looking at this point!

Stars are optional, but I chose to add some.  I used my Cricut machine and my George cartridge for may stars, but you could always draw some and cut them out too.  I used heavy white card stock for my stars.  I used the following sizes of stars: 1", 1 1/4" and 1 1/2".  I glued them on with hot glue.

As an after thought I added a hanger.  I just used the solid white strip from one of the bandanas.  I folded it in half with free edges to the back/inside and hot glued it to the wreath form.

I really love how it turned out and now its proudly hanging on the front door waiting to greet anyone who happens upon our doorstep!

Do you decorate for Memorial Day or just wait until the Fourth of July?  Did you make a patriotic wreath, if so, I'd like to see yours too!

It doesn't have to be done all at once.  It is a slow process in the works! C-ya next time!

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