With autumn on the way, garden party days are dwindling. Why not have a garland party instead?
Readers who have faithfully followed Craft Corner for the past couple of years may remember our “Five Ornaments in an Evening” column from the 2005 holiday season – an idea we may repeat for 2006 – in which we suggested getting together with friends to spend an evening making ornaments.
To kick off our holiday columns this year we offer another kind of get-together: a garland party. The idea is for a group of family members to meet and make keepsake garlands for the tree or other decorating uses.
We really had fun with this project and, in fact, will probably do another column during the holiday season featuring a few more ideas, such as garlands for Halloween, Thanksgiving, New Year’s and a couple of nontraditional and/or more complicated Christmas versions.
But for our first outing, we focus on Christmas garlands in traditional colors that are suitable for all ages to work on.
If you take a look at our photo illustration, you’ll see that we present seven options ranging from super simple to moderately involved.
While several of the garlands are more time-consuming than others, none of them is difficult, but in order to finish your garland at the party, it’s probably a good idea to make your braids and bases ahead of time.
Working from the top of the photo down, here are instructions for making each garland, including supplies and estimated time investment. Keep in mind that our samples show between 1 and 1 yards of garland, but that most garlands should be at least 6 to 10 yards long to drape gracefully.
Materials and tools: satin cord, lucet, beads.
Time to complete: 20 minutes per yard of lucet braid; 10-15 minutes per yard beading and knotting.
Instructions: Make or purchase enough braid for the length of garland you desire. We made our own red braid on a lucet for this garland (see our July 23 column for information on lucet braids), but purchased braid works as well. It takes 10 yards of cord to make 1 yard of braid on a lucet. Cut three colors of cord into 2- to 3-yard lengths, hold them together and knot them at 2- to 3-inch intervals. (You can cut 6- to 10-yard lengths if you like, but smaller sections are less cumbersome.) Cut three more pieces of cord, longer than the first pieces you cut first – you’ll need to experiment, as how much longer you need to cut depends on the cord – and knot it to the first cord by alternating a knot, a bead and another knot. To finish, run the braid through the center of each knot space and tie the ends together to secure.
Materials and tools: pompoms, pony beads, long needle, heavy thread.
Time to complete: an hour or less.
Instructions: These garlands are good projects for the younger crowd. All you do is string pompoms and beads, working in short or long segments. You can vary the pattern by section if you wish.
Materials and tools: knitted tube tool, satin cord, yarn, flower loom, needle and thread.
Time to complete: 20 minutes per yard for the knitted tube base; 10 to 15 minutes for flower; 1 to 2 minutes to attach flowers.
Instructions: Make a tube base using a knitting tool (see our Aug. 20 column for information) or purchase thick braid. Begin by making or purchasing your base, then make yarn flowers to place at 4- to 5-inch intervals along the base. Silk flowers will work as well, but if you decide to make your blooms, try either the Knifty Knitter loom or the Clover Bloom Loom. Both cost about $5 and are simple to find and use. Attach flowers to base with a needle and thread.
Materials and tools: White sparkle yarn, lucet, red yarn, jingle bells.
Time to complete: 20 minutes per yard for braid; 5 to 10 minutes for adding yarn bows and bells.
Instructions: Make or purchase enough braid for twice the length of your finished garland. Place the two lengths side by side and tie on a jingle bell at 3- to 4-inch intervals along the length of the garland. Using ribbon or yarn of your choice, tie a bow around each bell to finish.
Materials and tools: narrow satin ribbon, white sparkle yarn, purchased pompoms, lucet.
Time to complete: 20 minutes per yard for braid; 5 minutes to make yarn pompoms; 1 to 2 minutes to attach pompoms.
Instructions: Make or purchase enough braid for the length of garland you desire. Allow a little bit extra for braiding. Work in smaller segments if you wish and add a pompom where the sections are joined. Make yarn pompoms by wrapping yarn around four fingers, knotting them in the middle and tying onto the base braid, then trim to desired width. Incorporate purchased pompoms for variety.
When choosing materials to make your garland, keep the finished weight in mind. Aim for light but substantial – something that won’t overwhelm tree branches, but sturdy enough to stay in place.
Once you get into garland mode, you’ll probably come up with dozens of original ideas, so let your imagination soar and enjoy.
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