How to Make a Fabric and Evergreen Holiday Swag
Fabric and Greenery Christmas Decoration
This homemade, evergreen holiday decoration adds a festive seasonal touch to the front door.
Photo by: H. Camille Smith
H. Camille Smith
Materials Needed:
- 3 coordinating fabrics
- 3 felt sheets (in colors to coordinate with fabrics)
- fusible web
- iron
- sharp scissors
- assorted fresh greenery (pine, holly, spruce, juniper, etc.)
- wired ribbon
- 18-gauge copper wire
- fine-gauge multipurpose wire
- wire cutter
- pencil
- pinecones
- spray adhesive
- crystal glitter
Fuse Fabric to Felt
Cut a piece of fabric and fusible web that are approximately the same size as your felt sheet. Flip fabric over, place fusible web glue-side-down (has a slightly shiny, rough texture) and press for 5 to 8 seconds with a hot, dry iron (Image 1). Allow to cool, then peel off the paper backing — your fabric now has an adhesive side and can be glued to another piece of fabric (Image 2). Using a wire cutter, cut a piece of copper wire that's 6-7 inches longer than your fabric to serve as the fabric greenery's branch (Image 3). Sandwich the wire between a felt sheet and the fusible side of the fabric (Image 4) then fuse the layers together by pressing again with the iron (Image 5).
H. Camille Smith
H. Camille Smith
H. Camille Smith
H. Camille Smith
H. Camille Smith
Make Fabric Branches
Search online for a free evergreen design (like this one) to print then cut out as a template — or — freehand the basic outline of a pine branch onto the fabric side of your fused material (Image 1). Use sharp scissors to cut out along pencil lines (Image 2). Tip: Vary the branches' outlines by moving the template around when tracing.
H. Camille Smith
H. Camille Smith
Glitter Pinecones
Use wire cutter to cut a 10-12 inch piece of multipurpose wire for each pinecone you want to glitter. Weave wire through the last row of pinecone's scales (Image 1), leaving the excess wire as-is to make attaching the finished pinecones to the swag a snap. Coat all sides on the pinecone with sprayable adhesive and, while glue is still wet, sprinkle on a thick layer of crystal glitter (Image 2).
H. Camille Smith
H. Camille Smith
Assemble Swag
Start by layering evergreen boughs on a flat surface to create a base. Top with fabric branches and add more natural greenery, if necessary. Once you're happy with the swag's appearance, use fine-gauge multipupose wire and the copper wire ends of 2 of the fabric boughs to secure the fresh and fabric greenery together (Image 1). Tip: Wrap the third piece of copper wire around the bundled branches just once then create a hook for hanging the finished swag from a nail or knocker on your front door. Finally, add a fabric bow to cover the wrapped wire and and attach the glittered pinecones (Image 2).
H. Camille Smith
H. Camille Smith
DIY Glittered Pinecones and Fabric Decorations on Greenery
Wrap the third piece of copper wire around the bundled branches just once then create a hook for hanging the finished swag from a nail or knocker on your front door. Finally, add a fabric bow to cover the wrapped wire and and attach the glittered pinecones
Photo By: H. Camille Smith
