Craft Project: How to Make an Outdoor Rag Wreath with a Vinyl Tablecloth

This lovely rag wreath is easy to make and is made from an old vinyl tablecloth. Of course you can use a new vinyl tablecloth if you prefer not to recycle one. Many vinyl tablecloths sell for less than $5 at large discount department stores such as Wal-mart. Sometimes your local dollar store will have them for just $1. This is a thrifty craft with both country charm and contemporary appeal. It is primitive and folksy and best of all it can withstand outdoor harsh weather, so if you have a front door that is exposed to the elements, this Outdoor Rag Wreath is durable. You can dress up your front door or back door or side garage door. In fact, because it is made of mostly vinyl and plastic buttons, it would make a great bathroom wreath as well. I made this wreath using a solid color vinyl tablecloth, but a printed pattern that you like would also work for this craft project. I used a 52 by 52 inch vinyl tablecloth for this craft project and it was just enough rag strips from start to finished vinyl bow. The 52 by 52 inch vinyl tablecloth is the size that fits a folding square card table.

Here's what you need to make An Outdoor Rag Wreath

A vinyl tablecloth (52 x 52 inches or larger)

scissors

sturdy wire hanger

assorted plastic buttons

small bundle of silk or plastic flowers or 1 flower

Buttoneer (***Buttoneer is an as seen on TV product that is often sold in Walgreen's and Wal-Mart's and sewing and craft stores. If you don't own one, you can use a needle and thread to attach the buttons instead)

Instructions:

1. Take the wire hanger and bend it open to form a circle. It may take a few minutes and a little bit of muscle to shape it, but shape it into a circle as best as you can. Thinner wire hangers will be quicker to shape, but a heavy wire hanger is recommended.

2. Spread the vinyl tablecloth open on the floor. Fold it in half.

3. Using scissors cut one 6 to 8 inch width strip the length of the tablecloth and set it aside. This will be used at the end to form the bow.

4. Using scissors, cut the folded vinyl tablecloth into approximately 1.5 inch wide strips. Don't worry about cutting perfectly straight, it is a rag wreath, and the unevenness will just fit in with its primitive charm. So far, the size of the vinyl strips is 1.5 inches width by the length of your tablecloth.

5. Take those 1.5 inch strips and cut them into approximately 12 to 14 inch pieces. So, now you have dozens of pieces of vinyl that are 1.5 inches in width and 12 to 14 inches long.

6. Take one vinyl strip and fold it lengthwise in half. The backing will be in the inside and the vinyl will be on the outside. Now center the folded vinyl strip around the wire hanger and knot it once. What you have is a strip that is equally long on both sides as it hangs. Repeat the procedure with the remaining strips as you fill up your wreath hanger with folded and knotted vinyl rag strips.

7. Take your Buttoneer and fasten buttons randomly around the wreath and toward the end of the vinyl strips. You can use this opportunity to fasten strips together that seem wayward or out of control. The attached buttons will help put the most out of control strips in their proper place.

8. Your last vinyl strip, which is the one you set aside at the beginning of the project, will be used for a bow. Tie a simple bow and attach it to the top of the wreath.

9. Attach a small bundle of silk or plastic flowers or a single blossom to the top of the wreath.

10. You can hang the wreath from the hanger hook.