How to Make a Fall Grapevine Wreath

Grapevines grow in every part of the United States. If you live in or near a rural or wooded area, chances are you have more than enough wild grapevines close by. If not, don't worry. Ask a neighbor or nearby vineyard for trimmings to make your grapevine wreaths.

To harvest vines, cut lengths of grapevine with a pair of sharp garden shears. Pull the grapevines free of the tangle and remove any leaves or remaining fruit. Leave the curlicue tendrils on the vines, they add character and contrast to the finished wreath. For easier transport, coil the vines into circles and tie with twine, or coil them and place in a laundry basket or utility tub. Coiling grapevines and transporting them in this way will also help the vines hold their shape for wreath making.

If you are unable to locate a supply of grapevines, or prefer not to make the grapevine wreath yourself, plain, pre-made grapevine wreaths are readily available at craft stores in a variety of sizes.

It is best to craft your grapevine wreaths soon after you have harvested the vines. If you are unable to do so, the vines can be soaked in water overnight to restore their flexibility. (This is where transporting vines in a round utility tub is handy; simply add water to the coiled grapevines.)

Before you begin, gather a few supplies. Sharp shears for cutting and trimming are really all that is needed, but having some craft wire on hand can be helpful.

Start with the fattest end of a thick piece of grapevine. Form a circle slightly smaller than the desired diameter of the completed wreath. Continue to coil the vine length until you have completed one and a half to two circles with the vine. Holding the vine with one hand, begin wrapping the remainder of the vine around the coil. (If it is too difficult to keep the circle from unraveling, twist a small piece of craft wire around the coils before you begin wrapping the vine. The wire will be covered with the wrapped vines.)

Pull the remaining length of grapevine through the middle of the coil. Wrap around the coil and pull through the middle again. Spiral the grapevine around the coil in this manner until the vine runs out. With about two inches of grapevine remaining, tuck the end firmly between the coils of grapevine.

To make a thicker wreath, tuck another end of vine into the wreath near the finished end and wrap the grapevine around the coil in the same spiraling fashion. Continue the process until your grapevine wreath is the desired thickness. Keep in mind, the vine will shrink some as it dries, so you may want to make it thicker than what you think you need. When you have reached the end, tuck the end of the grapevine into the wreath as before. Using this same basic method, craft grapevine wreaths in a variety of sizes, from very small to very large.

With your base complete, you are free to decorate your Fall grapevine wreath in any way you choose. Leaves, acorns, pine cones, nuts or sprigs of Staff Vine or Winterberry are beautiful, natural accents that can be found in wooded areas or at the edge of swamps and fields (you are likely to come across many when you harvest your grapevines.)

Using a grapevine wreath as a base for a more embellished project is easy and can be very forgiving, as any exposed wreath is a decorative element in itself. For an easy Fall display, gather a bagful of nicely colored, intact Fall leaves, Tuck the stems between the coiled stalks of grapevine. Tuck leaves only on the bottom half or third of the grapevine wreath, or cover the entire coil. The choice is yours. If you are having trouble keeping the leaves in place, a dot of hot glue on the back of the leaves will keep them in place. For an indoor hanger, you may prefer to keep leaf breakage and mess down buy using silk leaves from the craft store (this way you will be able to store the wreath for use again next year).

To the leaf covered wreath, add any embellishments you like. Clusters of acorns and pine cones can be glued on top of the leaves, or push a piece of wire through a few gourds and arrange them on top of the leaves. Hide the wire amongst the leaves and secure the gourds to the grapevine wreath. Plastic fruits and vegetables can be used as well, and will keep from year to year.

For some Halloween flair, arrange cotton "spider webs" and use hot glue to add plastic skulls, spiders, jack-o-lanterns and more.

Grapevine wreaths make a wonderful base onto which you can add nearly any Fall adornment, either those found naturally in the woods or faux embellishments from the craft store. From grasses to herbs, dried flowers and Mums, the possibilities are endless for creating a fabulous Fall display.