Easy, DIY Fleece Wreath For Under $5

If you’re looking for an easy Christmas project, you’re going to love this DIY Fleece Wreath.

You only need a few simple items and the whole project costs less than $5.

You may have noticed that I don’t post a lot of craft projects here on Wondermom Wannabe — that’s because I am a horrible crafter. I lack any artistic ability whatsoever so I can only tackle the simplest of crafting projects, like this Grinch Jello snack cup.

This wreath project was so easy that my 6-year old daughter completed one of the fleece wreaths all by herself (minus the fabric cutting, which I did). So, if my daughter and I can make this wreath, you and your kids can definitely make it too.

Creative Ways to Customize Your DIY Fleece Wreath

Wreaths are usually associated with Christmas, but you can also display them any time of year. So, here are some ideas on how to customize them for Christmas or any time.

These ideas don’t have to add more to the cost, you can look for sales to keep the cost down. Also, you can get creative and repurpose things around your house to use for these ideas so that it doesn’t cost anything extra.

• Incorporate Seasonal Elements: If you want to give someone a gift of a wreath for every season, you can add items like mini pumpkins, pinecones, or acorns (check your kid’s collection) for fall; snowflakes or small ornaments for winter; flowers or pastel-colored bows for spring; and beach themed items like shells (you probably have some shells you collected the last time you went to the beach) and bright bows for summer.
• Add Some Greenery: Faux eucalyptus, pine branches, or berry sprigs can add a natural look to your wreath (maybe you have some extra from a previous craft project you can use or even some you can spare from decorations you have). Secure these with floral wire or hot glue.
• Use Different Textures and Colors: You can mix different fleece textures or colors to reflect the person’s favorite colors or colors that fit their favorite sports team, school, wedding colors, etc. You can even add a few strips of patterned fabric, burlap, or felt to add to the look and to just use what you have.
• Try Using Scented Elements: Cinnamon sticks, dried orange slices, or sprigs of rosemary and lavender can bring a nice fragrance to your wreath. You probably have some kind of potpourri or spices around the house that you can use for this.
• Add Decorative Pins or Buttons: Buttons in contrasting colors to the fleece or decorative pins can be sewn or glued on, adding character to your wreath. You can choose something the recipient would like, maybe something reminiscent of a special memory you have together.

Materials Needed

You don’t need very many supplies to make this wreath, and they’re all easy to find at your local big box store or craft store, or in your own craft stash.

• Fleece: You can use any kind of fleece that you have around the house already or you can look for fleece throws. I used throws that were 50 x 60 inches.
• Scissors or rotary cutter: A rotary cutter will make it much easier to cut the fabric, but if you don’t have one, you can just use scissors.
• Wire hanger: You’ll need one hanger per wreath. You probably have an extra one in your closet.
• Yarn: Any brand of yarn you have will be fine — if you have a color that coordinates with the colors on the wreath, that would be a nice touch. The yarn will be used to cover the part of the hanger that you bend to form the hanging hook.
• Decorative bow or ribbon: Look for a decorative bow at the dollar store or just buy ribbon and make a bow yourself.
• Floral wire or a pipe cleaner: Attach the bow to the wreath with either floral wire or a pipe cleaner that you probably have in your craft stash.

How to Make This DIY Fleece Wreath

This wreath is fast and easy to make — you’ll have one made in just about 30 minutes.

Here’s the Fleece I Chose

When I saw that Wal-Mart has fleece throws for sale for $2.98 (they each measured 50 x 60 inches), I snatched up what I thought were the three best patterns. Here they are:

Camouflage may not be everyone’s first choice, but we are a military family with lots of military friends so I knew this would make a great gift for one of them.

Step 1: Cut the Fleece

The first step is to cut the fleece into strips. My strips were 1 ½ inches wide and 6 inches long.

A cautionary note: although all of the fleece throws were the same brand, they were very different in terms of elasticity.

The blue and white fleece didn’t stretch at all and the camo fleece stretched like a rubber band. Consequently, it took many more strips of camo fleece to complete the wreath and the strips appear longer on the completed wreath, even though all my strips were 6 inches long.

So, give your fleece a “stretch test” first — if it’s stiff, cut longer strips (maybe 8 inches) and if it’s super stretchy, cut shorter strips (4-5 inches). Also, for stiff fabric, plan on using 100-125 strips and for stretchy fleece, plan on 150-200 strips.

Step 2: Shape the Hanger

After you have cut the fleece into strips, take a wire hanger and shape it into a circle.

Step 3: Tie the Strips

Next, you simply tie the strips onto the wire hanger one at a time until you have completely covered the hanger.  

You only need a simple tie (like how you begin when you are tying a shoe), but pull it tight. You don’t need to make a knot.

Be sure to push the strips together as you tie them on so that once you have filled the hanger they won’t move around and expose bare spots.

My daughter tied with me while we watched Sofia the First — we finished all three wreaths before the episode was over. Your kids can help with this step too — you’ll have to let me know in the comments what show you watched together while you added the fabric.

Step 4: Make the Hook

Once you’re done, fold the top of the hanger down to form a circle instead of a hook. Cover the remaining wire with yarn that matches the fabric and you now have a built-in hanging hook.

Step 5: Add the bow (and other decorations, optional)

To complete the wreath, add a decorative bow. I bought the bow for the red and green fleece wreath at the dollar store, making the grand total for the wreath $3.98 + tax.

For the other two wreaths, I picked up ribbon on sale at Michael’s for 50% off so ended up spending $3 on each roll. I only used half the ribbon from each roll to make the bows though, so the grand total for each of those wreaths was $4.48 + tax.

I’d love to hear in the comments how you conserved money making your wreaths.

Ideas for Leftover Craft Supplies

Now that you’re done making the wreaths, you might have some leftover craft supplies. So, if you’re still in the crafting mood, here are some other things you can make using these same supplies.

Fleece

 If you used cotton fleece to make any of your wreaths, you can use any leftover fabric to make these mason jar lid ornaments.

You can sew or glue the edges of the fabric to make small fleece stockings to hang on your tree or gift as decorations.

Cut fleece into shapes like stars, trees, or candy canes and have your kids embellish them with buttons, sequins, or glitter. You can punch a hole in the top, tie on a ribbon, and use them as ornaments.

 Yarn

With any leftover yarn, you can create this easy to make juice box snowman and add it to your child’s lunchbox.

Use some of your yarn to make the scarf for these cute reindeer applesauce cups.

If you used white yarn, you just need a little bit of the leftover to make the brim of the hat for these Grinch Jello snack cups.

Ribbon

You can use any leftover ribbon to make more bows to decorate the presents you wrap.

These washi tape ornaments need ribbon on the top so they can hang on the tree, so any of your leftover ribbon would be perfect for this craft.

These cute snowman ornaments need a scarf made out of ribbon.

Pipe Cleaner

If you used a black or brown pipe cleaner to attach the bow and you have any leftover, you can use them to make the antlers for these reindeer hot chocolate cones.

I’m sure you’ve seen these classic candy canes that you can hang on your tree, maybe you even made one as a kid and can make one now with your kids. Just twist red and white pipe cleaners together to create candy cane shapes.

You can also shape pipe cleaners into festive rings, like reindeer antlers, holly leaves, or candy canes, to hold holiday napkins at the dinner table.

Additional Christmas Fun

Keep the Christmas fun going strong for your family with some of these other fun printables, activities and treats.

• Printable Christmas Maze for Kids – A printable Christmas maze for kids is a fun indoor activity for restless kids who are excited about the holidays. This is perfect for class parties!
• Christmas Would You Rather Questions – Excited to play a fun and insightful game this coming holiday? Check out our list of Christmas would you rather questions for all ages here!
• Countdown to Christmas Ideas – Awesome collection of countdown to Christmas ideas and advent calendar ideas! From fun for kids to beautiful decor, there’s an idea for everyone.
• 30 Days of Family Christmas Activities – This 30 Days of Family Christmas Activities printable will help keep you on track to have the best holiday season making memories with your family.
• Peppermint Mocha Cupcakes – These Peppermint Mocha Cupcakes are a delightful holiday dessert! The cupcakes are moist and fluffy, with a rich chocolate flavor!
• Christmas Sugar Cookies – This Christmas Sugar Cookies recipe is my favorite roll-out sugar cookies recipe. They’re crispy on the outside and chewy in the center.