Making Lavender Wreaths
Lavender is best worked while the stems are supple and green. As they dry, they harden into a rigid frame that preserves the color and scent of the harvest.
Timing is your primary constraint
Work within a few hours of cutting the lavender, otherwise the stems become brittle and will snap when bent.
- heavy-duty floral shears
- thin floral wire (optional)
- sharp kitchen knife
What goes in.
- 50-70fresh lavender stems, at least 10 inches long
- 1 spoolgreen cotton twine or thin floral wire
Locking the stems in a circle
The secret is to weave the stems in a consistent direction, using the natural curve of the wood to lock the next handful into place without relying on excess binding material.
The method.
Sort your harvest
Strip the leaves from the bottom two-thirds of each stem. Group the lavender into small, uniform bundles of five or six stems each.
Start the base
Take your first bundle and bend the stems into a circle. Secure the overlap with a tight wrap of twine. This is the foundation of your ring.
Layering
Lay the next bundle so the flower heads overlap the base of the previous bundle. Tuck the stems underneath and pull tight.
Maintain the shape
Continue adding bundles, rotating the wreath as you work. Ensure each new bundle covers the stems of the previous one to hide the mechanics.
Final closure
For the last bundle, lift the flower heads of the very first bundle and tuck the final stems underneath them. Secure with a hidden piece of wire.
When it doesn't go to plan.
Hang the finished wreath in a cool, dark room for three days to allow the stems to set their shape before moving it to a decorative spot.
If you find the wreath is lumpy, give it a firm squeeze with both hands to compress the stems into a tighter, more uniform circle.
Save the fallen lavender buds in a bowl; they are still potent enough to use for scenting small spaces.
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