Have you decked your halls yet? I love decorating for Christmas–it’s probably my favorite of all the holidays to decorate for. I try to keep my decorations relatively simple. That’s mostly out of necessity since I don’t have room to store a ton or a lot of time with which to decorate. Plus let’s be honest, sometimes elaborate decorations and little kids just don’t mix. Please tell me it’s not just my kiddos. Regardless of my desire to be simple though I love adding a new piece or two each year. Combine that with my love of crafting and the busy holiday season often finds me trying to fit in a quick DIY project. Keep reading for an easy tutorial of a DIY burlap Christmas tree garland.
It’s kind of funny to me that when I first start this blog back in 2010 with one child underfoot it was a DIY blog. Here we are, eight years and five kids later and it’s so much more. I guess I have a lot less spare time for crafting and baking advice and encouragement about motherhood and #momlife. So it’s natural that’s the direction my blog would go in. I still like to craft whenever I have time and you know for me the simpler the project, the better. With only one napper at home now and very few extra hours during the day for creative endeavors short naptime projects are my jam. It’s even better if I have everything on hand and I don’t have to spend any money. Plus, not having to drag all my hooligans out to the store with me is a big bonus!
a simple DIY burlap Christmas project
I actually got the idea for this DIY burlap garland when I was watching my blogging friend Holly on Instagram. She mentioned a neat idea for a diy scarf garland that @thebloomingdiyer had done. Unfortunately, with all the purging and donating we did for the move I didn’t have excess scarves laying around I could cut up. However, I do have an embarrassing abundance of fabric in my craft closet.
I love burlap because it’s got a great texture and it’s just such a versatile fabric to work with! For this project it’s best if you wash it a couple times first. It’s easier to work with if it’s a little softer and not quite as stiff. In case you didn’t know, you can also purchase burlap in different colors if you want!
how to make your garland
Start with three strips of fabric that have been pre-washed. It’s best to have two strips of burlap and a contrasting fabric. That way the braiding stands out better. My strips were about a yard long because that was the length of burlap I had. However, it really would be best for this project if you started with strips of fabric that were three yards or longer, depending on your size Christmas tree.
Then all you have to do is tie a knot on one end and start braiding the fabric. I found it helpful to stand on the knot while I was braiding. Also, I think that loose braids look a little nicer. Once you have completed braiding your three fabric strands then tie a knot on the other end. That’s it–a simple, free, quick Christmas tree garland that you can change up each year if you want to!
