How to make an autumn wreath from things you already have

There is something about the first properly chilly morning of the year that makes you want to make your front door look welcoming. A wreath is one of the easiest ways to do it, and you do not need to buy much, or anything at all. Most of what you need is probably sitting in a cupboard, a craft box or the garden.

Here is how to make one in an afternoon, with a cup of tea nearby.

What you will need

• A wreath base. A wire ring, a wicker or willow circle, or a foam ring all work. A base you already own is ideal, and a second-hand one costs very little at a car boot stall.
• Greenery and texture: ivy, eucalyptus, rosemary, ferns or any evergreen cuttings from your own garden.
• Autumn colour: dried leaves, small pine cones, acorns, berries, dried orange slices, seed heads, or fabric and paper leaves if you would rather not forage.
• Ribbon, string or twine for hanging and for a bow.
• Floristry wire or thin garden wire. Reel wire is easiest.
• Scissors or secateurs, and a glue gun if you have one (optional, but handy for cones and acorns).

Step by step

1. Plan the look first. Lay your bits out on a table and decide on a palette. Three or four colours looks calmer than ten. Warm oranges, deep reds and soft golds against green is the classic autumn mix.
2. Make small bunches of greenery. Gather three or four stems into a little bundle, about the length of your hand.
3. Attach the first bundle to the base with wire, wrapping it round two or three times so it is snug. Work in one direction around the ring.
4. Lay the next bundle slightly over the stems of the first so it hides the wire, and wire that on too. Keep going until the whole ring is covered and looks full.
5. Add the autumn details. Tuck in or glue on your leaves, cones, berries and dried orange slices. Cluster things in groups of three rather than spacing them evenly, as it looks more natural.
6. Finish with a bow or a loop of ribbon. Make a hanging loop from wire or twine on the back, and check the wreath balances before you hang it.

Tips for a wreath that lasts

• Hang it somewhere sheltered, such as a porch or under a canopy, so rain does not turn everything soggy.
• Dried materials last much longer than fresh ones. If you want a wreath for the whole season, lean on cones, dried seed heads and fabric leaves.
• If you forage, take only a little, stay away from protected spots, and never strip a hedge bare. The garden, a friend's garden or a tidy-up of your own bushes is perfect.
• Mist fresh greenery lightly every few days to keep it looking fresh for longer.

Make it a second-chance wreath

This is where iboots comes in. A wreath is a brilliant way to give old things a new lease of life. A chipped picture frame, a spare embroidery hoop, an odd scarf or some leftover ribbon can all become part of the design. If you are missing something, a wicker ring, a bag of ribbon or a tin of buttons are exactly the sort of thing you tend to find on a car boot stall for pocket change.

And if you end up making more than your own front door needs, a wreath makes a lovely thing to put on your stall. Snap a photo, add a line about how you made it, and share the link with friends. Handmade things always sell best with a story attached.

If you make one, we would love to see it. Pin a photo to the community noticeboard on our About page and tell us what you used.