Pants to Wreath Recycle Tutorial

So there are a million and one wreath tutorials out there. Lots and lots. You can make them out of burlap, and leaves, and old books and acorns and feathers, and a million different fabric decorations. Since there I so many, I figured, what's one more!

It all started when I discovered the "Everything's A Dollar" room at one of my local thrift stores when I was looking for the sweater for the leg warmers. While I was there, I came across this gem! Yup, a green velvety maternity track suit. I feel a bit guilty about grabbing it, cause you know some pregnant woman might have been quite comfy in this over the holidays!

I started by taking apart the pants. No photos of that part. You know how to cut out seams and cut off a waist band and such right?? I ended up with four big strips of fabric. Next I figured I needed a wreath form. Well, I am feeling super duper frugal this week so I figured I'd make my own considering I STILL have boxes of those great corrugated plastic signs we used for this project  and this project. If you don't have access to signs, heavy cardboard would work just fine.  I found the center of my sign and made an X  there. I then made marks five inches out and nine inches out and connected the dots to make a circle. Then I cut out my circles!

After cutting the circle and messing with the fabric a bit, I decided my form needed some bulk. This is three sheets of rolled up news paper that I glued to the circle with my hot glue gun.

Next I glued the first strip of fabric to the back of the form. I then put down a few dabs of glue and bunch the fabric to my liking and added a bit more glue. Not a lot, just enough to tack it down in a few spots.

Then I flipped the wreath over and cut the strip of fabric. I decided not to cover the back. Then I glued down the edges.

I then put down the next strip of fabric, slightly overlapping the one prior. I also folded over the edge a bit so the raw edges wouldn't show and tacked it all down with hot glue. I repeated this around the entire wreath. It took three of my pants leg strips to cover.

This is what the back looked like when it was finished.

And this is what the front looks like hanging above my fireplace. Yes, my Christmas decor is up. My kids begged me and I"m loving it. It's so nice and cozy and festive! We are never home for Thanksgiving so I usually skip right over Thanksgiving decor and go right from Halloween to Christmas!

So I know not every one has access to super cool velvety maternity pants but I think you could pull off this look with lots of fabrics. I want to try one with an old sweater or some pink knit for valentines day. I think you could totally make this on a purchased wreath form if you don't want to make your own. Also, you could add some embellishment to this like decorative pins, flowers, leaves, more ribbon.

And a final word of warning: this project may cause small children to feel the need to channel their inner "lets get physical"  Oliva Newton John. Sweet Pea claimed the waist band of the pants and has been wearing it as sweatband all day. Including to preschool!