Learn how to make a DIY ribbon wreath in three simple steps! This is a very easy craft for Christmas decorating or any time of year.

Skills Required: None. Even if you’ve never crafted before, you can make a wreath with ribbon. You’ll be cutting pipe cleaners and attaching ribbon with them. I’m going to walk you through the steps.

If you’ve never had the joy of making a wreath before, this is going to be your favorite home decor project of all time. When you’re young, you look at a craft like this and wonder if you’re ever going to be able to make something so cool. At least I did.

I had no idea that when I would get older, a DIY ribbon wreath would be completely attainable. That all I needed was the money to buy the supplies, and I’d be on my way. Because the truth is, making a wreath like this is just about as easy as it gets!

If you’re someone that likes to decorate with a wreath all the time, this is perfect. It’s budget friendly and you can make a new one for every season. And you don’t have to leave it as-is (thought it’s cute). You can also add embellishments any which way you like!

Table of Contents

How to Make a Ribbon Wreath

This easy ribbon wreath is completed in three easy steps. You’re going to cut the pipe cleaners, then you’ll start the steps of attaching ribbon. You’ll do three rows – one, two, and three. It’s that simple!

What wreath form should I use?

You’ll want to use a wire wreath form for this project. You need something that has attachment points that you can twist the pipe cleaners too.

For this project, I used a 12″ wire wreath form, but there are several sizes out there. My Dollar Tree has a bunch of 9″ ones that would make a smaller wreath, but I also know you can get them larger as well.

What type of ribbon can I use?

The first time I tried this project I bought ribbon that was wide and long enough – but it didn’t have any wire in it. And it wasn’t as stiff as mesh. So, everything flopped over.

You want to get ribbon that has wire in it so that it stays “loopy.” You can also use mesh ribbon! It should be 2.5″ or wider. Mesh that is 6″ plus works fine as well.

How much ribbon do I need for the wreath?

I used 2.5 rolls of ribbon for this wreath. They are 30 foot rolls which makes it about 75 feet for a 12″ wreath form. This can vary greatly depending on your loop size and wreath form size.

Are you ready to check out how to make this DIY ribbon wreath? Keep on reading for the steps!

Gather These Supplies

12″ wire wreath form
Wire ribbon – I used 75 feet
Pipe cleaners – color to coordinate with ribbon, 30 minimum
Scissors

Prepare Your Supplies

Wire wreath form, scissors, buffalo plaid ribbon, and pipe cleaners

Cut the Pipe Cleaners

For our ribbon width, which was 2.5″ inches, we cut the pipe cleaners into thirds. If your ribbon is wider, you might need to cut them into halves. For mesh, you’ll typically cut each pipe cleaner into two pieces. Set into a pile.

Cutting a black pipe cleaner with a pair of scissors

Grab one of your ribbon spools and unfurl a length of ribbon. Don’t cut it.

Attach the Ribbon

Bunch the end of the ribbon together. Tie it down onto the wreath form, going from front to back, with a pipe cleaner piece. You’ll twist together in the back.

Attaching the end of wire ribbon to the wreath form with a pipe cleaner

You want to have a gap between each tie be about the size of your hand. So take your hand and wrap the ribbon around it . . .

Making a loop with the ribbon using your hand

then secure down the ribbon with another pipe cleaner, making a loop as shown. You’ll want to twist your pipe cleaners on alternating wires.

Attaching the ribbon to the wreath with a pipe cleaner

Repeat the process of making ribbon loops and tying them down with pipe cleaners around the entire wreath form. As you can see, you are alternating between securing to the second and third wires of the form.

Pipe cleaner attachment points with blue circles

Work your way around the form until you’ve gotten one rotation complete. Your DIY ribbon wreath is on its way! For this first row, that used up one entire spool.

First ring of ribbon attached with pipe cleaners

Make the Second Row

Either trim your ribbon or start a new spool. Twist the end down as you did in the first step, then work your way around the inside of the wreath form one more time. You’re going to be using the second and third wires again.

This row really adds a fullness to the wreath, and pushes that first row out a little bit.

Second ring of ribbon attached with pipe cleaners

Finish with the Third Row

Start the third row of your ribbon wreath on the very inside, alternating attaching the ribbon between the first and second wires of the form.

When you are finished, trim the ribbon with your scissors.

Third ring of ribbon attached with pipe cleaners

Now is your chance to “fluff” the ribbon a bit. Since the ribbon contains wire, you can bend it and adjust it to fill in areas, and fix loops that have flattened, etc. Don’t forget this important step before hanging!

This wreath is very easy to hang with either a picture hook or Command strip. And it doesn’t weight much at all.

how to make christmas wreaths with ribbon

Now that you know how to make a wreath using ribbon – are you going to try it? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Yield: 1 wreath

DIY Ribbon Wreath

Learn how to make a ribbon wreath in a few easy steps! This is perfect for Christmas decor but looks good all year.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Active Time 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Estimated Cost $12

Materials

12" wire wreath form
Wire ribbon - 75 feet
Pipe cleaners

Tools

Scissors

Instructions

Cut several pipe cleaners into three even pieces. Leave them in a pile.
Unroll ribbon from the first roll and attach to the outer portion of the wire wreath frame by twisting it down with a pipe cleaner.
Make a loop of ribbon around your hand. Secure the ribbon down on the other side of your hand by twisting a pipe cleaner.
Continue pulling ribbon from the spool, making loops and tying securing ribbon down with the pipe cleaners. Work your way around the outside of the wreath, alternating tying ribbon to the second and third wires.
Now you're going to make a second loop of ribbon inside that first loop, attaching to the second and third wires again.
To finish, make a third loop of ribbon around the inside, on the first and second wires of the form. Cut the ribbon off with scissors.
Fluff the ribbon loops out and even everything before hanging.

Notes

SOME RIBBON will be a little thinner or less substantial than others. If you complete your wreath and find that you need more body to it, feel free to add more to the outside third and fourth wires. You can keep going until the wreath form is full!

Now that you know how to make a ribbon wreath, check out these other cute and easy projects:

Laurée

Wednesday 9th of November 2022

In your detailed explanation, you say you're trying down onto the second and third wire (and that's what the photo shows). But in the "recipe" it says tie down to third and fourth wire. Just looking for clarification. Thanks.

Amy

Monday 9th of January 2023

Second and third wire yes, thank you! I changed it!

Carmela

Monday 7th of November 2022

Hi there, So bottom line 4 wires labeled 1 - 4 starting from the inside, the first ribbon is on wires # 2 and #3 the second ribbon is on the same wires but fills the gap of wires #2 and #3. The third ribbon is on wire #1 (inside wire) The fourth outside wire has nothing on it. I love this cannot wait to make it just wanted to confirm the steps. Thank you

Yes! On mine, the fourth wire has nothing on it!

Gayla M.

Monday 24th of October 2022

Have you ever done crinkle ribbon 2.5 inches before

I have not but I see no reason why you couldn't!

Can you use zip ties on the ribbon wreath?

Yes you can! Those work as well!

Dina

Tuesday 16th of August 2022

You show the directions using the 2nd and 3rd wires for the first ribbon and the same for the second ribbon. Do they cross over one another? Is there no ribbon attached to the outer wire? Also, does the 3rd ribbon only get fastened to the inside wire? Thank you. Looking forward to making this.

Tuesday 23rd of August 2022

Hi Dina! Great questions! 1) no they don't cross over each other. They are just next to each other. When you do it, you will see what I mean. There is no ribbon attached to the outer wire. I found that when I did this it got too full for my liking and where it was going. The third ribbon goes with the first and second wire to fill in the inside.

Having said all that, your questions bring up good points - you can adjust this if you like. If you want more fullness to the wreath, I'd experiment with adding another length of ribbon around the outside. If you don't like the look, you can easily remove it by removing the pipe cleaners and starting over with that row. SO a mistake isn't that big of a mistake luckily! It's easily fixed until you get the wreath you like.