Create a festive garland

Time taken and skills needed: one-and-a-half hours and is easy to do, no florist skills required.

What you'll need

● Strong string or rope

● Scissors

● Foliage such as ivy or bay leaves

● Reel wire (available from florists' shops)

● Wire cutters

● Pine cones

● Silver spray paint

Before you begin

This garland has been made using ivy, which is widely available at this time of year. A good evergreen alternative is bay. 

How it's done

Cut a piece of string or rope to the length you want your garland. Carefully cut your chosen foliage into 10-15cm-long sprigs, then remove the leaves from the lower half of each sprig.

Divide your sprigs into bunches of three, then tie each bunch together with the reel wire, spreading them out so that one sprig points ahead, one to left and one to the right.

Starting at one end of your piece of rope, use the wire to bind the bunches of sprigs to it, leaving about 5cm between each bunch.

Spray a few pine cones with spray paint and leave to dry before attaching them to the garland with wire. Arrange your garland on a mantelpiece, or hang it along a banister.

Florist Jane Packer holds wreath- and garland-making classes. Visit jane-packer.co.uk for further details.

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