In recent years, the 4th of July has become my favorite holiday. Not only do I love my country, but I also love this time of the year – the time that has this fun, relaxed summer glow about it. So last summer when I saw a wreath made out of bandanas at Crafts 2000, I knew I had to create one of my very own. I love the simplicity of this wreath and the fact that you can be patriotic any time of the year. Here is everything you need to create one too!

First start by cutting 21 pipe cleaners in half so that you have a total of 42 small pipe cleaners. This makes it easy to smoothly create your wreath in a fashionable manner. Then begin to fold a red bandana like an accordion or like you would to make a paper fan. Continue back and forth until the entire bandana has been folded.

Then take one of your “small” pipe cleaners and twist it around each of the ends. Try to twist it as tight as you can so that you will have enough left over to tie the pipe cleaners to the actual wreath. (Helpful Hint: it is easier to fold the bandana in half to keep the folds intact, instead of attempting to do each end separately.)

Then tie two more pipe cleaners on the bandana so that you have created four equal parts of fabric.

Next, attach the bandana to the wreath by placing it on the two middle wires. (Helpful Hint: Use the dividers on the wreath as a guide as to where you should place the bandana.)

After attaching the bandana, turn the wreath over and begin to pull your folds apart and “fluff” your bandana.

Repeat each step alternating between red and white as you go. I started and ended with red to be correct with our flag. However, you can use more bandanas if you feel yours doesn’t look full enough.

Then finish by placing three blue bandanas in the space you have left. I squeezed three blue bandanas in between about two whole spaces instead of three. I think it fills in nicely, but you can use as many as you wish.

To complete the wreath simply make a loop out of your pipe cleaner and attach it to the back of the wreath. This way you have something on which to hook your wreath. Then as a little extra decoration add a patriotic sign or flag in the middle. (I used a pipe cleaner to attach mine.) All you have left to do is find a place to hang it.