I wanted to make this in ivory net, but as it STILL hasn't arrived (a second, slightly stroppier email has been sent off today, as they couldn't be bothered to reply to me yesterday), I've made it in pink. I just love how pretty this is. I got the idea from Gabrielle's blog before Christmas. I made a small round wreath, and love it so much that I've still got it hanging on the mirror. I plan to make several of these during the year, and not just for Christmas use.
Not sure if there is a 'right' or 'wrong' way of making these, so I thought I'd show you the way I do it. Nice and simple, no sewing, no glue, just tying knots. Pretty quick to do.
For the base, you will need a wire coathanger (swiped from Hubby's wardrobe again! ha ha ha), some padding - the inside of a cushion is fine - and some strips of fabric. I use plain cotton, but you could use anything at all. Even bandages!
Cut the hook off the coathanger, then twist it into desired shape. Don't worry if it isn't perfect, it doesn't matter. Secure the ends of the wire with tape. I use florists' tape, as I find it easiest to use.
Take a bundle of padding, hold against the wire frame and wrap the strips of cotton around it. I tack in a few stitches to hold it in place as I work, but you don't have to. Again, don't worry if it isn't too neat, it really doesn't matter.
Keep going until the entire base is padded. I then go over it with a few extra strips of cotton, to neaten it up a bit and keep the padding extra secure.The tulle net is simply tied on. I cut it into strips of approx. 6-7 inches long, and around 3 inches wide. As long as they are more or less the same, though it doesn't matter if some are shorter/fatter/longer, as you trim them afterwards anyway.
Wrap the strips of net around the base and tie in a knot. Simple as that.
Do this all the way around the base, until it is completely covered. Once you are happy that you have enough net tied on, 'shoosh' it up a bit, then trim the ends so you can clearly see the shape, and to make them all of similar length.
(This will eventually go on the front door, rather than the fridge door!) Now all you need to do, is decide if you want to decorate it or not. I think they look lovely plain, but I rather like it with just a few flowers in the 'V' of the heart. My little girl likes the small flower lights. Choices, choices!
++ forgot to say that I used roughly a metre of net fabric making this, maybe a touch over that.