top of page

Wondrous Wheat

Did you know decorating for autumn is second only to decorating for the holiday season? Surveys show our nesting instincts are in full force in fall. 

 

Mother Nature provides us with many natural decorating options for fall but one of my favorites is using dried 'awned' ('bearded') wheat. ('Awned' or 'bearded' wheat is wheat with the long feathery, wispy growth intact.) There are even several varieties of wheat, from natural and pale green to a two-toned black and natural colored hybrid. 

 

Dried wheat can be used to create literally dozens of beautiful displays that last year to year. Below you will find three simple ideas using wheat both for inside the home and outside on your front door. Best of all, some of these designs can do double-duty to decorate your home from fall through New Year's.

 

Self-Standing Wheat Wand

A self-standing and stylish Wheat Wand is quickly assembled by twisting bunches of wheat and fastening them together with wire. 

 

Materials

 

  • Two market bunches of 'awned' ('bearded') wheat, many times sold in 8 ounce bunches. 

  • One 16-inch long piece of narrow gauged wire (spool wire or picture hanging wire work well) 

  • 20-inch long, 2-inch wide fall colored ribbon (Jill used a celery colored ribbon) 

  • Floral clippers and scissors 

 

Directions 

 

  1. Before unfastening the 2 bunches of wheat, place them side by side in your hands so that the tops of the wheat stems are even. Now unfasten the 2 bunches. 

  2. Hold the tops of the large wheat bunch just under their 'blooms' in one hand and the lower half of their stems in your other hand. Begin twisting the lower half of the wheat stems in a clock-wise or counter clock-wise motion, while applying resistance to the tops of the stems. A spiral effect will begin to take place after repeating this twisting technique several times. 

  3. When the stems are twisted to approximately a 45-degree angle, release the bottom of the stems while still holding tightly onto the tops of the stems. Now cut the bottoms of the stems so that the wheat wand (from the very top to the bottoms) is approximately 21-inches long. Make sure to cut the stems very straight. 

  4. Just above the place you are holding the wand, catch a 2-inch piece of wire under your thumb. Now wrap the remaining wire neatly and tightly several times around the wheat wand. Then join this wire to the loose wire under your thumb and twist the two ends together to secure. 

  5. To ensure the wheat wand will stand upright on its' own, re-cut the center stems slightly shorter than the outer ones. 

  6. Finally, tie a decorative fall colored ribbon around the wire. Now stand the wheat wand up right, by spreading the bottoms of the stems with your fingers. 

    (Note: For the holiday season, you may want to spray paint the Wheat Wand silver or gold and change out the fall colored ribbon with a Christmassy one.) 

 

Wheat Wreath

A small and simple Wheat Wreath is a welcoming sign to all that enter. In biblical times wheat was a symbol of love and charity. Therefore, placing a small wheat wreath on the front door certainly seems like an appropriate welcome. 

 

Materials

 

  • Two market bunches of 'awned' ('bearded') wheat, many times sold in 8 ounce bunches. 

  • 6-inch grape or birch vine wreath form 

  • 22 or 24 gauge paddle wire 

  • 20-inches decorative fall colored or gold ribbon. The ribbon should be 2-inches wide. 

  • Floral clippers and scissors 

  • Hot glue gun and hot glue 

 

Directions

 

  1. Cut the wheat to approximately 7-inches in length. 

  2. Tightly wind the paddle wire around the wreath form once; then twist and secure it to itself. Do not cut the wire. 

  3. Make a wheat bouquet in your hands, using approximately 6 stems of wheat. (Or, place approximately 6 stems of wheat on top of wreath form.) Attach the wheat bouquet (or stems) to the wreath form by wrapping the paddle wire tightly around the stems of the wheat and wreath form about 3 times. Do not cut the wire. 

  4. Position another wheat bouquet (or place 6 more stems of wheat on the wreath) so that the stems overlap the stems of the first wheat grouping. Again, attach the wheat to the wreath form in same manner as described in  step 3. 

  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the wreath form is filled. 

  6. Tie off the paddle wire by threading it through itself, then cut the wire. 

  7. If any wires can be seen on the front side of the wreath, hot glue stems of wheat over the wires to hide them. 

  8. To attach the wheat wreath to the front door, simply slip the ribbon through the center of the wheat wreath and then tie a neat bow at the top of the ribbon. Slip the tied ribbon over a wreath hanger or nail for hanging. If a ribbon is not desired, simply make a wire loop and attach it to the back of the wreath for hanging.

  9. (Note: For Christmas and New Year's appeal, spray paint the Wheat Wreath silver or gold and change out the ribbon to green or red.) 

Potted Wheat Sheath

A sheath of wheat contained in a clay pot is clean, neat and stylish. Simple to create in seconds, this potted wheat wonder is sure to make an impact on the dining table, coffee table or as a sculptural effect for a harvest buffet. 

 

Materials

 

  • 1 large handful of 'awned' ('bearded') wheat 

  • 4-inch clay pot 

  • Half a brick of floral foam 

  • 16-inches of narrow gauged wire (spool wire or picture hanging wire work well) 

  • 14-inches of rope or raffia 

  • Floral clippers, scissors and knife 

 

Directions

 

  1. With a knife, cut the floral foam to fit snugly inside the clay pot, then push it inside the pot. 

  2. Arrange a neat group of wheat in your hands to make a sheath. Now cut the sheath to approximately 18-inches in length. 

  3. Just above the place you are holding the sheath, catch a 2-inch piece of wire under your thumb. Now wrap the remaining wire neatly and tightly several times around the wheat sheath. Then join this wire to the loose wire under your thumb and twist the two ends together to secure. 

  4. Insert the sheath deeply into the center of the floral foam. 

  5. Now place pea gravel over the foam to cover it. 

  6. Lastly, tie the rope or raffia around the wire and make a neat square knot ("right over left, left over right, makes a knot both tidy and tight.")

My best,

bottom of page