Christmas patchwork – clever fabric folded wreath DIY

From each of Fabrics A and B, cut two (2) 5in x 14in strips.

Place one (1) strip of each fabric, right sides together, on a cutting mat. Position the 60-degree ruler (or template) on the fabric strips with the top of the ruler level with the top of the fabric and the bottom edge of the fabric level with the 5in marked line on the ruler, (Fig 1). Cut along both sides of the ruler with a rotary cutter.

Turn the ruler through 180-degrees – do not turn it over. Position the side of the ruler on the cut edge of fabric and the top and bottom of the fabric strip as before, (Fig 2). Cut along the edge of the ruler to make another fabric triangle. Turn the ruler once more through 180-degrees and repeat the process to make three (3) pairs of triangles cut from this pair of strips. Left handers should work from right to left on the cut strips.

Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the second set of two (2) strips to make a total of six (6) pairs of triangles. These will be used in the centre section of the wreath.

From Fabrics C and D, cut three (3) 5in x 21in strips. Follow steps 2–4 with each pair of strips, cutting four (4) triangles from each, and twelve (12) pairs in total.

Take each pair of triangles and stitch together around all the edges with a 1/4in seam, leaving a gap of about 2in in the seam opposite the cropped corner, (Fig 3). This side of the triangle is cut on the straight grain of the fabric and will not stretch as much when the triangles are turned to the right side through the gap in the stitching.

Trim the triangle corners to about an 1/8in from the stitching to reduce the bulk of the fabrics at the corners. Turn the shape through to the right side. Pull out the corners to make them as sharp as possible, (Fig 4). Tuck the seam allowances at the gap section under so that the edges are in line with the outer edge of the stitched triangle. Stitch up the gap. Lynne used a ladder stitch to make the hand-stitched section as inconspicuous as possible. Press the finished triangle.

Place one stitched triangle on a table. The fabric chosen for the folded corners on the final origami shape should be underneath, against the surface of the table.

Find the mid-point of the triangle by first folding it in half and finger-pressing to mark the mid-way crease, (Fig 5). Open the triangle out and fold it in half the other way. Crease as before, (Fig 6). Where the two (2) creases cross, mark the centre of the triangle with a dot or pin, (Fig 7).

Fold each corner into the marked centre and sew into position with two or three stitches in the centre. Make sure to stitch through all the layers at the centre, (Fig 8). Pull the thread tightly as you stitch to anchor the corners firmly to the centre of the block. The original triangle should now become a hexagon.

Leave the needle and thread on the back of the work, without securing or trimming, and turn the hexagon over. Three (3) of the hexagon’s sides should have a thick fold on the edge. The other three (3) sides are the seamed edges of the original stitched triangle. These are marked with a star in Fig 9.

Find the mid-point of each of these starred sides by folding it in half and creasing, as shown in Fig 10.

Thread the needle through the mid-point of one (1) starred side, as shown in Fig 11 below. Place the needle back down at the centre of the block so that it pulls the mid-point to the centre, (Fig 12). Stitch two or three firm stitches through all the layers at the centre to anchor into place. Repeat this with the mid-points of the other two (2) starred sides, (Fig 13). Finish off the back and run the thread into the layers before cutting it off.

Now you have a three-dimensional flower shape. Using the blades of a small pair of scissors, push gently between the layers of the folded sections to smooth and flatten the folded areas into regular kite shapes, (Fig 14).

Make all eighteen (18) folded shapes for the wreath design in this way.

Take one (1) shape made from Fabrics A and B and two (2) shapes made from Fabrics C and D. Stitch them together by whip stitching or ladder stitching the folded edges to make the arrangement, as shown in Fig 15.

Repeat this with the remaining folded shapes to make a total of six (6) units, each made up of three (3) folded shapes stitched together.

Arrange the six (6) units on a desk, as shown in Fig 16.

Take two (2) units and place them together with points touching, as shown in Fig 17. Join the two (2) units together by stitching firmly at each of the four (4) places where the corners touch. To do this, place one (1) unit onto the other with right sides facing and corners matching. Sew several small stitches firmly through each set of corners to hold the units together.

Open the stitched shapes out flat and join the next unit in. Add sequins or beads to the centre of each folded shape. Finally, stitch a small ring or loop to a corner at the back of the wreath for hanging