How to Make a Pinecone Wreath (without wire or glue!)

After taking a half day to make three of these beauties, we’ll be the first to admit it, we’re a little obsessed with making pine cone wreaths. And today we’ll show you how to make a pinecone wreath (just like this one) without the use of any glue or wire. If DIY is not your thing, we have a collection of beautiful pine cones wreaths to buy as well!

How to Make a Pinecone Wreath on a Wire Frame

For this easy DIY pinecone wreath, we used the pinecones fallen from Eastern white pine trees that grow all over North America as far north as Newfoundland and south as Georgia. Having used them to make these painted pinecone Christmas ornaments last year, they are our favorite type of pine cone to craft with.

If you are wanting to make your own Eastern white pine cone wreath, you can check out our Etsy shop where we sell this variety of pinecones along with other varieties as well.

This entire wreath is so simple to make with just three supplies: a wire wreath form, a pail of water and the pinecones. That’s it! No need for messy hot glue gun or fumbling with floral wire.

We’ll be sharing the video tutorial soon but in the meantime, keep reading to find out how to make your own stunning front door wreath.

Materials Needed for this DIY Pinecone Wreath:

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• 14” wire wreath form
• Eastern white pinecones, approx 150-175
• Pail or large bowl filled with water

How to Make a Pine Cone Wreath (without any wire or glue):

If you enjoy videos, we have this full-length version. Otherwise, keep scrolling for the photo tutorial!

Preparing the Pinecones

The first step is to make sure your pinecones are clean. If you are purchasing the pinecones from our Etsy shop, then the pinecones are ready and you can quickly get started on your wreath.

However, if you are foraging your own pine cones, then you’ll need to first clean them and bake them. Check out our simple and natural technique for cleaning pinecones here.

After the pinecones have been cleaned and baked, soak them in a pail of water for 30 minutes. Make sure they are fully submerged in the water. You’ll quickly notice the pinecones will begin to close up making them easy to work with.

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Sort the pinecones by size:

• Largest pinecones for the outer ring
• Medium sized pinecones for the center ring
• Small pinecones for the inner ring

Making the Pine Cone Wreath

The next step is to arrange the closed pine cones onto your wire wreath form.

Starting with the outer ring and the largest pinecones, insert the bottom of the pinecone between the two outer wires. Push the pine cone to about the 3 or 4th scale on the pinecone and pull it back slightly to lock it in place. As the pinecone dries and opens the scales will wrap themselves around the wire to hold in place.

Continue adding more pinecones to the wire frame, working one section at a time. 

Position the outer and center pinecones so they face outward and then position the pinecones on the inner ring to face straight upward. Use the small and medium pinecones for the inner concentric circle.

When you get close to the end of the section, squeeze the pinecones over as much as possible and wedge another pinecone inside. 

Continue all the way around the wire wreath form. 

Drying the Beautiful Pine Cone Wreath

Put the wreath aside and leave it to dry fully for 2-3 days. As they dry, the pinecones will open naturally and wedge themselves to the wire form. If possible, place the wreath in a dry and sunny location to speed up the time it takes to dry fully.

If you plan to hang this fall wreath outside where it will be exposed to rain and wet weather, we’d suggest spraying it with a water resistant sealer.

And there you go! We hope you’ve enjoyed this easy tutorial for making a beautiful wreath with pine cones in just a few simple steps.

The best part is that you can dress up your lovely wreath with simple embellishments. Use some twine or a red ribbon to give it a festive touch to your holiday decor. Or paint the tips of the pinecones with white paint or the whole wreath with some white spray paint, a great way for a frosted look to some of your Christmas decorations. You could even simply lay your new wreath down as a table centerpiece in the dining room.

More DIY Wreaths using Natural Elements and Materials

If you enjoyed this project, be sure to check out our collection of 60 fun craft ideas for adults! And if crafting with nature is your jam, you’ll love these handmade wreath ideas:

• Pumpkin wreath using mulberry branches
• Boxwood wreath
• DIY driftwood wreath
• DIY wheat wreath
• Beautiful seashell wreath
• Evergreen wreath

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