Easy DIY Rag Wreath: How to Make a Neutral Heart
Follow along with this easy step-by-step tutorial and learn how to make your own easy DIY Rag Wreath for Valentine’s Day using tea-dyed strips of cut fabric.
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Valentine’s Day is almost here, and I’ve been having so much fun working on a few seasonal projects to get ready for the celebration. One idea I couldn’t wait to try was making a wreath for the holiday. I wanted something a little more unique, something that didn’t follow the usual red and pink theme of Valentine’s Day. So, I decided to make a neutral rag wreath using tea-dyed fabric scraps.
It’s such an easy project, very affordable, and turned out exactly how I imagined. Simple and beautiful!
So, gather your supplies and follow along as I show you how to make your own neutral Valentine’s Day DIY rag wreath.
Why You’ll Love this DIY Heart Rag Wreath
This simple DIY rag wreath is so easy to make and completely budget-friendly, making it a win-win! Its neutral tones are perfect for any decor style, so you can use it to add a charming touch to your own home or gift it to a friend.
The best part? It’s versatile enough to display year-round, not just for Valentine’s Day, bringing a little extra love to any space.
Tools and Supplies Needed to Make a Rag Wreath
- 1.5 yards of cotton muslin fabric in both white and ivory.
- Lipton Tea Bags (I used the Extra-Large size Lipton tea bags for iced tea.)
- Heart-Shaped Wire Wreath Form
- Containers for dying and storing fabric strips
- Tongs
- Strainer
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Rotary cutter (optional)
Tip from wendy’s craft room:
Can’t find bolts of cotton muslin? No problem! White fat quarters make a great alternative and are easy to find at Hobby Lobby or your local fabric store. You might even have some scrap fabric tucked away in your craft room that would work perfectly!
How to Make Fabric Rag Wreaths
Tea-dyeing fabric is such a simple, natural, and budget-friendly way to give it a whole new look. Plus, it’s a great way to reuse old tea bag like the ones left over after making iced tea, so nothing goes to waste! I love the soft, neutral tones you can create with this technique
Even though I made my rag wreath DIY with white fabric and tea-dyed it to create a rustic, neutral look, you can completely personalize this craft.
If you’re going for a different look, you can use the same rag wreath instructions with fun fabrics for a pop of color or even ribbon, omitting the dyeing step entirely.
Step 1: Cut Your Fabric Strips
To make your DIY rag tie wreath, begin by tearing your muslin fabric into long strips approximately 1″ wide.
Cutting the fabric with a rotary cutter will also work, but I prefer the raw, imperfect edges you get from tearing a piece of fabric versus cutting it.
Step 2: Make a Batch of Tea
Next, boil some water, add the tea bags, and let the tea steep for a few minutes.
Different types of tea can create different shades of dye, so feel free to experiment! For my cloth wreath, I wanted a subtle, aged look, and good old Lipton tea gave me just the color I was hoping for. I even got double the use out of the tea by making iced tea first and then reusing the bags to dye my fabric.
You can try other types of tea to see what unique colors you can create and make your wreath even more special!
Tip from wendy’s craft room:
Did you know tea is rich in tannins? That means the color from the tea bonds well with natural fibers, so it doesn’t require a mordant (a substance used to bind the dye to the fabric).
Step 3: Dye Your Fabric
Place a small portion of the fabric strip into the tea bath and allow it to absorb the tea until it achieves the desired color. The longer the fabric remains in the bath, the darker it will become.
Keep in mind that the fabric will look a bit lighter once it’s dry, so plan for that when deciding how long to leave it in the dye. To create a mix of neutral tones for my wreath, I dyed several batches of fabric strips, adjusting the soaking time for each one.
Step 4: Dry the Fabric
Once you are happy with the color, carefully take the fabric strips out of the dye since it might still be a little hot. I recommend using tongs and a strainer to make it easier.
Then take the strips outside to dry. I hung mine over a gate to dry in the sunshine and it worked like a charm.
Step 5: Trim the Fabric for Your Rag Wreath
Once completely dry, cut the strips for your DIY fabric wreath into pieces that are 6 inches long. I separated mine into colors so I could alternate them as I was adding them to my wire wreath frame.
Here you can see the pretty color variations I got by using two types of muslin, white and ivory, and dyeing the strips in different batches. It was so fun to see how each one turned out!
Step 6: Tie Your Fabric Strips onto the Wire Wreath
Now you’re ready to tie the fabric strips onto your heart rag wreath DIY. Be sure to start with the inner wires of the frame. (FYI…you can easily find these heart wreath frames at Dollar Tree or you can also find them online!)
First, take one 6″ fabric strip, fold it in half, and place the loop end of the fabric under the wire and up.
Then place the two ends of the same fabric strip (over the wire) through the loop and pull tight.
This is a great way to adhere the strip to the wire frame well.
(Of course, you could use several tying methods, such as a double knot on each piece of fabric, but this takes longer.)
Continue this process, alternating the fabric colors as you go along.
Repeat this step around the entire wreath and fill in any empty spaces. Then, when you’re done, trim any pieces of fabric as necessary to shorten.
How To Make a DIY Rag Wreath
Discover the joy of crafting with our easy DIY rag wreath tutorial! You will create a charming heart-shaped wreath using tea-dyed fabric.
Materials
- Cotton Muslin Fabric- Purchase 1.5 yards of fabric in both white and ivory. Alternatively, consider using white fat quarters. You can purchase both at Hobby Lobby or the local fabric store. You may even have scrap fabric in your craft room that you can use.
- Lipton Tea Bags – I used the Extra-Large size Lipton tea bags they sell for Iced Tea.
- Heart-Shaped Wire Wreath Form (you can find these at the Dollar Tree)
Tools
- Containers for dying and storing fabric strips
- Tongs
- Strainer
- Regular scissors
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Rotary cutter (optional)
Instructions
- Cut 1" strips of fabric- You can begin by tearing the fabric into long strips approximately 1" wide. Cutting the fabric with a rotary cutter will also work. I prefer the raw edges you get from tearing a piece of fabric versus cutting it.
- Make a batch of tea- Boil water, add the tea bags, and let the tea steep for a few minutes. Different types of tea will give you different colors of dye. I went for basic, neutral tones and found that good old Lipton tea gave me the color I was looking for. I used my tea to make iced tea and then used the bags again to dye the fabric. You can try different kinds of tea for different color results to make your beautiful wreath extra special!
- Dye your fabric. Place a small portion of the fabric strip into the tea bath and allow it to absorb the tea until it achieves the desired color. The longer the fabric remains in the bath, the darker it will become. Remember that the fabric may appear slightly lighter after drying, so consider this when determining the duration for keeping your fabric in the dye. I dyed multiple batches of fabric strips for various neutral tones, varying the duration for each.
- Dry your fabric. After reaching your desired color, remove the fabric strips from the dye carefully. Exercise caution, as the tea might still be hot. You should use tongs and a strainer for this step. After that, please take the fabric strips outdoors to dry. I hung mine over a gate to dry under the sunlight.
- Once the fabric is completely dry, cut the fabric strips into pieces that are 6 inches long. I separated mine into colors to alternate them as I added them to my wire wreath frame.
- Attach your strips of fabric to the heart-shaped wire frame. You should start with the inner wires of the frame. Take one 6" fabric strip, fold it in half, and place the loop end of the fabric under the wire and up. Now, you can place the two ends of the same fabric strip (over the wire) through the loop and pull tight. This is a great way to adhere the strip to the wire frame well. (Of course, you could use several tying methods, such as a double knot on each piece of fabric, but this takes longer.) You can continue this process, alternating the fabric colors as you go along. Repeat this process around the entire wreath and fill in any empty spaces.
7. Trim any necessary pieces of fabric if needed
Where to Hang Your Gorgeous Wreaths
Once you’re finished, it’s time to find the perfect spot to hang your Valentine’s Day Wreath. This DIY fabric wreath would look great hanging in any room of your home, but here are a few ideas if you’re looking suggestions.
- Proudly display your heart rag wreath DIY craft Hang the fabric on your front door or in your entryway to welcome guests into your home.
- Create a festive display over your mantel with this beautiful heart wreath as the focal point.
- Dress up a window, mirror, or framed artwork for Valentine’s Day.
- Hang it above your bed or in a guest bedroom.
- Use it as a centerpiece for a Valentine’s Day tablescape, arranged with votive candles and fresh flowers for a romantic touch
No matter where you hang it, this easy and fun DIY Rag Wreath will make a beautiful addition to your home decor!
Other Rag Wreath Suggestions: How to Make a Rag Wreath for any Holiday
One of the best things about making a rag wreath is how simple it is to do. And, fabric wreaths are a great project for different holidays, too! Just follow the same basic steps listed above to make new wreaths.
Here are a few of my other favorite ideas for how to make rag wreaths.
- All white rag wreaths are beautiful for the winter season.
- Make a Halloween rag wreath using a pumpkin wireframe or a witches hat.
- Create a rag Christmas wreath using brightly colored red and green strips of fabric.
- Make a mini rag wreath as a place card holder for a festive dinner party.
- Use a shamrock wire frame to create a wreath for St. Patrick’s Day.
Other DIY Valentine’s Day Crafts from WM Design House
If you love this easy heart rag wreath, you might also enjoy some of my other favorite Valentine’s Day DIY projects:
Simple DIY Valentine’s Day Tree
DIY Pink Heart Pinecone Wreath
Beautiful DIY Pink and Gold Foil Hearts
Wrapping Up
I hope this DIY rag wreath tutorial has given you some inspiration to get creative! Whether you go for soft neutrals like I did or mix in fun pops of color, the best part is making it your own.
This project is so easy and budget friendly, but the end result is something truly special. Plus, there is nothing better than adding a handmade touch to your home decor. I cannot wait to hear how yours turns out!
Happy crafting!
Did you make this craft?
We would love to see what you have created, so mention us @wmdesignhouse on social media, or send me a few pictures to [email protected]. We would love to see your creations!
More about me!
Hello, I’m Wendy – a dedicated “So Cal Gal” with a deep passion for decorating, gardening, cooking, and crafting. I find joy in harmonizing beautiful elements to create a space that is both comfortable and inspiring. I will help you create a beautiful home and garden, one project at a time.
This is so beautiful, Wendy! I am excited to feature your post at Tuesday Turn About. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you so much, Lynne! I appreciate the feature. This heart was a fun project, and I love the neutral look.
Gorgeous rag wreath idea for Valentine’s Day.
I found you at The Cottage Market.
Hi Kippi, Thank you so much. I am so happy you found me. I hope you enjoy my content.
I love how this wreath turned out. The neutral colors are such a nice change for Valentine’s Day. Plus my grandmother used to love Lipton tea. Thanks for the clear instructions.
Thank you Anna, i’s a fun and rather easy project to make.
Your heart turned out beautiful Wendy. Many years ago I decided to tea stain my bedding for that vintage lived in feel. I have to say, the comforter turned out great, but the pillow shams were a shade off. I am guessing they were not from the same dye lot, but I went with it because that’s what I do. You may get a kick out of this, but in my 20’s I decided I needed red carpet in the bedroom, and so I dyed my carpet. It was RED, but I loved it. Now I have an itch to dye again, but I should go with something on a smaller scale than a whole room. You always have so many wonderful ideas to share with us! Hope you are doing well.
Oh my goodness, I cannot believe you dyed your entire carpet, Cara; what did you use? That must have been
a very big project. And how long did it take you? Send me a picture if you have one; I would love to see it.
You maze me, girl! And the dye never bled onto your feet or shoes? I am in awe!
I really enjoyed your tutorial; very easy to follow! I had to smile when you said you recycled used tea bags. As a dollhouse accessory maker, I use the used tea leaves as “dirt” to top off my little potted artificial plants! Any remainder goes out to the compost heap! I have been using an instant coffee solution to stain wooden pieces for projects, too! I can make things a darker brown than tea.
Thank you, Kathy! I try to recycle when I can. And hey, I also get a pot of Iced tea out of it.
I can imagine all the darling things you must make as a dollhouse accessory maker. Do you have a website?
Using the tea leaves for dirt is brilliant.
This is adorably cute! I’m not very crafty, but I may try this one!
This is an easy one, Susan; however, it does take a bit of time to tie the fabric onto the frame.
This is SO COOL, Wendy!! I adore neutral decor for Valentine’s Day and this is so perfect!! What a cool idea to use tea. Pinned!
Thank you, Rachel! This wreath was a very fun project to make!
I love tea stain! It’s the perfect vintage color! This is so sweet!
Thank you, Amy; there are so many fun things you can stain with tea.