SaveA garland is the same small shape repeated, which makes it the most forgiving Christmas project there is. Get one wrong and it disappears among the other eleven.
Part of our seasonal library.
The part people get wrong is spacing. Measured, identical gaps look mechanical. Spacing by eye, with the pieces slightly closer together in the middle of each swag, is what makes a handmade garland read as handmade rather than as a cheaper version of a bought one.
Bauble garland
Beginner4 hours
Twelve 40 mm covers on twine. Slow, mindless, and the most useful one here.
Star and tree alternating
Beginner3 hours
Flat stiffened shapes, alternating, about 12 cm apart.
Snowflake garland
Beginner3 hours
Eight flakes on invisible thread, best hung in a window rather than on a mantel.
Pom pom garland
Beginner2 hours
Not crochet at all, strictly, but it takes two hours and looks right beside the others.
Mini stocking garland
Easy4 hours
Six small stockings, each big enough for a sweet.
Heart garland
Beginner2 hours
Red and cream hearts. Works through February too.
Bunting triangles
Beginner3 hours
Ten flags worked flat in two colours.
Holly leaf chain
Easy3 hours
Leaves and berry clusters worked directly onto a long chain.
Gingerbread man garland
Easy5 hours
Six figures with piped icing. The slowest here.
Tiny tree garland
Beginner3 hours
Eight flat trees in three shades of green.
Nordic two-colour
Easy4 hours
Alternating red and white squares with a simple motif on each.
Mixed scrap garland
Beginner3 hours
Whatever shapes you have left over from other projects, strung together.
Length and spacing
Measure the run first, then add a third for the drape. A mantel garland that is exactly the length of the mantel hangs flat and looks like a stick.
| Where | Run | Cord length | Pieces |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mantel | 120 cm | 160 cm | 9 to 11 |
| Bannister, one flight | 300 cm | 400 cm | 22 to 26 |
| Window | 90 cm | 110 cm | 6 to 8 |
| Doorway | 200 cm | 260 cm | 14 to 18 |
Attach each piece with a slip stitch through the cord rather than tying it. Tied pieces rotate to face the wall, and you will spend the season turning them back.
Questions
How long should a crochet garland be?
About a third longer than the run it covers, so it has enough slack to swag rather than hang flat.
How do I attach pieces to the cord?
Slip stitch through the cord at each point. Tying lets the pieces rotate and they end up facing the wall.
What cord should I use?
Natural jute twine for a rustic look, or invisible thread for anything hung in a window.
How many pieces for a mantel garland?
Nine to eleven for a standard 120 cm mantel, spaced by eye rather than measured.
Can I make a garland from leftovers?
That is the best use for them. Mixed shapes in mixed colours look deliberate at garland scale.
How do I store a garland?
Wound around a piece of stiff card rather than folded. Folding creases the flat pieces permanently.