How to Make an Autumn Fabric Wreath Using Old Clothes

This year, I decided to make my own DIY autumn fabric wreath using scraps of old clothing, a piece of cardboard and a little bit of patience.

Just some leftover fabric in beautiful autumnal colours and an afternoon spent making something for our old Scottish cottage.

And I think the finished result is rather lovely.

If you've got some old clothes, worn-out bedding or leftover fabric hiding in a cupboard, this is a wonderful little autumn project to try.

Why I Wanted to Make a Wreath From Old Clothes

As some of you will know, I run a small preloved clothing business from home.

I spend quite a lot of my time sorting through second-hand clothes, washing them, photographing them and finding them new homes.

One of the things I've become increasingly aware of is just how much clothing already exists in the world.

And while the whole point of my business is to give good-quality clothes another life, there's inevitably going to be the odd item that simply isn't suitable for resale.

Perhaps it's damaged beyond repair, badly stained, or the fabric has seen better days.

But that doesn't necessarily mean every part of it is useless.

Sometimes, the fabric itself is still absolutely beautiful.

And that's where this little project came from.

I wanted to find a way to use some of those leftover materials rather than automatically throwing them away.

With autumn arriving here in Scotland, I thought a homemade fabric wreath would be the perfect place to start.

A Little Autumn Colour Without Buying Anything New

One of my favourite things about autumn is the colour palette.

Deep burgundy, rusty orange, mustard yellow, forest green, warm brown and all those lovely muted shades that seem to belong in an old cottage.

Rather conveniently, these colours also work beautifully together when they're mixed across different fabrics.

For my wreath, I gathered scraps in a mixture of autumnal shades and patterns.

Some were floral. Some were plain. Others had little stripes or interesting textures.

In fact, I think that's what makes a fabric wreath so charming.

It's a little bit mismatched, a little bit rustic, and completely unique.

The kind of decoration that looks as though it belongs in a cosy cottage rather than on a supermarket shelf.

What You'll Need to Make a DIY Fabric Wreath

This is a wonderfully inexpensive craft, particularly if you're using materials you already have.

You'll need:

• Old clothes, fabric scraps or worn-out textiles

• A large piece of sturdy cardboard

• A pair of sharp scissors

• A pencil

• Two circular objects or plates of different sizes to use as templates

• A piece of string, ribbon or twine for hanging

  
  

That's it!

You don't need a sewing machine, and there's no sewing involved.

You don't even need to be particularly crafty.

If you can cut fabric and tie a knot, you can make this wreath.

A little tip: Try to choose fabrics that aren't too thick or stiff. Lightweight cottons and similar materials are particularly easy to work with.

How to Make an Autumn Fabric Wreath Step by Step

Step 1: Make Your Cardboard Wreath Base

I started by making a circular wreath frame from cardboard.

You can use an old delivery box, which is another lovely way to reuse something that might otherwise be recycled.

Draw a large circle onto your cardboard using a plate or another round object as a guide.

Then draw a smaller circle inside it.

Carefully cut around the outside and remove the middle, leaving yourself with a large cardboard ring.

Don't worry if the edges aren't absolutely perfect.

Once you've added all your fabric, you won't see the cardboard anyway.

If your cardboard is particularly thin, you could cut two identical rings and attach them together to make a stronger base.

Step 2: Gather Your Autumn Fabric Scraps

Next comes the fun part.

Go through your old clothes or fabric collection and choose the colours you'd like to use.

For an autumn wreath, I'd recommend a mixture of:

• Rust orange for that lovely fallen-leaf feeling

• Burgundy and plum for warmth and depth

• Mustard yellow to brighten everything up

• Forest green to balance the warmer colours

• Cream and beige to stop the wreath looking too dark

• Brown and muted floral patterns for a rustic cottage feel

You can use old shirts, dresses, blouses, pillowcases or practically any suitable fabric you have available.

The important thing is to use materials that are clean, dry and no longer suitable for wearing or donating.

Step 3: Cut Your Fabric Into Strips

Once you've chosen your fabrics, cut them into strips.

They don't need to be perfectly identical, but keeping them roughly the same size will help your wreath look balanced.

As a starting point, try strips around 15–20cm long and 2–4cm wide, adjusting them depending on the thickness of your cardboard ring and how full you'd like the finished wreath.

I actually quite like leaving the edges a little frayed.

It gives the wreath a softer, more rustic appearance.

And it means you don't have to spend ages trying to cut everything perfectly.

Which is always a bonus!

Step 4: Tie the Fabric Around Your Cardboard Ring

Now it's time to start building your wreath.

Take one fabric strip, wrap it around the cardboard ring and tie it securely.

A simple double knot should do the trick.

Then take another strip and repeat.

Keep working your way around the ring, alternating between your different colours and patterns.

Try to keep the knots towards the front or outer edge of the wreath so the loose fabric creates a lovely full, textured appearance.

I found that mixing the colours randomly worked really well.

Rather than putting all the burgundy together or all the orange in one section, I scattered the different shades throughout.

It gives the finished wreath a much more natural look.

Step 5: Keep Adding Fabric Until It's Lovely and Full

This is the part that takes the longest, but it's also rather relaxing.

Keep tying fabric strips around the cardboard until the entire ring is covered.

As you go, gently push the strips closer together.

The more fabric you add, the fuller and fluffier your wreath will become.

Don't worry if it looks a little strange halfway through.

Like many craft projects, it tends to come together towards the end.

Once you've covered the ring, spend a few minutes adjusting the fabric.

Pull some pieces forward, tuck others underneath and trim any particularly long ends.

You want it to look full and beautifully imperfect.

Step 6: Add a Hanging Loop

Once you're happy with your wreath, attach a small piece of string, ribbon or twine to the back.

Make sure it's securely fastened and that the cardboard is strong enough to support the weight of the fabric.

Then you're ready to hang it!

I chose a white cottage door, which really makes all those autumnal colours stand out.

And I love how the finished wreath looks against the old-fashioned panelling.

It's exactly the sort of handmade decoration I enjoy having around the house.

Five Ways to Make Your Fabric Wreath Look Different

One of the nicest things about this project is that you can adapt it to practically any style of home.

1. The Traditional Autumn Wreath

Use burnt orange, mustard yellow, burgundy and brown fabrics for a classic autumn colour palette.

2. The Cottagecore Wreath

Choose faded floral fabrics, cream cotton, dusty pink and muted greens for a softer, romantic look.

3. The Dark Academia Wreath

Use deep plum, charcoal, dark green and rich brown fabrics for something moodier and more dramatic.

4. The Neutral Farmhouse Wreath

Stick to cream, oatmeal, beige, taupe and natural linen textures for a simple, understated decoration.

5. The Christmas Fabric Wreath

Use exactly the same method with red, forest green, cream and tartan fabric scraps.

You could even make one for every season without buying a single plastic decoration.

My little autumn wreath isn't perfectly symmetrical.

The fabric strips aren't all the same length.

And some of the colours probably shouldn't work together quite as well as they do.

But I think that's why I like it.

It feels homemade.

It feels autumnal.

And it feels right at home in our old Scottish cottage.

If you've got some old clothing or fabric scraps lying around, I'd really encourage you to give this project a try.

You might be surprised by what you can create from things you were about to throw away.

Have you ever made decorations from old clothes or leftover fabric? I'd love to hear what you've created in the comments.

And if you're planning some cosy autumn crafting, don't forget to save this DIY fabric wreath idea to Pinterest so you can come back to it later.

A Little Note About My Images ♡

You'll notice that the images across my blog are a mixture of my own photography and AI-generated images.

I'm a one-woman band running this little corner of the internet, without a team of photographers, designers or editors behind me. Living with OCD also means I can be particularly careful about things like copyright and image permissions, so I sometimes use AI to help bring my ideas to life without those additional worries.

Where possible, I love sharing my own photographs, especially glimpses of my cottage, garden and everyday life here in Scotland. Other times, I'll use AI-generated imagery to illustrate an idea or provide a little creative inspiration.

I believe in being transparent, so I wanted you to know that you'll find a mixture of both throughout my website. The words, experiences, opinions and ideas are my own.

Thank you for supporting my little one-woman blog! ❤️