How to Make a Pine Cone Flower Garland

Gather fallen pine cones with slightly to fully open scales. Pine cones with closed, tight scales make it difficult to conceal the thread or fishing line. If scales are closed, store in a cool, dry place for one week, or until open. Gather various shapes and sizes.

Choose fresh, long-lasting flowers. Carnations, mums, anthurium, marigolds and lilies last several days without water. The smaller the flower, the more you will need. Try a mix of flowers and colors.

Cut flower stem as close as possible to the calyx, the thick green part under the flower head. Removing too much of the calyx may cause the petals to shed.

Drill a one-eighth-inch hole through the center of each pine cone. The placement of the hole may depend on the pine cone shape, so experiment before drilling all the cones. An alternative is to attach the pine cones by wrapping the string tightly around the cone, hiding the string within the scales, and securing with a knot. Plan on using more string with this method.

Make a pattern before permanently stringing the flowers and pine cones. Lay them out on a flat surface, moving materials around until you get the desired design.

Thread the needle with line or thread. Double over and tie a knot at the end. The amount of line needed will depend on the size, shape and number of materials used. A 3- to 5-foot strand is an easy length to work with. Attach finished strands together for a longer garland.

Wrap or string a pine cone onto one end of the string, leaving enough string on the end to tie securely around the cone. Continue wrapping or threading pine cones through their holes, following your pattern.

Insert needle through the upper part of the calyx and string according to the pattern. String several flowers in a row to add fullness. The tighter you string the flowers, the lusher the garland will appear. Continue adding pine cones and flowers. Finish off with a pine cone and tie at the end.