Marigold Garland Tutorial

Marigold Garlands

Traditionally Marigolds are known as the herb of the sun and are used in religious offerings, pujas, and Indian wedding ceremonies. They are believed to bring good luck and happiness… 
Medicinal uses are numerous including- treatment of headaches, toothache, swellings and for strengthening the heart... I have always used the petals in salads and pressed them onto face spots.  My neighbour also eats them raw and swears by them as a tonic for his eyes...

Two beautiful, very in love, friends of mine, were married last month and marigold garlands were used in the decoration and offerings in the ceremony.

The night before the celebratory day over 20 women gathered together to thread marigold flowers in a bright happy circle. 

A few of us became acquainted with the process of garland making a week before, so that we could help with organising the 20 flower threaders 

This method can be used by a group or individually. and is suited to both long and short garlands.

You will need

As many open fully bloomed Marigold flowers, leave the green stem to about 4cm, (too much taken off will cause the flower to fall apart) 

Strong thread, 

Needle and 

Scissors

Lay out the pattern, we used orange, yellow and variegated flowers to create a more interesting effect, singled coloured flowers are fine. 

A longish garland, make two parallel rounds so that the design template isn't too long- but rows will be fused together when threading. 

Take one meter of strong cotton and thread needle, tie a knot 10 cm from end.

Push needle through the flower stem, slide flower down to the knot compressing stems on top of each other, as you go. 

Continue on threading flowers until you have a bunch of 20 or so, then stop and turn individual flowers, placing them, so that no stem shows and that they look even on all sides. 

Continue threading, stopping 10cm before the end of thread.

As a group, each person will be working on a section, these sections need to be tied together. 

Tie tightly together and snip of ends of string.

Tips-

The trickiest part is placement of flowers; mix small blooms with big, so that there is consistency, too many small blooms together, makes thin sections. And the ideal is to see no green stem

Tightly compact flowers as you go down.

Spray lightly with water to keep fresh for longer.

Next year a patch in my garden will be dedicated to marigold flowers, so I can make plenty of these...

Joining this up with Natural Suburbias Creative Friday.