Here is the table with the raw ingredients. My first attempt was straggly again, even though I cut the twigs shorter, so I had to do my usual trick of going round twice with the wire and trimming off stray ends.
Why didn't I think of that. I found quite a few tutorials, and several important bits of advice.
These are in German. They correspond exactly to what I mean.
In the first one, she cuts just the tips of the twigs no longer than the length of her hand. This was where I was going wrong - I was working with much bigger twigs, and trying to bend them round the ring.
I'm not sure what I would need a glue gun for. We have two, but I wouldn't use them for this, as we take the wreaths apart on Christmas Eve, burn the twigs and re-use the decorations for the Christmas tree.
I have several bases for wreaths and loads and loads of fir twigs, Holly, ivy and laurel in the garden. Every year I make a wreath for the dining table and one to hang on the front door.
I usually manage to make something fairly acceptable, but find I use yards and yards of florists' wire and am very inefficient. This year, because I have so much greenery I have offered to make one for my daughter-in-law.
So I need to make one that's properly neat and will withstand rougher treatment.
Does anyone have any advice on how to do these better?