Over the weekend, I made the exciting announcement of a brand-new product that is a game changer for wreath makers. Together with Damon from DecoExchange, we created the Pancake Wreath Frame (patent pending)! This is a wooden wreath frame that is created specifically for my signature pancake wreath method and solves a ton of issues I had with other wreath fames while making this type of wreath style. I can’t believe I helped invent something that checks off everything I want in a wreath frame and helps other designers make amazing products! I am still on cloud 9!

Pancake Wreath Frame Details

The frame comes in two sizes – 10 inches and 14 inches – and features 12 small holes with corresponding notches for pipe cleaner placement. That’s right, it takes the guessing out of where you need to put them AND holds the pipe cleaners in place! No more sliding on thin wires. The frame also has 6 smaller holes on the inner circle to help with sign and bow placement and attachment. Much sturdier than other wreath forms, this frame will hold ALLLL the things – sings, bows, florals, sprays! As a wreath maker, you won’t have to worry about things bending, breaking or falling off your beautiful creation. And since there’s no hard, pokey metal wire, there’s a much lower chance of scratches to front doors.

Right now, you can find the pancake wreath frame on DecoExchange or ThePancakeFrame.com – just search “pancake wreath” or even just “pancake.” They come in a bundle of two – one of each size.

Pancake Frame Tutorial

Once you have this wreath form, you are going to want to make ALL the things, so let’s get started with the first, official tutorial!

In my last blog post specifically introducing the new frame, I provided a simple overview on how to use the frame to make your wreath with a sign, ribbons and florals. Now we need to get into the details! Below, you’ll find a supply list, recipe, step by step instructions and a video tutorial on how to use this frame to make a pancake wreath. This is a slimmer deco mesh wreath that fits between two doors, typically the front door and screen door.

It isn’t just the ruffle that makes this type of wreath – it’s the whole recipe together. It’s the number of pipe cleaners, ruffles, dovetails, etc. And now, there’s another amazing ingredient to add!

How to Make a Wreath with the Pancake Wreath Frame

This style of wreath is for any designer level. At the end of this tutorial, you’ll have an adorable dog-themed pancake wreath! Let’s start with supplies. We’re going to use the 14-inch frame, which will make a wreath that’s about 23-24 inches wide. (If you’re wondering, the 10-inch frame will make about a 20-inch wreath.)

We’ll also be adding ribbon and florals to this design. You can get these from several different places, including local craft supply stores and many places online.

Of course, the best supply i could ever recommend is this right here! Of course, I may be a little biased!

Wreath Supplies

Many of the supplies I used are from my favorite businesses – and even from my wreath supply boxes! As such, this list contains affiliate links for companies I love. If you make a purchase through these links, I may make a small commission.

14-inch round Pancake Wreath Frame on DecoExchange

1 roll of 10-inch mesh

1 6×12-inch metal Dog Welcome Sign (MD0344)

15 pipe cleaners (12 for the wreath frame, 2 for the sign and 1 for the bow)

Thin wire to attach sign (if not using pipe cleaners)

For the ribbon tails:

2 different designs of 2.5-inch wired ribbon

In this tutorial, I use the Doggie Love Ribbon (Q501940-616) and the black and white buffalo plaid ribbon from this assorted ribbon box.

For the bow:

1 design of 2.5-inch ribbon

2 different designs of 1.5-inch ribbon

In this tutorial, I use this 2.5-inch Paw Print ribbon, the 1.5-inch Doggie Love Ribbon (Q501909-616) – same design as used in the ribbon tails above, and the black and white Swiss dot ribbon that I received in the May 2022 wreath box.

Pancake Wreath Instructions

Here we go!! It’s time to see how amazing this new wreath making tool is!

Step 1: Prepare your mesh and ribbon tails

Cut 12 pieces of mesh at 20 inches long. Cut 12 ribbons from two of your 2.5-inch ribbon designs each – 24 ribbons total. They should be 14 inches long. Layer the two ribbons – one of each design. You should have 12 ribbon pairs. Dovetail the ends by folding them in half and cutting at an angle toward the edge.

Step 2: Attach your pipe cleaners to the frame

Put one pipe cleaner through each designated hole and over the corresponding notch, then twist. You want the twist to sit just between the hole and notch. You’ll end up with six pipe cleaners around the outside and six around the inside, all evenly spaced thanks to the frame.

Next, perform steps 3 – 5 on the outside pipe cleaners first.

Step 3: Ruffle and attach your mesh

Scrunch your mesh up the center as you gather the material toward you. Pinching the center of the ruffle (it’ll look like a butterfly), lay it into the center of each pipe cleaner, twisting the arms over the center to hold the ruffle in place.

Step 4: Layer the ruffle ends

Specific to the pancake method, layer the right-side end of the ruffle over the left side on the top and bottom of the ruffle. It’ll turn the butterfly into more of a circle.

Step 5: Add your ribbon tails

Fold your ribbon pairs in a wide “v.” Do this by folding them in half to find the center, then scrunch the center. Lay the center of that v between the pipe cleaners, over your mesh ruffle – tails facing outward. Twist the pipe cleaner arms over the ribbon to secure. Pull the tails of each ribbon apart and spread them to the sides, so both designs are visible and go in a pattern. You don’t want two designs right next to each other. Cut off the excess pipe cleaners.

Step 6: Repeat steps 3 – 5 on the inside pipe cleaners

Make and attach six more ruffles and attach them to each inner pipe cleaner. Next, attach and spread your ribbon tails.

Step 7: Make your doggie bow

You’ll use three ribbon designs total – a 2.5-inch ribbon and two different 1.5-inch designs. With the 2.5-inch ribbon, measure a 7-inch tail, then pinch, twist and make a 6-inch loop. Pinch, twist and loop to make two more loops (three total). The ribbon will have two loops on one side and one loop and two tails on the other.

Next, repeat the process for your first 1.5-inch ribbon, but with tails and loops that are a little shorter. Place this part of the bow on top of the previous ribbon, placing the side with the two loops over the side of the first ribbon that has two tails.

With the final 1.5-inch ribbon, make a shorter tail, a 3-inch center loop, then three more loops. Stack this part of the bow on top of the other bows. There should be a tail on each side. Make sure the side with two loops is on top of the side with one loop for the ribbon below it.

Wrap your pipe cleaner around the center of the ribbon stack and twist to secure. Keep both arms of the pipe cleaner and dovetail the ribbon tails. Finally, bring the center loop up and fluff it over the pipe cleaner in the middle to hide it.

Step 8: Attach your sign

Add holes or zip tie mounts to your sign to hold the wire used to secure the sign to the wreath. Put the wire through the holes or mounts on the sign, then stick it through the mesh and fish it through the small holes on the wreath frame. Twist to secure and cut or bundle and hide the excess.

Step 9: Fluff and attach the bow

Fluff your bow from the bottom ribbon to the top by pulling on the loops and spreading them side to side so every layer is visible.

Stick the pipe cleaner arms through the mesh and fish them through the small holes providing on the wreath frame. Make sure the tails of the bow are at the bottom of the bow and facing out since those are longer. Again, twist to secure and cut or bundle and hide the excess.

You do not have to attach you sign or bow to the frame by going through the provided holes. You can also wrap the arms of the wire and/or pipe cleaners around the frame.

Dog-Themed Pancake Wreath Instructions

Use the supply list and instructions below to take with you when shopping for your dog-themed wreath or heading over to a friends to make this design!

black and tan pancake wreath with welcome sign and black and white dog-themed ribbon

Making a Dog-Themed Pancake Wreath with the Pancake Frame

These step by step instructions will show you how to make an adorable dog themed wreath using the new Pancake Wreath Frame.

Total Time1

Keyword: dog-themed wreath, pancake frame, Pancake wreath, pancake wreath frame, wreath frame

Equipment

1 Pair of scissors
1 Rotary cutter
2 Zip-tie mounts (optional)

Materials

1 14-inch round pancake wreath frame
1 roll 10-inch deco mesh
1 6×12-inch metal frame
15 pipe cleaners
1 thin wire (optional)
3 rolls 2.5-inch ribbon (each a different design)
2 rolls 1.5-inch ribbon (each a different design)

Instructions

Cut 12 pieces of mesh at 20 inches long. Cut 12, 14-inch tails from two of your 2.5-inch ribbon designs each – 24 ribbons total. Layer the two ribbons – one of each design. You should have 12 ribbon pairs. Dovetail the ends by folding them in half and cutting at an angle toward the edge.
Stick one pipe cleaner through each designated hole and over the corresponding notch, then twist. You’ll have six pipe cleaners around the outside and six around the inside.
Next, perform steps 3 – 5 on the outside pipe cleaners first.
Ruffle 6 pieces of mesh and lay each ruffle into the center of each outer pipe cleaner, twisting the arms over the center to hold the ruffle in place.
Specific to the pancake method, layer the right-side end of the ruffle over the left side on the top and bottom of the ruffle. It’ll turn the butterfly into more of a circle.
Fold your ribbon pairs in a wide “v” and lay the center of that v between the pipe cleaners, over your mesh ruffle – tails facing outward. Twist the pipe cleaner arms over the ribbon to secure. Pull the tails of each ribbon apart and spread them to the sides, so both designs are visible.
Repeat steps 3 – 5 on the inside pipe cleaners.
Make your doggie bow with three ribbon designs total – a 2.5-inch ribbon and two different 1.5-inch designs. With the 2.5-inch ribbon, measure a 7-inch tail, then pinch, twist and make a 6-inch loop. Pinch, twist and loop to make two more loops (three total).
Next, repeat the process for your first 1.5-inch ribbon, but with tails and loops that are a little shorter.
With the final 1.5-inch ribbon, make a shorter tail, a 3-inch center loop, then three more loops. Stack this part of the bow on top of the other ribbons.
Wrap your pipe cleaner around the center of the ribbon stack and twist to secure. Keep both arms of the pipe cleaner and dovetail the ribbon tails. Finally, bring the center loop up and fluff it over the pipe cleaner in the middle to hide it.
Add holes or zip tie mounts to your sign to hold the wire used to secure the sign to the wreath. Put the wire through the holes or mounts on the sign, then stick it through the mesh and fish it through the small holes on the wreath frame. Twist to secure and cut or bundle and hide the excess.
Fluff your bow from the bottom ribbon to the top by pulling on the loops and spreading them side to side so every layer is visible.
Stick the pipe cleaner arms through the mesh and fish them through the small holes providing on the wreath frame. Make sure the tails of the bow are at the bottom of the bow and facing out since those are longer. Again, twist to secure and cut or bundle and hide the excess.

Video

About the Wreath Supply Box

As I mentioned earlier, some of the supplies I used in this design came from my wreath supply box, which is monthly subscription from DecoExchange and includes various, high-quality wreath making supplies to spark your creative side. This is NOT a wreath kit, but a box with all kinds of seasonal goodies that can be used for multiple designs – not just one!