Sea Tow Foundation’s DIY Craft Time: Life Jacket Fabric Wreath

Spring is here and it is time to check your life jackets to make sure they are in good shape for the boating season. We’ve talked about how to inspect your life jackets and even how to donate your kid’s outgrown life jackets, but we haven’t talked about what to do with them when they are not in good shape and need to be discarded.

In this month’s craft project, we’ll be making a life jacket fabric wreath for your door or wall using damaged life jackets that can no longer be used for keeping you safe on the water. And, as the spring season and holidays are upon us, we can think of this as a fun spring wreath!

Materials to Make Life Jacket Fabric Wreath:

• Damaged life jackets
• Foam craft ring
• Ruler
• Sharp scissors
• Tacky glue
• Plastic plate
• Knitting needle
• Paper to protect table
• Wooden Craft Sign (optional)
• Other fabric scraps in coordinating colors (optional if life jackets don’t produce enough fabric)

  
  
  Directions for How to Make the Life Jacket Fabric Wreath :

1. Remove the fabric from the life jackets using scissors. Depending on the size of the life jacket and the amount of fabric, you may want to have other fabric scraps in other colors. Multiple colors are better than a single color for this wreath design. Save the straps for hanging the wreath at the end. Also, if the foam is in good shape, save that for a future craft project.
   
   
    
2. Cut all of the fabric into approximate 2-inch squares using the ruler and scissors. You can also use a cutting board and rotary cutter if you are a frequent fabric crafter.

    

3. Place protective paper on the table and arrange the craft ring on top. Pour the glue into the plastic plate and place nearby along with your piles of fabric pieces.

    

4. Take a piece of fabric and wrap it around the end of the knitting needle. Dip the end into the glue and then poke the glue-covered fabric into the foam ring and remove the needle.

    

5. Repeat step 4 all along the wreath covering the front and sides by alternating colors of the fabrics. Once finished, allow the glue to dry overnight. The glue will dry clear.
   
   
6. Use one of the life jacket straps to wrap around the top for the wreath to hang.
   
   
   
   
7. Add a wooden craft sign to the wreath using pins, if desired.

    

8. Enjoy the wreath and remember the good times you had in those life jackets!

    

   Congratulations on making a Nautical Wreath! Share your creations with us on Facebook and Instagram by tagging @SeaTowFoundation and using the #DIYNauticalCraftTime

   If you found this article helpful or entertaining, please consider a donation to the Sea Tow Foundation today to help us continue our efforts to educate boaters and keep them safe on the water. You can donate securely online at www.boatingsafety.com/donatetoday or by clicking on the DONATE tab at the top of the page.

   
   
   The Sea Tow Foundation has created monthly nautical crafts to help bring those boating memories home. These crafts are easy for anyone to make and require limited tools and materials. In fact, all of the tools and materials are available at online retailers, or at a local craft store if you don’t already have the items lying around your house. Younger children may need the help of an adult for some portions of the craft project, but they can help with most of the personalization of the crafts. And many of these crafts make great homemade gifts or home décor.