How to make a willow Christmas tree

23 April 2025

How to Weave a Willow Christmas Tree and Star Wand

The festive season is the perfect time to get creative with natural crafts. In this guide, we’ll show you how to make a charming Willow Christmas tree and a matching Willow star wand, perfect for holiday decorations, gifts, or even creating a tiny forest of handcrafted trees.

This tutorial is based on our step-by-step video guide, and we’ve transformed the instructions into an easy-to-follow blog format.

Materials You’ll Need

For the Willow Christmas Tree:

• Willow rods (5T or 6T for the trunk and sides)
• Thin Willow rod (4T) for weaving
• Sharp scissors or secateurs

For the Willow Star Wand:

• 5T Willow rod (brown or other colour of your choice)
• Optional: Bodkin for inserting the star

Tips:

• The rods used for the trunk are dry and thicker.
• The weaving Willow should be soaked to make it pliable.

Step 1: Preparing Your Tree Pieces

1. Pre-cut the trunk: Use a 5T or 6T Willow rod for the trunk, approximately 10 inches long.
2. Pre-cut the sides: Use similar Willow rods for the side branches, about 8 inches long.
3. Keep the trunk aside for now; we’ll focus on weaving the sides first.

Step 2: Starting the Weave

1. Choose a slender 4T Willow rod as your weaving material.
2. Insert the tip of the Willow into one side of the tree and wrap it 2–3 times to secure.
3. Open the sides of the tree slightly wider than the desired width.
4. Place the rod into the middle, weaving in a figure-of-eight pattern while keeping tension consistent.

Pro Tips:

• Avoid closing the middle section too tightly; this will make the tree too thin.
• Flatten the Willow as you weave to prevent kinks.

Step 3: Incorporating the Trunk

1. Once the side weaving is underway, bring in the trunk.
2. Start with the thin end, weaving in the same figure-of-eight pattern.
3. Ensure the trunk is controlled and doesn’t stick out too far at the top.
4. Compact and adjust the weave as you go, turning the tree over occasionally to check alignment.

Step 4: Adding More Willow Rods

1. Join in additional thin Willow rods using the same figure-of-eight weave.
2. You can experiment with different colours or varieties for a stripy finish.
3. Adjust the tree’s height and width as desired, keeping thicker, unsoaked rods for structure and thinner, soaked rods for weaving.

Step 5: Finishing the Tree

1. Avoid finishing any rods in the middle; all ends should be on the outside edges.
2. When finishing, make sure the last rod ends with the butt (thicker) end.
3. Kink short rods slightly and push them into the weave to secure.
4. Trim the sides flush with the tree and optionally slope the top for a neat finish.
5. Your Willow Christmas tree is now ready to be displayed in a pot, log slice, or as part of a mini forest.

Step 6: Making the Willow Star Wand

1. Use a 5T Willow rod for the wand.
2. Cut about 3 inches off the butt (fat) end to use as a measuring stick.
3. Measure and mark five points, approximately 12 inches apart, to form the star’s bends.
4. Bend the rod in sequence, bringing the thin end over the top and back underneath, adjusting so the fifth bend touches the main rod.
5. Wrap the thin end around twice and tuck it into the “armpits” of the star to fill the centre.
6. Sew the final sections in place, doing 2–3 stitches to secure.
7. Trim any excess, or leave it for a shooting star effect.

Display Ideas

• Place your Willow tree and star wand in a decorative pot or log slice.
• Mix different sizes and colours of trees for a miniature festive forest.
• Use the star wand as a tree topper or a seasonal decoration around your home.

Weaving a Willow Christmas tree is a relaxing and creative way to celebrate the season. Pair it with a handmade star wand, and you have a unique, natural decoration that will charm anyone who sees it.