A lot of people like to put some sort of holiday decoration on the graves of lost loved ones. Making your own grave blanket can give you the satisfaction that comes from taking the time to make something for someone who meant a lot to you. It can also save you a little money.

Every year on Thanksgiving Day, I make the blankets for the graves and go to the cemetery to put them on. It’s a tradition that I have. I like to make them myself because it makes it more personal for me. While I’m walking around in the woods looking for which greens to cut, it’s my time to think of them all with no distraction. My trip down memory lane continues while I assemble the blankets and take them to their final destination.

Fortunately, we have plenty of evergreen trees and holly trees in my back yard so it’s very easy for me. It doesn’t require very much at all to make a simple grave blanket out of fresh greens. You need the following:

1) Fresh greens
2) Twine or string
3) A wire hanger
4) Bow, ribbon or preferred decoration

Step 1 – Collect your greens. I like to pick evergreen branches that have pinecones on them to add some natural decoration. Generally, I use four branches for each side. It depends on the size you want and what type of greens you’re using.

Step 2 – Lay out the greens how you want them and tie them together with twine or string.

Step 3 – Trim any unruly branches to make it look how you want.

Step 4 – Place your bow and add any additional decorations you may want.

That’s it. It’s really that simple. Use a length of wire to secure the blanket to the ground at the gravesite. Wire hangers work great.

Enjoy your holiday and I hope you remember to take a moment for the ones who are no longer with us.

Jen