Nothing says “vintage Christmas” like a simple old-fashioned orange and pinecone garland. This beautiful and rustic decoration is easy to make and is a wonderful Christmas activity for the whole family!

Orange and pinecone garland hanging on a white Victorian mirror.

If you are looking for ways to add country cottage flair to your Christmas decor, this is a great place to start! There is a simplicity and elegance that comes with decorating with natural elements. An orange and pinecone garland adds old-fashioned warmth and homemade charm to any space.

In June my family took a road trip, to visit family in Alabama, where pine trees are abundant. Being from an area in Texas where pine trees do not thrive, we thought it was pretty spectacular to have a front yard full of pinecones! Before we left, we spent a whole morning gathering these little treasures to be used in art projects and as decoration during the holidays. We ended up filling up and taking home five large boxes filled to the brim with pinecones!

Out of all the ways we have used pinecones this year this is my favorite! The dried orange slices add a lovely pop of color to the elegance of the pinecones.

A Family Tradition

Making homemade decorations as a family is a tradition that our family enjoys. Every year we enjoy stringing popcorn and cranberry strands or dried orange and pinecone garlands while we sip steaming mugs of cocoa.

This is a wonderful activity to bring the family together and slow down during the busy Christmas season. It does us all good to sit in community with one another and experience the simple beauties of life. I love all of our family’s Christmas traditions but it’s the simple ones that are my favorites.

Below is a tutorial (with many pictures included!) for how our family makes simple old-fashioned orange and pinecone garlands. May this inspire you and your family to embrace a few moments of beautiful simplicity and stillness this Christmas season.

How to make a Simple Old-Fashioned Orange and Pinecone Garland

Step 1: Drying the orange slices

Slice two large oranges into slices 1/8″ to 1/4″ thick. You can use a mandolin or a sharp knife for this. Arrange the slices on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Orange slices on a sheet of parchment paper.

Use a towel to pat the orange slices dry. This step really helps to speed up the dehydration process. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just press them until they are dry to the touch.

Step 2: Dehydrate

Set your oven on the lowest setting or your dehydrator to 140 degrees. Place your orange slices in the oven and dehydrate them until they are completely dry. The time this takes will vary but it usually takes around 8-12 hours. You will want to flip the slices over after about 6 hours to ensure even drying

Woman pressing orange slices dry on a baking sheet.

Step 3: Gather the components

For this project you will need twine or string, pinecones, your dried orange slices, and a sharp pointed object to poke a hole in the oranges for the twine. I used a protractor for this. I made my strand about 4 1/2 feet long and used nine pinecones and two whole oranges. However, you can make your garland as long or short as you want. I suggest you measure the place you would like to hang your garland before you make it so you can gather your components accordingly.

Pinecones, oranges, and twine on a white glass platter.

Step 4: Assembling your garland

Using your protractor or other sharp object, poke two small holes into the top dried orange flesh. Space your holes out by about 1/2 inch.

String the twine through the two holes and pull the orange slice to the end of the twine.

Woman stringing an orange on a piece of twine.

Below is an up-close picture of what your orange slice should look like once it is strung on the twine.

Next, lay your strand of twine out on a table and position a pinecone about 1 inch away from the orange slice. Wrap the twine around the upper crevasses of the pinecone and tie the twine in a knot. Pull tight to secure the pinecone.

Woman with red fingernails tying a piece of twine around a pinecone.

Continue the process alternating between the oranges and pinecones until you have filled your strand.

That’s it! Your beautiful vintage orange and pinecone garland is complete and ready to be displayed! Find a prominent place in your home to display your creation and enjoy its simplistic beauty all season long!

Simple Old-Fashioned Orange and Pinecone Garland

This Simple Old-Fashioned Orange and Pinecone Garland is easy to make and is a beautiful Christmas activity for the whole family!

Active Time 30 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Materials

2 oranges
5' strand twine or string
10 pinecones

Tools

sharp knife or mandolin slicer
baking sheet lined with parchment paper
clean tea towel
dehydrator or oven
A sharp pointed object to poke a hole in the oranges. I use a protractor.

Instructions

Slice two large oranges into slices 1/8" to 1/4" thick. You can use a mandolin or a sharp knife for this. Arrange the slices on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Use a towel to pat the orange slices dry. This step really helps to speed up the dehydration process. It doesn't have to be perfect. Just press them until they are dry to the touch.
Set your oven on the lowest setting or your dehydrator to 140 degrees. Place your orange slices in the oven and dehydrate them until they are completely dry. The time this takes will vary but it usually takes around 8-12 hours. You will want to flip the slices over after about 6 hours to ensure even drying
Using your protractor or other sharp object, poke two small holes into the top dried orange flesh. Space your holes out by about 1/2 inch.
String the twine through the two holes and pull the orange slice to the end of the twine.
Next, lay your strand of twine out on a table and position a pinecone about 1 inch away from the orange slice. Wrap the twine around the upper crevasses of the pinecone and tie the twine in a knot. Pull tight to secure the pinecone.
Continue the process alternating between the oranges and pinecones until you have filled your strand.
That's it! Your beautiful vintage orange and pinecone garland is complete and ready to be displayed! Find a prominent place in your home to display your creation and enjoy its simplistic beauty all season long!