Holiday garlands come in all different varieties—evergreen, tinsel, beaded and more. A pine cone garland can bring indoors a rustic sense of nature at Christmastime. And if you have pine cones nearby to collect for free, a sumptuous and earthy garland can be yours for the price of a roll of jute twine—around $2. So start collecting!

Jute twine, scissors, and pine cones—lots and lots of pine cones. You will also need tin foil and a large pan or cookie sheet.

Head out on a beautiful day to collect pine cones from the park or yard. To make a really full garland, you’ll need approximately 15 cones per linear foot, or about 90 pine cones for a 6' garland. If you have a small dwarf in your household to conscript, collecting becomes much more fun.

Wash your pine cones under running water to remove any loose dirt and sap.

Line a large pan or cookie sheet with foil and bake the pine cones at 200 degrees for 1 hour. This will kill any critters that might be living in them. Stay in the kitchen to watch for any sap flare-ups. If your cones close up due to excess moisture, you can set them out to air-dry until they open up again.

Cut one long length of twine for your garland and many smaller lengths (about 10") to wrap around the base of each pine cone. Err on the long side for your garland twine. It’s easier to cut off than to add on later. Make a loop on one end for hanging purposes. You will add a second loop (on the other end) upon completion.

Wrap a small length of twine around each pine cone by working it into the scales at the base. Tie in a single knot to tighten, letting the loose ends hang free.

Tie each pine cone onto the garland twine with a simple knot. Slide the pine cone into place on the twine by tugging on the ends of the short twine. Make a second knot with your short twine piece to lock it into place.

Continue adding pine cones to the garland twine, snugging them together as you go. After knotting, leave the ends of the short twine hanging—you can use those ends to make adjustments. (Pine cones are prickly!)

Complete your garland by trimming all your short ends of twine and creating a hanging loop on your finished end. Depending on the length of your garland and the size of its pine cones, your creation may be heavy. So be sure to use a stable fastener for display. Hang and enjoy!

For more holiday content, consider:

3 Easy DIY Wreaths

8 Tips for Hanging Christmas Lights

How To: Keep a Christmas Tree Fresh