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Holiday Candle

Description: The Holiday Candle project is based on the traditional celebration of Christmas.

The white candle is symbolic of the purity and light of Christ. The evergreen wreath reminds us that God's love is eternal. The red berries on the wreath represent birth. And the three gold flowers are symbolic of the treasures that await us in heaven.

I strongly recommend that you use the materials described below. Yarn is the best material for the wreath, and regular Macrame cord (polypropylene) is perfect for the candle. The flowers are made with lace and nylon cord.

This holiday project is rated easy, but you should practice tying Square Knots before you get started. Creating the wreath is time consuming, and will take several hours to make.

Supplies Needed:

2mm Red Yarn (12 yards)

2mm Forest Green Yarn (At least 45 yards)

6mm White Bonnie Braid cord (8 yards)

2mm Gold cord (3 yards)

Gold Lace (3 yards) -- Optional

1.5-inch ring

Project board and pins

Glue that dries clear

Small pliers or tweezers

Knots Used:

Crown Knot (Spiral design)

Square Knot

Picot Designs

Larks Head knot

Overhand knot

The Candle

This portion of the Holiday Candle is made with Crown knots. Below are the four steps.

Preparation: Cut 4 cords of 6mm white material, each 72 inches long.

Arrange the cords to form an X shape, securing them at the center. Mentally label the four segments A - D as shown in the images below.

The two cords in each segment work together.

<< Step 1: Fold segment A to the right, resting on top of the cords in segment B. Leave a space near the curved area.

Step 2: Fold segment B so they are vertical, resting on top of the cords in segment C. >>

<< Step 3: Fold the cords in segment C to the left, resting on top of segment D.

Step 4: Fold segment D forward to segment A. Pass through the curved area, over - under. >>

Step 5: Tighten the first knot as much as you can, by pulling on each end. Make sure the two cords remain side-by-side in each segment.

Secure the knot to your board, placing the pin on the outside edge.

Step 6: Repeat steps 1 - 5 several times, until the Holiday Candle measures six inches.

The knots will stack on top of each other as you progress.

You will need to lay the candle on the surface eventually.

When that time comes, just curve the end upward slightly to position the new knots.

Important: Apply glue to the last Crown knot, and then tie another one, so it rests on the glue. Let it dry before moving on.

Step 7: Go back to the top of the Holiday Candle, where you tied the first Crown knot.

Cut two pieces of the gold 2mm material, each 10 inches long.

Work them under the crossed area with your tweezers or pliers. Match the ends so they are centered.

<< Tie a Half Hitch with the two ends on the left, around the two on the right.

Pass over - under - over as shown.

Tie another Half Hitch, with the right ends onto the left. >>

Separate the fibers from each end, and brush until the flame is soft and fluffy.

Trim the "flame" as needed.

Gold Flowers

The three gold flowers for the Holiday Candle are optional, if you prefer to use something else to decorate the base.

Cut 6 pieces of 2mm gold material, each 12 inches long.

Cut 3 pieces of gold LACE , each 30 inches long.

Step 1: Arrange one CORD vertically.

Place another CORD and one piece of LACE resting horizontally, on top of the vertical cord.

Make sure center of all three cords match up.

Step 2: Tie an Overhand knot with the two ends of the vertical CORD.

Make sure it's in the center, and tighten firmly.

Step 3: Arrange the two ends of the vertical cord heading upward.

Position two horizontal cords downward vertically, with the lace on either side.

The gold CORDS will be the fillers for the Square Knots below, which are tied with the LACE.

Step 4: The instructions below show you the four steps for tying all the Square Knots in the entire Holiday Candle design.

Use the Square Knot page as a reference (click on the link), if these instructions are not clear to you.

For the flowers, you are tying the knots with lace, which is challenging. Don't worry about keeping the lace flat, the end result is no different.

<< Move the left half of the LACE to the right, over the fillers and under the right half.

Move the right half of the lace to the left, under the fillers and over the left half. >>

The two halves of the lace have switched places, so the left half is now on the right, and vice versa.

<< Move the left half over the fillers and under the right half, as you move it to the left.

Move the right half under the fillers and over the left half, as you bring it to the right. >>

Step 5: The next set of instructions show you how to make the petals of the flowers, which are picot loops.

The evergreen wreath for the Holiday Candle is made with this technique as well.

<< After you tie the first Square Knot, tie the next one, after moving down 1.5 inches.

Push the second knot up to rest just below the first. Two picot loops form on each side. >>

Step 6: Tie a total of five Square Knots (4 sets of picots), repeating steps 4 - 5.

Apply glue to the last SK. When it's dry, cut off the remaining LACE.

Do not cut off the CORDS.

Fold the picot designs so the vertical cords at the top are now below the lace.

Position them under the fillers and lace, horizontally.

Tie an Overhand knot with the two ends, around the fillers and lace.

This is the completed Flower. The cords will be together below it.

Step 7: Repeat steps 1 - 6 to create two more gold flowers for your Holiday Candle (total of three).

Step 8: Locate the two cords in one segment of the Crown knot, just above the bottom of the Holiday candle.

Use your tweezers or pliers to pass the 4 gold cords from the flower under them in opposite directions.

So two go in from the left, and the other two go right.

Tip the candle so you are looking at the bottom of the last Crown knot.

Pass two gold cords around the ends of the white cords closest to them.

Tie two tight Overhand knots with the gold cords. Repeat with the other two gold cords.

Step 9: Repeat step 8 to attach the other two gold flowers to the candle.

The Wreath

The evergreen wreath decorates the bottom of the Holiday Candle. It's made with Square Knot picots, similar to what you did with the lace for the flowers.

Don't cut the yarn ahead of time. It's best to cut as you work with each cord, since the number will depend on the thickness of the material.

Step 1: Cut one piece of red yarn, 24 inches long. Fold the cord in half and place it under the ring.

Bring the ends over the ring, and under the folded area.

Tighten the Larks Head knot firmly.

<< Use each end to tie another Larks Head knot next to the first.

Bring the end over - under the ring, and over the cord.

For the second half, bring the end under - over the ring, and
under the cord. >>

Repeat this step, mounting more red cords to the ring, until it is completely covered.

You will probably need at least 15 to 20 cords.

Step 2: Cut one green cord, 90 inches long.

Tie an Overhand knot in the center of it, but don't tighten.

Slide two red cords through the knot. Push the knot close to the ring, and then tighten it firmly.

Step 3: Leave a 1.5-inch to 2-inch space, and tie a Square knot with the green cords. (See tip below)

Push the knot up towards the ring, so it rests next to the Overhand knot. This will form the picots.

Repeat this step until the ends of the green cord are around 4 inches long.

Design Tip: The picots for the wreath of the Holiday Candle should not be the same size.

The spacing between the SK should be between 1.5 to 2.5 inches.

Step 4: Use the two red filler cords together, to tie an Overhand knot as shown. This will form the red berry at the tips of the wreath.

Tighten it completely, but be gentle, so it's not too small.

Step 5: Tie the first half of a Square Knot, so it rests below the Overhand knot.

Tighten it slightly and then pull on the berry so it stands up. (see images below)

<< Fold the red cords to the back of the picot design. The half Square Knot you just tied should also rest in the back.

This is how the berry should look when you are done. >>

Step 6: To finish off the green cords, tie a tight Overhand knot, so it rests on top of the half SK. You can apply glue if you wish.

Cut off the excess material close to the knot (both green and red cords).

Step 7: Repeat steps 2 - 6, creating one picot design on each set of two red cords.

Time Consuming: Be prepared to spend several hours completing the wreath for your Holiday Candle.

Finishing Touches

Slide the candle design through the ring from the bottom up.

Make sure all the ends remain under the wreath, and the flowers are above it.

Select two gold cords close to each other. Bring one around the ring.

Use the two cords to tie a tight Overhand knot. Apply glue and tie a second knot.

Repeat this step with the other sets of gold cords.

You can stop here and cut off the excess material, after applying glue to the last Crown knot (no fringe).

To make a white fringe for your Holiday Candle, separate the white fibers and brush the cords one at a time.

The best way to unravel braided material is to pull out individual fibers.

Do this near the ring, not at the tip of the cord. Once three or more fibers are free, the rest will unravel more easily.

Add extra white cords by sliding them under portions of the Crown knots, near the bottom of the Holiday Candle. Separate the fibers and brush.

Make sure you hold the two ends while brushing.

Trim the fringe so it's neat, and arrange it in a circle, around the evergreen wreath. (Look at the image at the top of the page.)

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Have any comments about the Holiday Candle? Contact Me.

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