5 Great Ideas For Making Your Own Candles

The art of candle making is one that has been around for centuries and has been passed down from generation to generation. However, with the invention of electricity, candles have lost their primary purpose of providing light, and the art of candle making has become less popular. But the good news is that candles still remain a popular way to add ambiance, fragrance, and warmth to any space, and making your own candles has become a popular hobby and a great way to create unique and personalized gifts for loved ones.

If you’re new to candle making, you might feel overwhelmed by the different types of candles and the variety of techniques used to make them. However, there are simple and fun ideas that you can try to make your own candles at home. From classic pillar candles to whimsical and playful scented candles, the possibilities are endless. Not only are they fun to make, but homemade candles are also a great way to reduce waste, save money, and control the quality of the ingredients used.

Whether you’re looking to create a romantic ambiance, a warm and cozy atmosphere, or a fresh and invigorating scent, you can easily customize your candles to fit any occasion or mood. The best part is that you don’t need any special equipment or ingredients to get started. With just a few basic materials and a little creativity, you can make beautiful candles that will impress anyone.

So, whether you’re looking to make a thoughtful gift for a loved one or simply want to indulge in a new hobby, making your own candles is a fun and rewarding activity that anyone can enjoy. Check out the links below to discover some great ideas for making your own candles and get inspired to create your own unique scents and designs.

1- How To Make Soy Candles from Inquiring Chef

2- Lemon Candles from Say Yes

3- Olive Oil Candles from Little House Living

4- Candle Upcycle from My Thirty Spot

5- Tea Cup Candles from The Frugal Girls

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I feel like when it comes to things that people are afraid to knit, socks probably top the list. I’ve heard people say they would never knit socks because they look too hard, but really you just need to know a few basic things (and trust the pattern even though it sounds wrong the first time you do it) to master socks.

Denise DeSantis aims to take the worry out of knitting socks with No Fear Sock Knitting. Based on a class on her YouTube channel, it includes all the basic information you need to make sock knitting feel easier, along with eight patterns for both top down and toe up socks.

The book generally covers types of needles and yarn you might use to knit socks, as well as other supplies you will need. It looks at the parts of the sock, different knitting needle configurations used to knit socks, how to read a pattern (including abbreviations and terms you might find in sock patterns), discussion of ease, how to measure your foot and choosing the correct size to knit.

It includes two options each for casting on cuff down and toe up socks, as well as four options for cuff treatment. It explores the heel flap and turn method for top down and toe up socks, as well as short row heels using a shadow wrap (worked with a leg from the stitch below) and a square heel. There’s a discussion of avoiding holes and fixing other problems in heels.

Likewise with toes there are several options, including a wedge toe, round toe and anatomical toe (different on each foot) for both cuff down and toe up socks. There are also tutorials for grafting and Jeny’s surprisingly stretchy bind off, depending on which direction you’re going. There’s also a tips section that covers things like avoiding ladders, changing colors. matching stripes and more.

After all that preparation, there are eight patterns to choose from: short socks worked from the top down that are a perfect first-sock sock, a basic ankle-length toe-up sock, a DK weight sock worked from the top down with different length options, a “vanilla” sock with a short row heel worked top down, an ankle sock with a garter stitch cuff, one with a leg worked in alternating colors with a contrasting heel and toe, a sock worked in a helical stripe pattern and a striped sock with a garter stitch heel.

Three of the patterns are rated at skill level two on a scale of three, while the rest are level one. They’re all pretty straightforward, they just use different techniques you might not have tried before. Since only one is made to be toe up, there are also tips for converting the other patterns to toe up if you’d rather work that way. Each pattern includes three size options.

This book is a nice introduction to sock knitting, with lots of techniques to reference and simple patterns to take the fear out of the process. I’m not sure these are patterns you’ll come back to time and again but they are a good place to start if you’ve never knit socks before.

About the book: 128 pages, paperback, 8 patterns. Published 2025 by David & Charles. Suggested retail price $24.99.

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