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Complete guide to Beeswax candles and how to get started

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Making candles became very popular during lockdowns and isolations, but one thing no one ever tells you is how messy traditional melt and pour candle-making can be.

Did you know you can make candles from beeswax sheets? You simply roll the sheet around the wick to create a tapered candle or a pillar candle. They are so easy to make.

 

Beeswax sheets are perfect for anyone who wants to make candles but can not use or be around hot wax.  Beeswax sheets are great for children, the elderly, or anyone with mobility issues.  Beeswax sheet candles burn slowly and smell amazing too.

Beeswax sheet candles are durable, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly. In addition, they burn brighter and give off a subtle honey smell, eliminating the need for toxic fragrances.

So what are beeswax sheets?  Wax foundation sheets or honeycomb bases are made of natural wax.  they are used in beekeeping to give the bees a foundation on which they can build the honeycomb, but they are used for making candles too.

If you are looking to get started in beeswax candle making from beeswax foundation sheets, here are my top tips on what you need and you can follow along with our youtube video.

A sharp craft blade is important for cutting the wax, you may also need to clean the blade between cuts to prevent the sticky wax from sticking to the blade. Baby wipes work great for this. You will need a clean cutting board to roll the candle along and warm hands or work in a warm environment. Cold foundation sheets will not roll, it is all about finding the balance between hot and cold to find a great working environment.

Beeswax sheets come in different colors and you can also use the sheets to form flowers and press the designs onto the base of a plain rolled candle.  Cookie cutters work well for cutting out the designs to place onto the candles.

 

You will also need some candle wick, or purchase a starter kit that contains everything you need in one package. These starter kits are perfect for gifting to friends and family.

Beeswax candles make quick and easy add on’s to homemade gift baskets, simply wrap them with some jute string or brown paper for a rustic handmade finish to your gift boxes and gift hampers, add a little plastic resin bee for decoration.

 

 

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Christmas Holiday Hat Knitting Patterns

I wanted to share some winter hat knitting patterns that weren’t too Christmas themed that you’d have to stop wearing them after the holiday rolls around. This way if you want to knit them as gifts you don’t have to worry that they won’t be useful for another year.

The Holly Jolly Hat from Rosie Posie Knit Co on Etsy gives you lots of options, with four different sizes for babies through adults and two different options for the main colorwork — reindeer or coffee/hot chocolate mugs. The pattern also includes trees and snowflakes. They’re made with worsted weight yarn in four colors.

The Holiday Doodle Hat by Jamie Lomax (found on Ravelry) is similar in style but with different kinds of motifs worked in DK weight yarn. The pattern includes five pages of colorwork motifs so you can mix and match colors and designs to make totally unique hats. It’s sized for toddlers, bigger kids and adults, and you could also use the motifs to make a loop scarf or cowl if you wanted.

This is an old pattern but a classic re-creation of the moose hat Kevin McCallister wears in the movie Home Alone from designer VRock Knits. The pattern uses DK weight yarn in two colors and is made to fit a smallish adult head. The colorwork is presented in a chart.

Technically this one reads Christmas, since it is a Christmas pudding hat, but I couldn’t resist sharing it because it makes me smile. It’s from Etsy seller Arty Crafty Alice and is sized for little ones from preemie up to around age 3.

The chunky reindeer on these hats from Patternery are easy and quick to stitch up. Worked in super bulky yarn, you have the option of making this a roll-brimmed hat or knitting ribbing, and you can make it snow across the top of the hat if you want.