Container, Pillar and Votive Paraffin Candle Formulas

Most candle suppliers provide premixed candle waxes, but if you want to experiment you can try some of these formulas. This is particularly handy if you only have plain paraffin on hand and want to try a variety of candles.

Candle Additives

The two most common additives used in candle making are vybar and stearic acid. Vybar 103 is used for harder candles while 260 is for containers. Vybar helps candles hold more scent and makes them smoother (less likely to crack). Stearic acid hardens candles and increases their burning time. It’s basically animal fat or vegetable oil that is transformed into a powder.

According to Deborah Ward’s Candle Making Manual, 1 (28 grams) or 2 oz (56 grams) of Crisco shortening will increase your scent throw. She still advises using no more than 1 ½ ounces (42.5 grams) of fragrance per pound (454 grams).

Votive Candle Formula

I pound (454 grams) of 140 F (60 C) melting point paraffin wax
1 tsp vybar 103
1 oz (28 grams) scent

Pillar Candle Formula

1 pound of 140 F (60 C) melting point paraffin wax
1/2 tsp vybar 103
1 tbsp stearic acid (acts as a hardener and raises the melting point)
Or
1 pound (454 grams) of 135 F (57 C) melting point paraffin wax
2 tbsp stearic acid
1 tsp vybar
1 oz (28 grams) scent

Container Candle Formula

1 pound (454 grams) of 130 F (54 C) melting point paraffin wax
1 tsp (3.2 grams) vybar 260
1oz scent

Sources:
Candle Making: A Step by Step Guide from Beginner to Expert by Bob Sherman (Evans and Company, 2002)

Candle Making Manual by Deborah Ward (1999, Scribd)

Secrets to Successful Candle Making (Kaya Yurtkuran on Scribd)

Photo of Candles by Pedro Simao

Generally I like knitting patterns where I feel like you can use whatever yarn you have (because my stash is big enough and I want to use it, thanks) and make a successful project. This is one of those times when a special yarn makes the process that much easier.

The Floral Bouquet Shawl from Xandy Peters uses a specific extended color pooling yarn from Feisty Fibers, which allows you to place the bobble flowers with increasing frequency as you knit the project.

It starts with a solid color yarn, then the two color yarn is added in, and you make a bobble whenever you encounter the color pops. This would be hard to replicate with other yarn that doesn’t have the extended color pooling built in.

The background of the shawl is ribbed, making the project reversible.

The shawl uses fingering/sock yarn and comes out to be an asymmetrical triangle that’s 54 inches/137 cm long and 36 inches/ 90 cm deep and 60 inches/150 cm across the top edge.

Xandy says the pattern is for intermediate to advanced knitters. Knowing how to work traditional bobbles would probably help, but there’s a great video tutorial for how to work the floral bobbles so you can practice on other yarn or even incorporate the bobbles into other projects.

The bobbles are five-petaled flowers but they also kind of look like starfish to me, which could be fun on a child’s cardigan or other pattern. They’d also be fun on the leg of a sock or around the brim of a hat for extra whimsy.

The pattern includes photo and video tutorials, and written and charted instructions. It also includes tips on what to look for if you choose to use different yarn for the project, and instructions on how to dye your own yarn to use in the project.

If you want to give it a try, you can find the pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: Xandy Peters]

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